What happens in cyberspace doesn't always stay there.
City Council contender Dilip Nath lost a shot to speak to a central Queens civic group when its leader took offense at an e-mail that a Nath aide sent to hundreds of activists and reporters.
Briarwood Civic Association President Seymour Schwartz said he originally left Nath off the list for next Wednesday's candidates' night because he's a long shot to win term-limited Jim Gennaro's Fresh Meadows seat.
Nath has declared for the race, but Schwartz said Nath has "no record" of community involvement.
Schwartz insisted he had been reconsidering - until Nath's field organizer, Mike Sidell, fired off an Aug. 28 mass e-mail questioning Nath's exclusion.
Now, Schwartz said Nath is not welcome at the forum unless he publicly denounces Sidell.
"There is no role for that candidate, who obviously sanctions these actions," Schwartz said. "His choice of Mike Sidell is an extreme reflection of poor judgment."
But not only did Nath back Sidell, he accused Schwartz of initially excluding him based on race and now using the e-mail dustup to cover up those intentions.
Nath is Bangladeshi. The three candidates invited to the forum are white, including one who is undeclared.
Schwartz denied race played a role. But Nath said Schwartz "probably never saw anybody like me, and he can't accept or doesn't realize the community is changing."
Nath and Sidell said the campaign may picket the candidates' forum at Samaritan Village, a substance abuse treatment center at Queens Blvd. and Main St. in Briarwood.
The other three contenders for Gennaro's 24th District seat - all Democrats - vowed not to let the controversy keep them from the forum.
"I can't tell people who to invite to their party. It's not polite," said Martha Taylor, vice chairwoman of Community Board 8 that counts Schwartz and Sidell among its members.
Michael Simanowitz, chief of staff to Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn (D-Flushing), said he left a voicemail for Schwartz urging him to let Nath speak, but will attend even if Nath does not.
"I'm not going to miss an opportunity to speak with constituents," he said.
Jeff Gottlieb, who criticized both Schwartz and Sidell for the way they handled the situation, said he thought Nath "should have been invited, but I'm not the host."
A fifth candidate, Kevin Forrestal of the Hillcrest Estates Civic Association, recently dropped out of the race, saying he doesn't have time to fund-raise.
The election will take place in February 2009 if Gennaro wins an upcoming state Senate bid, or next fall if Gennaro loses.
