Photo credit: Kate Anne
State Senator John D. Sabini, a Queens Democrat, may find himself in the unusual position of losing the support of the Democratic organization in his borough in his bid for re-election, with leaders of the party likely to back City Councilman Hiram Monserrate instead.
Democratic leaders in Queens are scheduled to meet on Monday to determine whether to endorse Mr. Sabini, who was first elected to the Senate in 2002. Normally, party organizations support incumbents, and Mr. Sabini is a former Democratic chairman in Queens. But Mr. Monserrate has put intense pressure on the party officials to gain their support in recent months.
It may well pay off. Several Queens Democratic officials said on Sunday that the party’s leadership committee for the district is considering switching its support, in part because of the strength that Mr. Monserrate demonstrated two years ago when he challenged Mr. Sabini, and also because the ethnic politics of the district increasingly favor the challenger.
Some also have said that Mr. Monserrate has put pressure on the party organization by threatening to challenge incumbent district leaders in his section of Queens.
Representative Joseph Crowley, the Democratic Party chairman in Queens, said that no decision had been reached regarding what will occur at Monday’s meeting. “We’re still in the process of talking with the various leaders,” Mr. Crowley said in an interview. “I have no expectation whatsoever about what might happen.”
However, losing the support of the organization was a prospect for which Mr. Sabini was clearly preparing himself.
“We’ve had discussions about it, and many of the district leaders have actually said they are going to support me,” Mr. Sabini said on Sunday.
He added: “I don’t know what the ultimate outcome will be. But I’m pretty proud to run on my record. I’m six years in the Senate and 10 years in the City Council. Ultimately these elections are decided on the streets of Queens. I would enjoy having the county’s support. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll still be running, and I’ll expect to win.”
The possibility that the Queens Democratic Party organization would support Mr. Monserrate over Mr. Sabini was reported in Sunday’s Daily News.
Two years ago, Mr. Monserrate challenged Mr. Sabini and lost the primary by fewer than 250 votes. It was one of the slimmest victory margins for any incumbent in the state in 2006.
The 13th State Senate District was configured after the 2000 census with the goal of electing a Hispanic candidate. Eight years ago, the population of the district, which includes parts of Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, Elmhurst and East Elmhurst, was about 56 percent Hispanic, 20 percent Asian, 12 percent non-Hispanic white and 9 percent black. And many Queens Democratic leaders insist that the Hispanic population has probably grown even larger.
Mr. Monserrate did not return calls on Sunday.
In 2001, Mr. Monserrate was elected as the first Hispanic council member from Queens. He has been rumored to be interested in offices in the Legislature and in Congress. Because of the city’s term-limit law, Mr. Monserrate cannot run for his Council seat next year.
Mr. Sabini served for a short time as the Queens Democratic Party chairman and in the City Council.
Mr. Sabini criticized Mr. Monserrate on ethics, following recent revelations that the councilman’s office steered more than $3 million in Council discretionary and capital money to a nonprofit agency that was run by some of his closest aides. The group’s financial records have devolved into what its current director characterized as a “mess.” Federal prosecutors and the city’s Department of Investigation are looking into how council members dole out millions of dollars in discretionary money they control to nonprofit agencies that provide a broad range of services.
Mr. Monserrate has denied any wrongdoing. And his supporters have pointed out that Mr. Sabini was arrested last year in Albany and charged with driving while intoxicated. The senator pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and paid a $300 fine.
