Democrat Elizabeth Crowley said she didn't think Republican Anthony Como was her "competition" in the June special election to replace City Councilman Dennis Gallagher until Como beat her by 38 votes.
With the way Como has raised money for their rematch in November, it seems the feeling could be mutual.
As of last week's filing deadline with the Campaign Finance Board, Crowley said she had raked in about $15,000. The newly minted councilman claimed enough for barely two tanks of gas - $100.
"My record is going to be all I need," Como said confidently, touting prompt successes in securing dollars for his district.
Though he arrived at City Hall near the end of budget talks, Como said he netted more than $3 million in capital funds, including money for upgrades at Juniper Valley Park and Forest Park.
He said he also got big bucks for schools in the 30th Council District, which includes Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood, along with parts of Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Forest Hills.
"I made sure that almost every school in my district got funded hundreds of thousands of dollars," Como said, noting it has allowed educators to purchase more laptops for classrooms.
"I've had principals who have been coming in every day since then, thanking me," he added.
That Crowley continues to raise more money than Como is no surprise. In the special election, she raked in $50,000 more than Como, despite being ineligible for 6-to-1 matching public funds, which Como received.
Yet Crowley is still paying off more than $80,000 in fines for fund-raising irregularities during her unsuccessful 2001 Council bid against Gallagher.
She said she has roughly $25,000 remaining to pay. "By mid-August, this will be behind me," she told Queens News.
Crowley said Como is putting too much stock in his brief incumbency - and attributed his razor-thin victory to the nonpartisan nature of the special election.
"I never thought Anthony Como was my competition," she said, claiming a general election showdown will allow her to capitalize on the more than 2-to-1 enrollment edge Democrats enjoy in the district.
The other two candidates in the special election - Republican Tom Ognibene and Democrat Charles Ober - have said they will not run in November. In that election, voters will select someone to hold the seat for 2009, the final year in Gallagher's four-year term.
