A City Council hopeful from Howard Beach held his first fund-raiser last week at Roma View on Cross Bay Boulevard in his bid for the seat that will be vacated by Joseph Addabbo in 2009.
Candidate Frank Gulluscio, district manager of Community Board 6, said he could not say how much money he took in from the event because donations were still being counted, but he said the affair was standing-room-only as 300 people showed up to support him."It was an exciting event," Gulluscio said. "More people than we anticipated. We had people from Rockaway to Richmond Hill. We had all ages there."
Gulluscio, a Democrat, has set his sights on the post currently held by Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), who will be forced out of office due to term limits. Addabbo threw his support behind Gulluscio, who used to work for the councilman, two months ago.
Meanwhile, Addabbo was expected to hold his first fund-raiser for his state Senate bid this Thursday at Metro 53 in Manhattan.
Although Addabbo said he would formally announce his candidacy to unseat state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) next month, the $250-a-head fund-raiser has been in the works for two months.
"Raising money is a formula for any campaign," Addabbo said, noting that he is planning to take in upwards of $1 million.
"Unfortunately, these Senate races have just gone out of control," he said, referring to a race upstate in which $4 million was spent three months ago. "What gets lost in this money game is the focus on people. My focus has been and only will be the concerns of the people."
State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) is headlining the fund-raiser, Addabbo said.
Maltese said State Senate Minority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Saratoga Springs) "pledged $1 million" for his campaign.
Under former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Maltese's seat along with state Sen. Frank Padavan's (R-Bellerose) was the target of an ambitious effort to put Democrats in control of that chamber. Republicans currently hold a one-seat majority in the Senate.
Addabbo was one of the Queens elected officials who attended the event in support of Gulluscio, including state Assemblymen Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) and Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) and City Council members David Weprin (D-Hollis), Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans).
Supporters were treated to Roma View's dessert tables and also got a sneak preview at a television spot produced by Gulluscio's campaign that featured a montage of the Howard Beach resident.
Gulluscio declared his candidacy for the seat six months ago and said he would run on his experience as CB 6 district manager, a former teacher and as an adviser to Addabbo on education issues.
Citywide races, including elections for City Council, are to be held in November 2009.
