By Colin Campbell 4/01 11:51am

Political Party(ing)

(Photo: Facebook)

Working Families Party Endorses in 18 Council Races

Over the weekend, the influential Working Families Party announced their support in a number of key races across the city, sending a signal of labor support as candidates vie for a seat in the City Council next year.

“New Yorkers have a huge opportunity to decide the direction of our city. It’s time to choose whether we’ll be a city that caters to the rich and powerful 1%, or whether New York City can work for all of us,” Bill Lipton, the party’s deputy director, said in a statement. “Every day New Yorkers can count on WFP-endorsed candidates to stand up for all of us.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/05 1:06pm

Hotel Personnel

(Photo: Facebook)

HTC Rolls Out Three City Council Endorsements

It’s a good day for former Assemblyman Rory Lancman.

Mr. Lancman, a candidate for outgoing Councilman Jim Gennaro’s seat, was first welcomed to the news that his top opponent, Martha Taylor, had dropped out of the race. Giving him a further boost, this afternoon, Mr. Lancman scored the endorsement of the Hotel Trades Council, a small but politically powerful union that successfully worked on behalf of Mr. Lancman’s competitor in a congressional campaign last year. Read More

By Colin Campbell 8:23am

rory's story

(Photo: Getty)

Rory Lancman Launches Campaign for Jim Gennaro’s Seat

Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who lost a Democratic primary to Congresswoman-elect Grace Meng earlier this year and declined to run for reelection, now has his sights set on a new chamber of elected office: New York City Council.

“There’s a tremendous turnover in city government next year, including the City Council itself,” Mr. Lancman told us yesterday afternoon. “So I think there’s a real opportunity for someone with experience and energy to have a big impact in shaping the city in the next 4 to 8 years. That’s something that this time didn’t really exist for me in the State Assembly but will in the City Council. It’s exciting to be a part of it.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/13/12 10:39pm

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Nily Rozic Looks Victorious in Queens Assembly Race

Nily Rozic, a former chief of staff for Manhattan Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, looks like she picked up a win for Assemblyman Rory Lancman’s former seat in northeastern Queens. Mr. Lancman, of course, unsuccessfully campaigned for congress earlier this year, ultimately losing the Democratic nomination to his colleague Grace Meng.

Although official results haven’t completely come in yet, according to Queens Times Ledger reporter Phil Corso, Ms. Rozic’s rival Jerry Iannece has already announced his time has “come and gone” and that  ”politics not in the cards for me.”  Mr. Corso’s tweets echo what sources have told Politicker. Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/11/12 11:59am

ELECTION DAY!

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There’s a Bunch of Elections Thursday, Which Ones Should You Care About?

It’s Election Day in New York next Thursday! But instead of a titanic battle between ideologies–your Mitt Romneys vs. Barack Obamas, if you will–the options on the ballot will be little-noticed state legislative contests between candidates of the same party, often with few policy differences.

However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some exciting races happening. From “Who Gets Arrested for Raping a Grandmother?” to “Assemblywoman Caught Up in Sex Scandal with Two Young Men,” there’s been no shortage of nasty drama and mud slinging as voters head to the polls.

Here’s a breakdown of who’s running and why it might matter who wins. The list below focuses on Democratic races because the few Republican primaries in this staunchly blue city tend to have clear favorites or are taking place in such Democratic territory that the victor is reasonably likely to be irrelevant. Read More

By Colin Campbell 8/16/12 9:36am

replacing rory

(photo: nilyrozic.org)

Nily Rozic Touts Emily’s List, Labor Support in Bid to Replace Lancman

Assemblyman Rory Lancman fully vacated his northeastern Queens seat in order to unsuccessfully run for Congress earlier this summer, and now the race to replace him is increasingly heating up and becoming a one to keep your eye on for this year’s September 13th Democratic primary.

Local community board chairman Jerry Iannece has received the support of the Queens County Democratic Party and has been slowly rolling out the endorsements of elected officials in the area, but his opponent would like to announce that she has her own notable support as well. Read More

By Colin Campbell 7/09/12 3:51pm

replacing rory

(Photo: Iannece campaign)

Jerry Iannece Hires Parkside, Picks up Liu’s Backing

Jerry Iannece, the chairman of Community Board 11 in Queens, is gearing up his campaign as primary season for the State Assembly district he’s seeking fast approaches. Accordingly, he’s rolled out the endorsement of Comptroller John Liu in a press release indicating he’s also hired the Parkside Group to handle at least his communications.

“Jerry has spent his adult life working to protect middle class families in Queens,” Mr. Liu said in the statement. “He has built a business and raised a family in Queens while continuing to serve his friends and neighbors here in in the community. I am endorsing Jerry today because he is a tireless public servant who will hit the ground running to deliver results for Queens. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10:16am

signatures

(Photo: NY1)

Grace Meng Says She’s Not Collecting Signatures for Reelection

Due to a loophole in this year’s uniquely layered election calendar, it’s possible for members of the State Legislature to simultaneously run for Congress and for reelection in Albany, providing a potential escape hatch should they lose their congressional bid. There is some controversy as to whether State Senator Adriano Espaillat is doing this or not, but Assemblywoman Grace Meng made clear during a congressional debate last night that she’s currently all-in for Washington D.C.

“I am not circulating petitions to run for reelection as an assembly member and right now I am 100% focused on winning the congressional race,” Ms. Meng stated. Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/18/12 6:12pm

Doctor In The House

(Photo: DrMittman4Congress.com)

Robert Mittman’s Campaign Pitch: ‘I Am A Medical Doctor’ [Video]

Dr. Robert Mittman, the controversial underdog Queens congressional candidate, released a campaign video on YouTube yesterday. So far, only 13 people have watched the clip, which includes footage of Dr. Mittman reading the statement he made when he first announced his campaign interspersed with photos of him and his family, the good doctor at work treating patients and pictures of New York and Washington landmarks all set to the tune of Billy Joel’s 1989 hit “We Didn’t Start The Fire.”

“As a lifelong Queens resident, a parent, a voter and a medical doctor, I am here to offer a precsription for a healthy economy,” Dr. Mittman says in the video. Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/18/12 12:13pm

battle lines

A scene from Ms. Crowley's campaign video hitting Mr. Lancman.

Elizabeth Crowley Takes The Gloves Off, Bops Lancman [Video]

Assembly Members Grace Meng and Rory Lancman, both candidates for an open congressional seat in northeastern Queens, have been taking shots at one another on issues ranging from Social Security to The New York Times endorsement, but the third main candidate in the race, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, has largely been keeping her head down. That changed this morning when her campaign released a video accusing Mr. Lancman of being hypocritical on the issue of independent redistricting.

“Assemblyman Lancman is very eager to attack his opponents, but seems to have forgotten to mind his own backyard,” a high ranking official in Ms. Crowley’s campaign declared. “If he tells a crowd of voters that he supports independent redistricting and always has, but told NY1 four months ago that he had a hand in drawing his own lines, it is a case of pandering at best and lying at worst.” Read More