The Queens Democratic Party isn't behaving very democratically, according to four party insurgents seeking office this fall.
The southeastern Queens candidates - who are running for the U.S. House of Representatives, state Assembly and two district leader positions - accused incumbents of using "dirty tactics" by challenging their signatures to get on the ballot in September.
"They want to use yesterday's politics to keep the status quo," Ruben Wills said Friday at a protest in front of the Board of Elections office on Queens Blvd.
"We've had a lack of leadership in southeast Queens for the last 10 years," said Wills, who is running against Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Far Rockaway) and currently serves as chief of staff to state Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica).
More than a dozen protesters chanted and waved signs with slogans that included "Democrats Scared of Democracy," "Let Them Run" and "This is Queens 2008 Not Florida 2000."
Donovan Richards - who is running against Assemblywoman Michele Titus (D-Queens) - had his petition signatures challenged by Eric DeBerry, who lives at the same address as Titus, according to Board of Elections records.
"Everyone who carried my petitions is a civic leader who is registered," Richards said.
"We didn't challenge Titus' petitions because we believe in the democratic process."
Richards, who works for Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton), said the Board of Elections rejected his petitions because it said they were collected by people with improper credentials.
Richards has filed a lawsuit to get back on the ballot.
Meeks' political director said that challenges are a normal part of the primary season.
"Ruben submitted several thousand invalid signatures," Mike McKay charged.
"It's nonsense that the congressman is trying to subvert the democratic process. Those are the rules of engagement."
Democratic District Leader hopeful Erica Ford said the challenges were part of a coordinated attempt by entrenched incumbents to discourage primaries.
"I guess they don't want a race," said Ford, who is running in District 29A. "I don't know what they're scared of."
Ford's petitions were flagged by Archie Spigner, who served 28 years in the City Council and heads the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club. Spigner did not return a call seeking comment.
Dianne Glass, who is running for leader in District 33B, had her petitions challenged by Marilyn Wilds-Barnes, the head of the Jamaica chapter of the NAACP.
Glass said she was inspired to become politically active after her son was murdered in 2004.
"They are upset that I chose to run for office," said Glass. "My whole purpose to run was because young people need to be involved."
