Gov. David Paterson was Right to Cancel Sham Special Election in Queens - Daily News Editotial

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Embarrassing as it was for Gov. Paterson to call a special election in Queens' 38th Assembly District - then, hours later, cancel it - he ended up right. Voters should choose a representative through a full-fledged, open primary election, not a party-rigged sham. Especially after what they've been through.

Residents of the 38th - covering Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven and Ozone Park - were long represented by Tony Seminerio. In classic Albany form, he pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in June and left office. The primary to replace him was set for Sept. 15, and several Democratic candidates had already submitted papers to run.

Then, out of nowhere last Friday, Paterson called a special election, on the cockamamie theory that the district couldn't wait until January to have a new Assembly member sworn in. That move would have nixed the primary and instead let Democratic Party bosses install a successor to Seminerio, i.e., handpick a tool.

Paterson realized his error. A few hours after authorizing the special election, aides said their boss hadn't made up his mind yet after all.

Stick with your second instinct, governor. Let the voters choose.

Assembly a Full-time Job for Mike Miller by Lisa Fogarty - Queens Chronicle

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The Democratic primary is two months away, but 38th District Assembly candidate Michael Miller has already earned a coveted endorsement from the Queens Conservative Party and the support of several key community leaders, including City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Democratic District Leader Frank Kotnik.

Considering the early fanfare and his community accomplishments, it’s little wonder the 48-year-old Community Board 5 member appeared both serene and confident at his first fundraiser, held Tuesday evening at Shiro’s in Atlas Park.

“I’ve been a community leader for a long time,” Miller said. “I saw what was going on in my district and wanted to put my two cents in. I want to be the one people come to when they need things done.”

The actions in his district Miller refers to, of course, include the recent resignation of former Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges. The office has remained vacant for almost two months and six candidates — Democrats Miller, Albert Baldeo, Nick Comaianni, Farouk Samaroo, Lourdes Ventura and Republican Donna Marie Caltabiano — are vying to take the seat.

Although he’s new to campaigning, Miller has been a leader in his district for over 20 years. As a past board member of the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, he helped the small neighborhood organization create a community center on Myrtle Avenue, where it was able to expand and eventually employ 200 workers that serve 6000 residents. He helped raise money for the Glendale Volunteer Ambulance Corps to puchase a new ambulance and has received numerous awards and citations from the Glendale Civilian Observation Patrol and the New York City Police Department for his time spent patrolling the community as a past vice president and current board member of the GCOP and for efforts in ridding the neighborhood of graffiti — which he cites as one major way to improve quality of life in a community.

The past president of the Glendale Kiwanis and past lieutenant governor of Queens West Kiwanis said he is a staunch advocate for education, seniors, war veterans and people with disabilities. He started the Forest Park Aktion Club, a Kiwanis club for adults with mental disabilities, which he considers one of his greatest achievements.

“This is a group of people that really didn’t have much,” Miller said. “They run the club themselves.”

The candidate, who is currently seeking the Democatic endorsement, supports funding for the creation of affordable housing for seniors, as well as after-school programs and technology that will allow schools to keep up with the times.

As a branch manager for Tiger Federal Credit Union’s only New York office, Miller has helped New Yorkers secure loans for their first homes, cars and college educations. He was also the bank’s community liaison, credited for maintaining relationships with companies and organizations such as the New York Racing Association and Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

“I enjoy getting that car loan for somebody,” he said. “At Christmas, I like getting them their holiday bonuses.”

Regardless of how full his schedule would become as assemblyman, Miller said his number one duty is to serve his constittuents.

“For me, it’s not a part-time job,” he said. “I’m not going to be running a business.”

Seminerio Seat Special Election Riles Baldeo by Howard Koplowitz - Queens Campaigner

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Gov. David Paterson intends to call a special election to fill the seat vacated by former state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, according to an e-mail written by the lawyer for the city Board of Elections.

If Paterson follows through, a wrench would be thrown into the plans of the six contenders running for the seat, who have raised funds and collected petition signatures that would be voided.

“I have just been informed by the governor’s office that Governor Paterson intends to issue a proclamation … calling a special election to fill the vacancy,” wrote Steven H. Richman, counsel for the city Board, in an e-mail sent July 22 to the board’s commissioners, executive management and legal department.

Ozone Park attorney Albert Baldeo, who has about $150,000 in his campaign account and said he submitted 8,000 signatures in his bid to replace Seminerio, was one of six candidates who anticipated running in a primary election in September and the general election in November.

But under a special election, which according to Richman’s e-mail is expected to be called for Primary Day, the petitioning process would be circumvented with the borough’s party leaders choosing candidates to run.

“I feel that [a special election] abdicates the rights of the voters,” Baldeo said. “This is a violation of the right to vote.”

“Here you’re going against the will of 15,000 people,” he said, referring to the collective number of signatures obtained by the candidates.

Running along with Baldeo are Community District Education Council 24 President and Community Board 9 member Nick Comaianni, Forest Park Senior Citizens Center Executive Director Donna Caltabiano, state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) aide Lourdes Ventura, CB 5 member Michael Miller and Farouk Samaroo, a former aide to ex-Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin.

Seminerio, who resigned from the Assembly a day before pleading guilty to honest services mail fraud charges, remains as a Democratic district leader and would have influence over who the Democratic Party chooses as its candidate if a special election were held.

A political observer familiar with the race said some party leaders were uncomfortable that they would “have to lobby a convicted felon” to back their preferred candidate.

Queens Democratic sources said a special election would undermine Baldeo, whom they did not perceive as the party’s choice for the seat, according to City Hall News.

But Baldeo said he believed the party would endorse him in the end because of his loyalty and support to the machine’s candidates.

Baldeo came within 8,000 votes of ousting then-state Sen. Serphin Maltese in 2006 and bowed out of a possible rematch in 2008 in favor of then-City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), who went on to win the seat and helped Democrats capture the majority in the Senate for the first time since 1965.

“I paved the way for [Addabbo] to get that seat,” Baldeo said. “I have made good with the party. I’ve done my part for them.”

Special Election May Be Called To Thwart Baldeo - City Hall News

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With money and Sampson on his side, return candidate forces Queens Democrats to consider Plan B

Even as they fight over who should take over Anthony Seminerio’s seat, most of those involved seemed to have reached consensus on who they do not want to see replace the Assemblyman who resigned before pleading guilty to fraud.

“I think one thing everyone can agree on is that nobody wants Al Baldeo,” said one Queens Democrat. “It’s hard to see a scenario where he would be the party’s choice.”

Albert Baldeo, a lawyer and Guyanese immigrant, has already run for Council and the State Senate—almost unseating Republican Serf Maltese in a massive surprise in 2006, and then bowing out of a primary against Joseph Addabbo for the seat in 2008. All three races had more than enough headline fodder.

Baldeo feels his latest campaign is starting off strong, with over $146,000 in the bank and nearly four times the necessary number of petition signatures.

And he already has landed a big endorsement, claiming Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, who helped convince Baldeo to drop his primary big against Addabbo last August. Selvena Brooks, a Sampson spokesperson, confirmed the endorsement.

Baldeo said he plans to roll out more endorsements soon. This is all part of his strength as a candidate, he explained.

“None of the candidates have ever run a race,” Baldeo said of his competitors. “That separates me from them because of name recognition.”

Several other Democratic candidates have also announced their candidacies to represent the diverse district, which contains Latino, Guyanese and Italian communities.

Lourdes Ventura, Senate President Malcolm Smith’s (D-Queens) counsel for Latino and immigrant affairs, had been planning to petition for the seat but did not file paperwork. Farouk Samaroo, an Iraq war vet, also announced. District 24 Community Education Council president Nick Comaianni and Community Board 5 member Michael Miller have filed petitions, which have already been challenged.

On the Republican side, Donna Marie Catalbiano, director of the Forest Park Senior Citizen Center, has already gotten the GOP endorsement, with the party feeling confident in its chances for a pick-up.

For now, most of Queens political players are biding their time rather than getting behind one candidates.

But support may be starting to coalesce around Miller, who has worked in the community as a salesperson with Coldwell Banker Kueber Realty. Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, whose district overlaps with the Assembly district, has endorsed Miller, which might be taken as a signal of where her cousin, Queens Democratic Chair Rep. Joseph Crowley, is headed.

“The guy to watch out for there is Mike Miller,” predicted a Queens political insider not yet affiliated with any of the candidates. “Miller’s the guy who has probably the strongest support from within the district of anybody.”
Miller has also drawn the support of the Queens Conservative Party, guaranteeing him at least one ballot line in the election.

“He espoused some or most of the philosophy of the Conservative Party, and he’s been active in the community for a long time in many civic organizations and the Gowanus organization,” said Queens Conservative Party Chairman Tom Long, who also interviewed Comainni and Catalbiano for the endorsement.

Currently, the seat is slated to go up for election along with the city races on Sept. 15 and Nov. 3. But things might get complicated: Gov. David Paterson has the power not to wait for those elections and act on the vacancy, calling a special election to take place sometime before the November elections. If that happens, there is speculation that Baldeo may not meet the State Constitution’s one-year residency requirement and be disqualified from running until the seat comes up again in next year’s election cycle.

A special election may occur if the party organizations, unhappy with the mix of candidates that survive petitioning, ask Paterson to call for one. TA special election might take place on the same day as the regular elections in November, but would operate under a different set of rules that tosses the petitions and gives each party's county committee the power to choose a candidate for the general election. The governor could make that decision at any time ahead of the elections.

Or, in the words of one Queens politician considering all the various scenarios running up against each other, “It’s in a state of controlled flux.”

Field of Candidates Grows for Seminerio's Vacant Assembly Seat by Conor Greene - Forum News

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The field of candidates seeking the state Assembly seat vacated by Anthony Seminerio continues to grow, as at least six local residents have announced their intentions to run for the seat representing the 38th District.

After holding the position for three decades, a disgraced Seminerio resigned on June 22. Two days later, he admitted in Manhattan Federal Court to accepting illegal payment from individuals seeking to do business with the state. Barring a special election, his successor will be chosen during November’s general election.

Among those vying for the Democrat nomination are Ozone Park attorney Albert Baldeo, Community Education Council 24 President Nick Comaianni, combat veteran Farouk Samaroo, Community Board 5 member Michael Miller and Queens College student . The lone Republican is Donna Marie Catalbiano, director of the Forest Park Senior Citizen Center.

Baldeo, who came within 700 votes of defeating then State Senator Serf Maltese in 2006, said he has raised about $167,000 so far in support of his assembly bid. He noted that he received 70% of votes in the Richmond Hill portion of the district in 2006, even though Seminerio publicly endorsed and aggressively campaigned for Maltese. “That helps me because I’ve worked in the district before and have the name recognition,” said Baldeo.

Baldeo listed stopping over-development, preventing MTA fare hikes and service cuts, creating a specific zip code for Glendale and preserving the Ridgewood Reservoir in its natural state among his major issues. “These are the issues I’ve been championing,” he said. “I’ve gotten an enormous groundswell of support from all over the district because of my continuous work on issues that affect these areas.”

He said that he has lived in the district for more than a year, meaning he meets the residency requirements to run for the Assembly seat. Last year, he launched a bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge Maltese for his State Senate position. However, he eventually dropped out of the race, clearing the way for Joseph Addabbo, who defeated Maltese in a landslide. “I did that for the greater good of the party and don’t have any regrets,” he said. “It was a heart-wrenching decision then, but I’m ready for this one now and have laid the groundwork.”

It turns out Baldeo isn’t the only native of Guyana to join the fray. Samaroo, of Richmond Hill, recently announced his candidacy and is returning home after serving 12 months with the Army in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to enlisting in the Army, he worked in 2003 for former Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, who was sentenced in May to 10 years in prison for stealing $3.1 million. He also worked on the 2006 campaign of State Senator Shirley Huntley.

“My experience in the Legislature, and on the battlefield make me uniquely qualified to serve the people of our neighborhoods,” said Samaroo. “We deserve an Assemblyman who will serve us with honor, experience and skill… Our Assemblyman resigned in disgrace, the state Legislature is failing us, and our country needs the service of committed young men and women to lead at all levels of government.”

Also throwing his hat into the ring is Miller, a Glendale resident who, aside from his CB 5 duties, is a board member of the Glendale Civilian Observation Patrol, a past board member of the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council and a past president of the Glendale Kiwanis. He is a graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School, Queens College and the University of Georgia CUNA Management School.

“With all the dysfunction in Albany today, we obviously need leaders who aren’t afraid to stand up to the status quo and fight for us,” said Miller. “I will be a full time representative of my district. For over 20 years, I have proven my commitment to my neighbors and my community. In the New York State Assembly, you can count on me to continue the service to this community that has defined my life.”

Among Miller’s prior accomplishments are helping to expand the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council from “a small neighborhood group to an organization with 180 employees that serves 6,000 people each year.” He has also been awarded numerous citations from the Glendale Civilian Observation Patrol and the NYPD for his anti-graffiti efforts. He was recently endorsed by the Queens Conservative Party.

“I am proud of my work removing and painting over graffiti in my community, leading area clean-ups before it was popular with politicians and supervising prisoners assigned to work in our community,” said Miller, who also founded the Forest Park Aktion Club, a Kiwanis club for adults with mental disabilities.

One of the first to announce his candidacy was Comaianni, who, aside from serving as CEC 24 president, is a member of Community Board 9, the Glendale Civic Association and the Forest Park Co-op board of directors. A U.S Navy veteran, the 41-year-old father of three coaches at the RGMVM Little League and is a lifelong resident of district 38.

“I have dedicated a great portion of my life to community service and feel that I am qualified to serve in the New York State Assembly, where I can continue to work and have a greater impact on the quality of life in the community in which I reside,” he said in a statement. “I am like every other New Yorker who is upset with the dysfunction currently in Albany. If elected, I will go to Albany to foster changes, to limit special interest involvement in government and to fight for transparency. I will oppose taxes, try to restore some of the sanity in the budget process and put the interests of the community first and foremost.”

Gagliardotto is among the latest to declare his candidacy, which he did in an email sent Tuesday night to local media outlets. A lifelong district resident who grew up in Ozone Park, he now lives in Glendale and says he is “the only candidate who can truly bring the understanding of the entire district to Albany.”

The 23-year-old is a graduate of PS 60, IS 119 and Forest Hills High School and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in labor studies. “From Ridgewood to Ozone Park I have friends and relatives that span the entire 38th district,” said Gagliardotto. “They are constantly expressing their thoughts and concerns to me looking for guidance. I help them and now I want to extend my hand to all residents.”

Among his priorities would be affordable healthcare for all residents, education, preserving parks and recreational areas, lowering taxes and making sure working class constituents receive appropriate living wages.

The lone Republican, Catalbiano, said this week that her campaign has been going “non- stop” since she announced that she is running. “Even though we haven’t officially started fund raising, people have been sending checks which is building my spirits. “We’ve been calling people non-stop and I’m pounding the pavement to get my face known in areas that I might not be as well known.”

Catalbiano, who received the backing of the Queens Republican Party, is also hoping to receive the Independence Party’s support. On top of her 14 years at the senior center, she boasts a civic record that includes spearheading the push for an expansion at PS 64, which came to fruition in 1991. “I think the community needs a person like me. Over the years I have many accomplishments,” she said. “We have our forces ready and we’re giving it our best shot.”