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Barely a month is left before incumbent Councilman Anthony Como and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Crowley square off in a rematch for the District 30 Council seat.
While the race has been overshadowed publicly by the state Senate race between Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Ozone Park) and Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), the eventual winner could play a vital role in the council for years to come.
The victor, if elected again in 2009, would be one of just a handful of council members who wouldn’t be term-limited out of office next year, unless the mayor and City Council overturn the current two-term limits for members.
Whether that will happen is still unknown, but if the current term limits remain in effect, the District 30 representative would hold a position of seniority and possibly a leadership role, either in the speaker’s seat or as minority leader or whip.
One reason Crowley said voters should pick her is because, as a Democrat, she will be able to take a more pivotal role in the council and bring more bacon home to the district’s neighborhoods of Middle Village, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale and parts of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill.
“We want someone who can take on a leadership role and pass legislation. Republicans can’t pass legislation,” she said, because, at least currently, there are only three of them in the council.
Como disagreed. Though he has only served in the council for four months, he believes partisanship isn’t practiced by fellow council members once elected. “Being a Republican didn’t curtail me in any way this time” during the budget process, he said, adding that his district fared better than some with long-serving Democrat representatives. “In the council, you’re not Republican or Democrat. No one looks at party lines.”
The two candidates first squared off in a special election for the seat in June, although then former Councilman Tom Ognibene, a Republican, and Charles Ober, a Democrat, also vied for the seat. The election was necessary after former Councilman Dennis Gallagher resigned in April as part of a plea deal after being charged with sexual assault.
Como defeated Crowley by just 38 votes then. With just the one race on the ballot, the turnout was relatively small — only 7,751 people voted.
While voters in this district have elected a Republican in every election since the seat was first created in 1991, Crowley is optimistic this time, in large part because the presidential election will draw thousands more to the voting booths. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 2-1 and Crowley expects over 40,000 voters to turn out.
Michael Reich, the executive secretary for the Queens Democratic Party, supported Crowley’s claims. “This is very different than the special election,” he said, adding that the Maltese-Addabbo race will also be a big draw for voters. “I think we have a very strong shot. We are making a very big effort there.”
Como’s not so sure. “The voters are not machines,” he said. “They know who they are voting for. I can’t venture to think voters will vote for someone just because of their party.”
Also, he said it wasn’t a slam dunk that Barack Obama would win this district, and that being beneath Maltese on the ticket would be an additional benefit. “I don’t think it’s even going to be close,” he said of his race.
When it comes to finances, it is Como who currently has the edge. He has collected $19,446 in donations and received another $35,266 in public funds, for a total of $54,712. Crowley has collected $37,806 and has not received public funds as of yet, though she expected to after filing her next statement with the Campaign Finance Board. Crowley could not receive public funds until she paid off the over $50,000 in fines for violations from her 2001 bid.
Como’s primary focus in the coming weeks is to show people the job he has done so far while in office. From helping to preserve quality of life issues, such as making sure a biker bar proposed for Metropolitan Avenue never opened, to bringing in over $2.2 million to schools in his area, Como is proud of his brief time in office.
Crowley, however, didn’t think Como has had the opportunity to be a councilman. “He was sworn in one week before the budget passed. He didn’t have much say as to how the money was spent,” she said.
Crowley’s primary focus is education and she wants to improve the graduation rate at Grover Cleveland High School, in Ridgewood, and make sure more local children go to good universities.
The winner of this election will serve the remainder of Gallagher’s term, which expires at the end of 2009. As a result, the winner will have to participate in a third election in November of next year.
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