Suraci Drops Out; 2 Are No-Show in JPCA Debate by Austin Considine - Queens Chronicle

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For those keeping track, and depending on one’s politics, Tuesday May 20 may go down in history as the most pivotal — or, at least controversial — day of the District 30 special election to replace the disgraced former Councilman Dennis Gallagher.

Most significantly, the day saw the elimination of Joseph Suraci, a Middle Village lawyer, who was widely seen as the election’s anti-establishment Republican.

At a Board of Elections hearing in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, the board voted unanimously to strike his name from the ballot for failure to obtain enough signatures.

Rules for the special election had required candidates to gather 986 signatures in order to appear on the ballot. According to the BOE clerk’s report, Suraci only filed 828.

Before a candidates debate in Middle Village that evening, hosted by the Juniper Park Civic Association, Suraci told reporters that he had a date in federal court scheduled for the the next day, where he planned to file a show cause order.

Citing regular election rules, which allow candidates six weeks to collect their signatures, he said he would be filing suit against the BOE for violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

Suraci called into the Queens Chronicle on Wednesday morning, however, to announce that he had decided to drop out of the race, citing “too much aggravation, too much stress.”

That Suraci even showed up at the JPCA debate Tuesday night, despite having been kicked off the ballot, set him apart from two candidates still on the ballot who failed to appear: Middle Village Republican Anthony Como, and Glendale Democrat Elizabeth Crowley, both of whom have the backing of their respective county parties.

Ridgewood Democrat Charles Ober and Middle Village Republican Tom Ognibene, the only two of the four balloted candidates to appear for the debate, said they had received a call after 4 p.m. from Walter Sanchez, publisher of the Queens Ledger, inviting all candidates to a meeting so he could determine whom to endorse in his paper.

Robert Holden, who lambasted both candidates for failing to appear, said he had emails from all the candidates confirming that they would attend. Before the debate, he received phone calls from Como and Alyson Grant, Crowley’s campaign manager, canceling for the evening.

According to Holden, Como cited a meeting with an unspecified newspaper as the reason for his absence, while Grant cited an unspecified scheduling conflict.

“What does that tell you about their character?” Holden asked the audience, referring to the no-show candidates. At the end of the debate, he closed by asking audience members to “please remember these candidates who insulted you tonight.”

Holden also pointed an accusatory finger directly at Sanchez for calling the meeting at the same time as the debate, which was widely publicized.

“The Queens Ledger has been at odds with the Juniper Park Civic Association for quite some time,” he said.

After the debate, Sam Esposito, Ober’s campaign manager, noted that Sanchez had left them the option of coming after the debate, which they intended to do.

With two candidates missing, the debate was a spirited affair, with attacks on the missing candidates coming from all sides.

Members of JPCA asked Ober and Ognibene several questions throughout the evening, including questions about Crowley’s past campaign finance violations, which incurred over $56,000 in fines, and about a house Como is building in Middle Village — a house many have characterized as out-of-character in a district where overdevelopment is a major issue.

Ognibene presented the audience with a blown up photograph of Como’s house, which Department of Buildings records show has garnered 14 violations and 21 complaints.

Ober, fresh from having received a key endorsement from Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) earlier that afternoon, presented himself as a candidate with deep ties to the community and a history of civic action — including, most notably, efforts to clean up crime along the Queens-Brooklyn border and to help write and pass the city’s Graffiti Nuisance Abatement Law.

Ognibene, who touted his 10-year history of service as the former councilman for the district, had spent a chunk of his day at the BOE hearing to defend himself against objections to his petition filed on behalf of Como. Of the 2,057 signatures he submitted, 1,318 were determined to be valid, allowing Ognibene to stay on the ballot.

After the hearing, Ognibene called the objections “very disingenuous,” referring particularly to allegations by Como that some of his signatures had been fraudulent. One issue was the validity of signatures gathered by witnesses from outside the district, which state election law prohibits, but was unclear on the Special Election ballot forms. The BOE ruled to keep signatures collected by those witnesses, citing previous court rulings on the matter.

Petitions Challenged In Council Special Election by Austin Considine - Queens Chronicle

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The City Council District 30 special election got a little bit stickier this week, as lawyers filed objections with the city’s Board of lections in attempts to get the names of some Republican candidates taken off the ballot.

Earlier news reports cited three general objections filed with the BOE: two against Tom Ognibene, a Republican from Middle Village, and one against Joseph Suraci, a Republican, also of Middle Village.

After filing general objections, lawyers had until midnight on Monday to file specific objections, detailing the exact reasons why a candidate’s petitions should overturned by the BOE. According to the BOE, however, only two specific objections were filed in the end: one, by Anthony Gucciardo, was filed against Ognibene; the other was filed by Dennis Melts against Joseph Suraci. The third general objection, filed by Gucciardo against Suraci, was dropped.

Gucciardo filed on behalf of Anthony Como, a Republican candidate from Middle Village.

Ognibene, who said his petition was being challenged on the legibility and legality of some of his signatures, called the move by Como an “act of desperation,” and the lawyer’s bases for objection “ridiculous and nonsensical.”

Specifically, Ognibene cited challenges to the legality of his signatures, which contend that signature gatherers need to be district residents, whereas some of his signature gatherers, or witnesses, were from outside the district. He asserted that such requirements were not in the city’s Independent Nominating Petition Rules for 2008, adopted while Como was president of the BOE.

“(I used) the exact language that Como said you’re supposed to use in the petition and now he’s using it against me,” Ognibene said.

But Como cited language in the New York State Election Law (section 6-132) that states that a witnesses must be “a duly qualified voter of the state and ... who is also a resident of the political subdivision in which the office or position is to be voted for.”

“There’s actually New York State case law that verifies that is true,” Como said.

The second objection, filed against Suraci, was submitted on behalf of Ognibene, who cited prima facie issues — namely that Suraci had not gathered enough signatures. BOE rules for the special election state that nearly 1,000 signatures were needed for a candidate to appear on the ballot.

Citing a general rule which gives candidates six weeks to collect signatures, Suraci alleged that the 12 days given to candidates in the special election was “insufficient,” violated the first and fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution, and prevented challengers without strong party backing to collect the necessary number of signatures.

The purpose of the signature process, he said, was to demonstrate a “modicum of support” for a given candidate. “I think that the requirement under the circumstances is too onerous, especially for a non-organization candidate,” he said. “The requirement is too much of a burden and it’s not justified by legitimate state interest.”

On Tuesday, the BOE set a hearing date of Tuesday, May 20 for determining whether the objections are strong enough to strip the candidates from the ballot.

According to the BOE, should either candidate be removed from the ballot, he would have three days to file a “validating order” with the courts. A validating order sets a hearing date on which any BOE decision to remove a candidate’s name can be challenged in court.

Ognibene confirmed he had already filed a validating order in advance of objections to his petition, which gives him more time to pursue legal recourse. Otherwise, he explained, a campaign only has three days to file for an order, get it signed, and serve witnesses, who can sometimes be known to disappear around the time of the hearing.

“I know all the tricks that people use, so I did it in advance to insulate me from any last minute shenanigans,” he said.

Notably, no objections were filed by Elizabeth Crowley, of Glendale, or Charles Ober, of Ridgewood, in the Democratic camp, despite a bevy of public statements and press activity presupposing as much.

Specifically, Ober had accused the Queens County Democratic Party, which has endorsed Crowley, of threatening him with preemptory challenges to his petition before he filed it.

“I was ... informed that if I did go forward with my bid for the City Council seat, the county was going to take me to court to challenge my petitions to make sure that I did not make it on the ballot,” Ober said in a statement.

By the time the deadline expired, however, no objections to Ober’s petition had been filed.

The Juniper Park Civic Association will host the next candidate debate at 7:30 p.m. on May 20, at the Our Lady of Hope school auditorium, located at 61-21 71 St., in Middle Village.

Councilman Candidate Anthony Como Lodges Complaint Against Rivals by John Lauinger - NY Daily News

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In the latest round of Republican infighting over the June 3 special election to replace former City Councilman Dennis Gallagher, party favorite Anthony Como is bidding to bounce his GOP rivals from the ballot.

Three objections were logged last week against petitions for anti-establishment GOP hopefuls Tom Ognibene and Joseph Suraci - all three filed by Como campaign adviser Justin DiSanzo, the Daily News has confirmed.

After hearing Como's camp had challenged the validity of his petitions, Ognibene branded it the "desperate" maneuver of a campaign "spoiler."

Suraci and political insiders called the objections a calculated strategy to strengthen Como's hand against Democratic favorite Elizabeth Crowley, who filed a whopping 5,887 signatures - more than Como and Ognibene's totals combined.

"If [Como] knocked off Ognibene and he knocked off me, then there wouldn't be a risk of Republican votes being siphoned away from him," said Suraci, a Kew Gardens lawyer.

The special election is nonpartisan, so it's a free-for-all among all candidates on the ballot.

Ognibene, a councilman from 1991 to 2001, has sparred with Como since the latter won the Queens Republican Party backing for 30th Council District race.

Como said reviews of Ognibene's petitions revealed he had signatures from unregistered voters or people who live outside the district - claims that, if true, could lead to those particular signatures to be tossed out.

In addition, DiSanzo charged that Ognibene, a Middle Village lawyer, has a history of filing less-than-acceptable petitions.

"When Tom ran for mayor in 2005, he didn't qualify for the ballot because of a lack of signatures," DiSanzo said.

Ognibene previously accused Como of using his pull as former Queens Board of Elections commissioner to gain a ballot edge at the April 30 filing deadline - a charge Como called "ridiculous."

The Como campaign was expected to back up its objections by Monday.

jlauinger@nydailynews.com

From Wild to Mild Showdown By Henrick A. Karoliszyn - Queens Ledger

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The 30th District Council candidates met for a civil meeting at I.S. 93 on Thursday.

Just as the contest seemed to be getting ugly, the 30th District Council special election turned civil last Thursday at I.S. 93.

In a candidate forum hosted by the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association, a group of panelists questioned the hopefuls on issues from "fixing" the Department of Buildings (DOB) to education woes in Queens.

With John Seminerio failing to make the ballot by the April 30 deadline, it was left for Tom Ognibene, Liz Crowley, Joseph Suraci, Charles Ober, and Anthony Como to discuss matters.

But unlike the recent power struggle between parties, the arena was free of bitterness and angst. The issues themselves seemed more riddled with frustration than anything else.

One of those issues that dominated the meeting was the high rate of construction accidents throughout New York, and the practice of architects self-certifying plans was receiving most of the blame.

Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, questioned if self-certification was a crisis the politicians were looking to repair. This topic - receiving widespread attention lately - motivated slightly different answers.

Ober stated the city must "scale back" on self-certification. He suggested construction companies should have policies to prevent deficiencies. Suraci, on the other hand, stated self-certification should be eradicated. "The builders would naturally approve plans despite being problematic," he said.

Crowley, who told the crowd she held a Master's Degree in urban planning, felt she had the right solutions to the growing problem. "Limit manpower by utilizing computer technology," she suggested. The hopeful also said the building process must be "better overseen."

Como had his own method. Self-certification, he insisted, should stay around. However, the DOB must get money, tools, and staffing to do a better job. He mentioned that Queens offices especially need help after being notoriously understaffed for years.

Another area covered was the higher taxes slated to hit New Yorkers in the coming year. After Michael Bloomberg's plan to roll back a seven percent tax cut and end a $400 property tax rebate for homeowners to fill a projected $3.1 billion budget gap, the elevated rates have spread worries.

Courtney Gross, City Government editor at the Gotham Gazette, asked what the candidates felt about the tax jump.

All the special election contenders were against the increased taxes except Joseph Suraci, who said the plans would eventually benefit the people of New York.

"I'm in favor of measures to return money to the people [in the long run]," he said.

In a more Queens-specific topic, candidates were asked if local stores throughout the Ridgewood area could be revived after sloping significantly in the past few years.

Ognibene said the area has a "good base of people willing to work" but that it was "impossible" for most to stay afloat with the current structure in place.
"People are overwhelmed by taxes," he said. "Small mom-and-pop shops are hit four times as hard."

Como, who has parents that have a family-run store, said the bigger chain retailers often take over and have special agreements to do so. He mentioned he would fight to change this.

“When a small community store goes under,” he said, "it's a black eye in the neighborhood."

Crowley added that local businesses are key to the economy, because local shops can hire locals and bring money back to the surrounding areas. The diverse district, she said, should preserve such places of commerce. Suraci agreed, stating, "There has to be a more favorable climate to operate in."
Ober, for his part, vowed to look into initiatives to further local businesses if elected.

Rounding off a non-combative night, education was mentioned and rallied the biggest response. Crowley with her "education first" crusade elaborated on her mission to meet with principals and improve schools in the area.
"We need to build more classrooms," she said to applause. "It's time to think outside the box."

Como said he's been meeting with a number of local principals thus far and learned students need more resources. "Without books or tools," he said, "the kids won't be the great future our great city needs." Ober spoke about zoning, overcrowding and effectuating change at the federal level.

Suraci mentioned the situation at Richmond Hill High School. He said the school was slated for 1,800 students and currently has an enrolllment double that. This means kids are being taught in trailers. It is "unconscionable," he continued to say about the current situation.

Ognibene, in the peaceful night, got the most raucous reaction after his views on education were unleashed. He said the immigration problem has led to overcrowding and that schools should aid children first.

”I want to see schools that serve neighborhood kids," he said. He added that it was a "philosophical decision" to upgrade the system and make education within the financial means of the Queens school budget.

CAPTION:

Petitions Challenged in Special Election by Pete Davis - The Queens Courier

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Two candidates vying for the 30th District City Council had general objections raised to their petitions on Monday, May 5 - the last day to raise objections.

Anthony Gucciardo filed objections with the city Board of Elections to the petitions filed by Republicans Tom Ognibene and Joseph Suraci, while Dennis Metz also filed against Suraci.

Both Gucciardo and Metz have until Monday, May 12 to file their specific objections to the petitions.

Ognibene, who said he filed more than twice the number of petitions warranted by the Board of Elections, said he was not surprised or concerned about the objections and pointed the finger at one of his opponents, Republican Anthony Como, as the reason behind the challenge.

“No, I’m absolutely not [concerned],” said Ognibene hinting at close ties between Gucciardo and a staffer for Senator Serphin Maltese, who has endorsed Como. “Anthony is in absolute panic.”

Ognibene, Como and Suraci as well as Democrats Elizabeth Crowley and Charles Ober all filed petitions with the board by Wednesday, April 30. No one has challenged the signatures of either Democrat running in the race, although Ober thought Crowley supporters would challenge his signatures.

Meanwhile, Crowley officially kicked off her campaign with an event attended by many local Queens elected officials on Thursday, May 1, and she recently landed the endorsement of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

Shortly after former City Councilmember Dennis Gallagher’s resignation became official, Mayor Bloomberg called for a June 3 special election that will choose Gallagher’s replacement in District 30.

The winner of the special election will serve until November when another election is held to decide who will serve the remainder of Gallagher’s term.

Special Election Date Set Amid Flurry Of Activity by Austin Considine - Queens Chronicle

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The District 30 City Council special election to replace former Councilman Dennis Gallagher will be held on June 3, according to a mayoral proclamation issued last week.

The proclamation makes official a run-off in which a number of local hopefuls have already been campaigning since last month.

That number looked like it was going to drop from six to five last week, with the withdrawal of Democrat Michael Mascetti.

“While putting my campaign together, I realized that the unique time constraints and circumstances of this special election are not the surmountable hurdles that I had once envisioned,” Mascetti said in a statement. He went on to cite the difficulty in a special election of securing matching funds in time to wage an effective campaign.

The difficulties faced by the remaining candidates are not limited to financing. Whomever wins the election in June has to run in a September primary, and again in a November general election, to fill the remainder of Gallagher’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2009.

Almost as soon as Mascetti made his exit, however, another candidate, previously unacknowledged, was discovered to be making a run at the seat. Democrat John Seminerio, despite having made no public appearances at community candidate nights, has been gathering signatures.

“My hat’s been in there for a while, nobody’s noticed,” Seminerio said.

The son of Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, of Richmond Hill, John Seminerio has run once before, in 2001 for the 32nd District seat. According to him, he technically lives two blocks into District 32, but grew up in Richmond Hill, much of which is in District 30. He is an attorney, has worked extensively with the Boy Scouts, is the former president of the Woodhaven Residents Block Association, and has been a mentor for the Covent House Rites of Passage Program for 10 years.

“As my old man always says, it’s always a horse race,” he said. “Why not run? It’s the greatest city on earth. Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of it.”

With John Seminerio’s entry, voters are once again faced with an even choice among three Democrats and three Republicans. The other Democrats are: Elizabeth Crowley, who recently garnered the endorsement of the Queens County Democratic Party and Charles Ober, a long-time local civic leader and business executive.

The Republicans are: Anthony Como, commissioner for the Queens Board of Elections, legal counsel to state Sen. Serphin Maltese and recipient of the Queens County Republican Party endorsement; Thomas Ognibene, a 10-year City Council veteran for the district and former council minority leader; and Joseph Suraci, a private practice lawyer and former president of the Middle Village Republican Club.

In a phone interview, Mascetti said he would give fellow Democrat Crowley his full support.

Special election rules stipulate that candidates cannot run as party members in June, but must run as independents. Still, party politics have prevailed thus far, with party endorsements viewed as important for consolidating support.

Last week, for example, Ober accused the Queens County Democratic Party — of which Elizabeth Crowley’s cousin, Congressman Joseph Crowley, is chairman — of making its endorsement without having properly considered his candidacy. Ober said in an interview that the endorsement process was “not a process to find the best candidate” because party leaders had told him their pick was a “foregone conclusion.”

Michael Reich, executive secretary for the QCDP, said he was present at the meeting between Ober and county leaders and that the allegations of bias were false.

“We met with him for over an hour, discussing his possible candidacy, what he brought to the table,” Reich said, asserting that the decision was made because the party’s district leaders and elected officials had all backed Elizabeth Crowley.

The accusations echoed similar claims made by Ognibene last month, who said the QCRP nomination was made in “clandestine fashion” without properly considering him. The QCRP likewise denied any hints at unfairness.

Earlier this week, however, the Queens County Conservative Party endorsed Ognibene, balancing the scales slightly.

The mayor’s proclamation coincided with Gallagher’s last day in office on April 18. Gallagher — who was chief of staff under Ognibene before he took the seat himself — was forced to resign as part of a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct.

Since the guilty plea, Gallagher has maintained his innocence in news interviews, stating publicly that he took the plea deal because of concerns over mounting legal fees. The victim has held fast to her rape accusations.

Look at Who's Reading Lost in the Ozone...The NYC Campaign Finance Board

I received the following comment on my blog yesterday afternoon from a person named "carl" who posted the comment on the blog posting entitled "CHARLES OBER CHALLENGES QUEENS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION ENDORSEMENT OF ELIZABETH CROWLEY".

When I checked my site-meter for the blog later in the day I discovered that the Campaign Finance Board was looking into this posting (see below)...

I also received an anonymous phone call from a woman identifying herself as a painter who basically told me the same things as carl e-mailed me...

Click to enlarge

carl has left a new comment on your post "CHARLES OBER CHALLENGES QUEENS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC O...":

Brothers and Sisters in solidarity,

Stand up and say something. I am in the painters union DC9. We were told a few days ago that we have to take a personal day to go out and campaign for Liz. Liz is the one with the no-show job that her cousin the congressman got her. She is the laziest person we have ever met and we all do not like her yet we are being forced to go out and get signatures for her so she can run for election. we had to do this for her in 2001 and i'll be damned if any of us are going to do it now for her.

Many other guys on this job site have been told by their shop stewarts that they have to go out also. Like the plumbers and the sheet metal guys. now think of this, they are coming here telling us that we have to go out or we are not going to be working here any longer.

many of us say this is crap. so some of us took the liberty of calling the elections office and they told us to call the campaign finance and we did. they are investigating this. they said that this is a serious allegation. They also want to hear from other guys that are in similar situaions. the lead investigor assigned to this case is Eric at 212-306-7147. He said that anyone that calls will remain anonymous,

They also said that this is a crime. that we can go to jail for participating in this type of action. They also said that anyone who signs the petitions can be called in to court to testify and when the feds start investigatig this we will have to give sworn statements to them. I do not know about anyone else, but i am not going to jail for anyone.

So some of us are going to call in sick to get out of this mess. But i thought everyone should know exactly what is going on and how serious this matter is and that we have reported it to the autorities and it is seriously being investigated. beware this could come back to hurt us all later. let her go get her friends to go out not us. we make over $100,000 a year not to go out and get petitions for crowley, i don't care who her cousin is.


Posted by carl to Lost in the Ozone... at April 17, 2008 2:02 PM

District 30 Runoff Proves To Be A Complicated Affair by Austin Considine - Queens Chronicle

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As the candidates in the District 30 special election to replace Dennis Gallagher compete for financing, signatures and community support, a looming question hangs in the balance: will the winner have what it takes to win a second election just a few months later?

According to city charter rules, the special election — likely to be held as soon as early June — will not be held to replace Gallagher for the remainder of his term, which would have expired on Dec. 31, 2009.

Rather, whomever wins this June will only hold the seat temporarily — being forced to run again to fill the remainder of the term, in both a September primary and a general election in November.

A third election will be held in November 2009 for the next term, which begins in January 2010.

With an election structure that requires the winner to resume campaigning almost immediately after election, some candidates have questioned the sensibility of the charter.

“The way the city charter is written makes it difficult to effectively take on your role as a city councilperson,” said Democratic candidate Michael Mascetti, who dropped out of the race on Wednesday. “As soon as you win the special election race, you have to immediately start campaigning for November.”

Democrat Elizabeth Crowley agreed “without a doubt” that the way the election was set up posed a potential problem for good governance. “It’s the law. It is what it is,” she said. But she expressed confidence that a solid win in June would make the following November a lot easier.

Additionally, she felt that the rounds of debates and forums were good for the process. “I think these types of races bring out the best in candidates,” she said.

Republican Thomas Ognibene, who has already served 10 years on the City Council, presented himself as the candidate with the necessary experience to run in back-to-back elections. “That’s what motivated me to get in the race, because I know how difficult it is to run,” he said.

“I’m probably the only one in this race who doesn’t have a learning curve at the City Council,” he added, citing the difficulties of learning the job while campaigning. “So this doesn’t disturb me at all.”

At a meeting of the Middle Village Property Owners/Residents Association on Monday, five of the six candidates came to present themselves at a candidates night — the second such event, following the one hosted by the Glendale Property Owners Association earlier this month. At the meeting, Ognibene announced that he had no intention of running in the 2009 election. He also said in a later interview that he may run for the Republican mayoral ticket that year.

Republican Anthony Como similarly counted himself among those with the requisite experience, citing his time in public life, as a former Queens assistant district attorney, and as Board of Elections commissioner. “I don’t have to learn,” he said. “I’ve done it, I’ve been doing it. I know the area.”

One casualty of the special election structure in his mind concerned Ognibene’s announcement that he would run only to fill the rest of Gallagher’s term. Specifically, he pointed out that whomever wins in 2009 would would have the unique opportunity of automatically being the most senior member of the City Council because of the extra year-and-a-half of experience.

“That’s upsetting, as a person who lives in the area,” he said of Ognibene’s announcement. “Why would I want to elect someone who only wants to do the job for a year?”

Republican Joseph Suraci, a private practice lawyer and among the most outspoken of the candidates thus far, did not mince words about the charter rules, which he called “a joke.

“If that’s the rule, that’s the rule and you have to abide by the rule,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a good rule, because I think that function should be to fill out the unexpired term. ... It would seem to make more sense.”

Democrat Charles Ober, a civic group leader for the last seven years and a private business executive, raised the point that, despite the system’s flaws, the extra electoral cycles forced politicians to do what they should be doing.

“The essential thing with campaigning is reaching out and talking to people and asking what their concerns are,” he said. “You need to do that anyway.”

Another popular misconception concerns the number of signatures needed by a candidate to enter this election. Board of Elections rules require 2,700 signatures or 5 percent of the number who voted in the district for the last gubernatorial election, whichever is lower.

In this case the 2,700 figure, being bandied about by many, is the higher figure, meaning that the actual number needed is less than 1,000.

Gallagher's Exit from Council Sets Stage for Special Election by Nathan Duke - Times Ledger

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City Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village) will step down from office Friday as part of a plea deal that will keep him out of prison after he pleaded guilty in March to sexually abusing a 52-year-old woman in his Metropolitan Avenue district office.

Gallagher, who was elected to the City Council in 2001 and would have been term limited out of office in 2009, will resign his post nearly nine months after police raided his office following an accusation that he brought the victim, whom he had met at the Middle Village bar Danny Boy's, back to his office and raped her.

The councilman, who is married and has two children, pled guilty to two misdemeanors - sex abuse and forcible touching - in March as part of a deal that will not require him to serve prison time or register as a sex offender.

As part of the deal, Gallagher was also required to write a letter of resignation, enroll in an alcohol treatment program and not contact the victim.

The councilman ran for the Council in 2001 after working as chief of staff for former City Councilman Thomas Ognibene. He was also a former investigator for the New York State Crime Victims Board.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will set a date for a special election within three days after Gallagher steps down on April 18. The election must then take place within 30 to 45 days, a city Elections Board spokeswoman said. The candidate who wins the seat will fulfill Gallagher's duties for the remainder of the year and another election will be held in November to determine who will fill the seat in 2009, she said.

A third election will be held in November 2009 and the winner will serve for two years, the spokeswoman said. If a candidate wins all three elections, he or she could run for one more four-year term in 2011, she said.

Candidates vying for Gallagher's seat include Democrats Elizabeth Crowley, a cousin of U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) who previously ran against Gallagher in 2001, and Charles Ober, first vice president of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association. The Republicans in the race include Anthony Como, a commissioner with the city's Elections Board and an aide to state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale); Ognibene, a 2005 mayoral candidate who held Gallagher's seat for 10 years; and Joseph Suraci, a Middle Village attorney who previously ran against state Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood).

6 Spar for Gallagher Seat in Glendale by Nathan Duke - Times Ledger

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Six candidates vying to replace City Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village) in an upcoming special election vowed to fight overdevelopment and make improvements to neighborhood schools at a candidates forum hosted last week by the Glendale Property Owners Association.

In late March, Gallagher announced he would step down from office April 18 as part of a plea deal to keep him out of prison following his arrest last summer for sexually assaulting a 52-year-old woman at his Middle Village office.

Four candidates hinted at a run for Gallagher's seat before he had announced he would step down, including Democrats Elizabeth Crowley and Charles Ober as well as Republicans Thomas Ognibene and Anthony Como.

They were joined last Thursday at the forum by Republican Joseph Suraci, a Middle Village attorney who previously ran against state Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood), and Democrat Michael Mascetti, a Middle Village resident who formed a non-profit group that tutors low-income students.

Under city election law, candidates cannot run on party affiliation in a special election because there will not be enough time for primaries to be held, a city Board of Elections spokeswoman said.

"We have just been confronted with an unprecedented situation," Suraci said of Gallagher's resignation. "I think what we need in the area is a change, a new moral climate. We need a clean sweep."

The candidates told the standing-room-only crowd that the key issues in District 30, which covers Middle Village, Maspeth, Glendale and Ridgewood, were overdevelopment, school improvements and retaining programs for seniors.

"Overdevelopment is a shame," said Ober, first vice president of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association. "We need to get downzoned. There has been a lack of political leadership in this district."

Crowley, a cousin of U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) who ran against Gallagher in 2001, said one of the top focuses for her campaign is education.

"I have two kids in the public schools," she said. "Education is the most important investment each generation can make for the next. On week one [as council member], I'll meet with every principal in this district."

Como, a commissioner with the city's Board of Elections and an aide to state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), said he would fight to ensure that senior citizen programs are not cut from the city's budget as they have been in the past and vowed to push for a more open City Hall.

"In their senior years, residents should live comfortably and not have to worry about being fed," he said. "And we need to open the doors and make city government more transparent."

Mascetti said he would focus on taxes during his campaign.

"I'd propose to freeze property taxes," he said. "My grandmother lives on a fixed income and Social Security, but taxes go up every year. She is struggling to survive."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will set a date for the election within three days after Gallagher steps down April 18. The election must then take place within 30 to 45 days, a city Elections Board spokeswoman said. The candidate who wins the seat will fulfill Gallagher's duties for the remainder of the year and another election will be held in November to determine who will fill the seat in 2009, she said.

A third election will then be held in November 2009 and the winner will serve for two years. If a candidate wins all three elections, they could run for one more four-year term in 2011.

Ognibene a 2005 mayoral candidate who held Gallagher's seat for 10 years, said he believes he has an advantage over the other candidates in the race because of his City Council experience. He said he will not get bogged down in the numerous elections that will be held for the seat during the next several years.

"Somebody who comes in new will be running for office and not prepared to serve," he said. "As soon as you are elected, you have to begin collecting signatures for the next election and then run again in 2009. It's a very daunting task. I have hands-on experience that will make me ready to serve on day one."

Vincent Arcuri, chairman of Community Board 5, said the candidate who fills Gallagher's seat could play an important role in the City Council.

"They could be the most senior member of the Council," he told Glendale Property Owners members. "So, choose wisely and think of the future because we will have a lot of influence."

Six Vie For District 30 Seat by Austin Considine - Queens Chronicle

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The weather outside was damp and chilly, but inside the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council building on Thursday night, community members gathered for a lively, sometimes heated, debate between the six candidates in the Council District 30 special election.

Community Board 5 Chairman Vincent Arcuri, who introduced the night’s proceedings, emphasized the importance of the coming election. He noted that whomever wins could have a valuable extra year of experience from finishing City Councilman Dennis Gallagher’s term — if he or she is re-elected for the full term next year.

“Choose wisely and think of the future,” Arcuri said, “because we will have a lot of influence.”

Gallagher’s, last day in office is slated for April 18, and the special election to fill the seat for the remainder of his term — which expires in January 2010 — could be held as soon as early June.

Gallagher will re-sign as part of a plea bargain reached last month, having admitting to two counts of sexual misconduct.

Joseph Suraci, former president of the Middle Village Republican Club, was the first speaker — whose unanticipated presence added a sixth candidacy to the race.

Born in Sunnyside, Suraci said he had moved to Middle Village almost 22 years ago, and had practiced law since 1976, having done pro bono work for groups like the Middle Village Property Owners/Residents Association. He ran for office once before, losing to Democrat Catherine Nolan for the 37th Assembly District, and said he was a former adjunct professor at Dowling College.

Calling for “a new moral climate” in area politics, Suraci addressed corruption and overdevelopment — the latter of which, he said, was ruining the area’s character. “This is not the area that my wife and I moved into when we moved here 20 years ago,” he said.

On what was otherwise a predominantly collegial night, Suraci opened the evening with a bit of mudslinging, taking aim specifically at fellow Republicans Anthony Como and Thomas Ognibene.

Suraci called Como “a nice guy” before drawing attention to a home Como is building in the area that he called out-of-character, begging questions about Como’s commitment to community zoning concerns.

He called Ognibene “another nice guy,” but brought up 2001 allegations that Ognibene had accepted bribes from a buildings industry consultant.

“I’m not going to characterize the other candidates,” Ognibene said in opening his speech, emphasizing that “anyone can make allegations,” and that the corruption charges had been dropped.

Broadly, Ognibene portrayed himself as the candidate of experience, citing his 10 years on the City Council for District 30.

“I know I have the leadership and experience that makes me ready to serve on day one,” Ognibene said, noting, with a touch of humor that he didn’t understand why everyone always talked about wanting “new blood” at elections.

“I’ve got 11 stents and have had a few blood transfusions,” he said. “So I’ve got new blood, too.”

Democrat Charles Ober was next in line, and said he would bring a “unique resume and an intensity” the district needed. He cited his post-grad education in finance and quantitative analysis, his success as a financial executive, and his involvement with multiple civic groups over the last seven years — from the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association to the Ridgewood Democratic Club.

The centerpiece of his speech was children, specifically addressing cuts to after-school programs. “We have to have the moral fortitude to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” he said.

Another recent entry to the race was 23-year old Michael Mascetti, who said he is running because of the “clubhouse politics that are destroying the community.”

Although the least experienced of the candidates, Mascetti outlined specific policy actions more than most. Among them was a proposal to hire a staff of law students as part of a work-study program to establish non-profit organizations around the community.

Como, fresh from having received the Queens County Republican party endorsement, opened with a salute to his parents who were in attendance — Italian immigrants who ran a grocery store in Ridgewood while he was growing up.

Like Ognibene, he cited his experience in public service, including such roles over the years as commissioner of the Queens Board of Elections, counsel to state Sen. Serphin Maltese and Queens assistant district attorney.

“You have to fight for what you believe in,” he said, going on to address issues of crime and pending cuts to senior programs like Meals-on-Wheels.

Regarding Suraci’s criticism, Como said he has “no qualms” about the house he is building for his family, calling it a sign of his commitment to the area. “If that’s what you have to come at me, then you’re going to need a lot more,” he added.

Democrat Elizabeth Crowley, who has since been endorsed by the Queens County Democratic Party, was the final speaker of the night. She began by describing her family’s deep roots in the area, with two parents having served on the City Council, and a cousin, Joseph Crowley in Congress. “We are invested. We’re here to stay, and we want to bring about positive change,” she said.

Like some others, she talked about zoning, citing her Masters degree in City and Regional Planning and work for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, as background. She promised to bring City Planning Commission Chairwoman Amanda Burden into the area to address problems of underground infrastructure and flooding.

She also emphasized her role as a parent, with two children in public schools. On “day one,” she said she would work to meet with every principal in the district.

Following the speeches, audience members took turns asking questions and grandstanding, on issues like flooding, congestion pricing and mayoral control of schools.

Don Desmond, a Glendale resident, expressed the sort of wary optimism that has already come to characterize this race.

“We've got a real mix” of candidates, he said. “It's going to be interesting.”


Anthony Como (R)
• Experience: Commissioner for the Queens Board of Election; counsel to state Sen. Serphin Maltese; former Queens assistant district attorney.
• Talking points: Opposed to mayoral control of schools, congestion pricing, and cuts to senior programs; “know(s) how to fight crime.”
• Quote: “You have to fight for what you believe in. That’s why I’m here, that’s why you’re here.”


Elizabeth Crowley (D)
• Experience: Masters in City and Regional planning; currently a project director for the Consortium for Worker Education, a post she plans to vacate once the special election is officially announced.
• Talking Points: Calls city’s 20-year plan to fix area flooding “not acceptable;” advocates compromise between mayoral control and school board systems.
• Quote: “I’ve been supported by hundreds of people in the community. They know that I will make a difference.”


Michael Mascetti (D)
• Experience: Paralegal for a private law firm; founded charity that helps underprivileged kids get into top schools like Stuyvesant, his alma mater.
• Talking points: Wants to bring non-profits to the area; thinks three-year teacher tenures foster less responsible teaching.
• Quote: “My friends and family encouraged me to get out there and talk about the clubhouse politics that are destroying the community.”


Charles Ober (D)
• Experience: Graduate education in finance and quantitative analysis; success as business executive; member of civic groups like Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association and the Ridgewood Democratic Club.
• Talking points: Opposes cuts to schools and senior programs; conditionally supports congestion pricing.
• Quote: “We have to have the moral fortitude to protect the most vulnerable of our society.”


Thomas Ognibene (R)
• Experience: Held District 30 seat from 1992 to 2001; was minority leader for seven years.
• Talking points: Against congestion pricing; for making English language official language of New York; emphasizes past service of “proven results” and “proven leadership.”
• Quote: “When I left, I was proud of what I did. ... I would like to step up and finish what we planned.”


Joseph Suraci (R)
• Experience: Former president of the Middle Village Republican Club, legal counsel to the Middle Village Property Owners/Residents Association.
• Talking points: Against the “overdevelopment” and “McMansions” of the area; against congestion pricing; advocates responsibility at home for student success; wants a “new moral climate” for district.
• Quote: “What we need basically in the area is a change. ... What we need is a clean sweep.”