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challenging charlie

By Colin Campbell 7/06/12 8:40am

challenging charlie

J.C. Polanco (Photo: NY1)

Board of Elections: Adriano Espaillat Should Apologize for ‘Appalling’ Attacks

New York City Board of Elections Commissioner J.C. Polanco isn’t happy that State Senator Adriano Espaillat and newspaper editorials are bashing the agency’s ballot-counting operation after last Tuesday’s vote. On Inside City Hall last night, Mr. Palanco simply unloaded on all of them, calling allegations that they may have tilted the process towards Mr. Espaillat’s rival, Rep. Charlie Rangel, “vicious,” “malicious,” “false,” “terrible” and more.

“When we allow for the editorials in New York City to tell our story, when we allow for columnists and other individuals and elected officials who honestly are doing a disservice to their community by not understanding election law, … [to be] going out there and blasting the hardworking men and women at the Board of Elections, we think it’s appalling,” he argued. Read More

By Colin Campbell 7/02/12 8:39am

challenging charlie

Adriano-Espaillat-Headshot

Espaillat Campaign Prepares for Legal Showdown

State Senator Adriano Espaillat certainly can’t be be accused of sitting down after his reported loss to veteran Rep. Charlie Rangel in last Tuesday’s Democratic primary. As Mr. Rangel’s lead whittled down to just 802 votes over the weekend, the Espaillat campaign hired election law guru Marty Connor and promoted a hotline available for voters to register complaints about Election Day shenanigans. A State Supreme Court will hear an injunction request from Mr. Espaillat today and the Board of Elections will start counting more than 2,000 affidavit ballots Thursday morning.

“As the New York State Supreme Court considers the serious voting-access and counting issues in the 13th Congressional District election, we are pleased to welcome Marty Connor to lead our legal team,” Mr. Espaillat’s spokesman, Ibrahim Khan, said in a press release. “Our campaign will continue to push for every vote to be counted in a transparent and democratic process.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/15/12 8:06am

challenging charlie

Adriano Espaillat and Charlie Rangel debating earlier this month. (Photo: NY1)

Espaillat and Rangel Beef Big During Debate While Williams Scoffs

“My campaign is not circulating petitions for any other office, I’m running to win on June 26th and that’s the end of it,” State Senator Adriano Espaillat said in response to the first question on Inside City Hall last night, inquiring whether he is trying to get onto the ballot to run for reelection while waging a congressional campaign. “I have not instructed anybody nor have I authorized anybody to circulate petitions for any office whatsoever.”

“I’m advising people not to sign any petitions with my name on it,” he added when the host, Errol Louis, pressed him on it, causing Mr. Louis to label his answer as “very clear.”

However, that was by far not the last time viewers of the debate heard of the charge, as Mr. Espaillat is seeking to unseat veteran Congressman Charlie Rangel, who continuously brought it up in subsequent questions. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/30/12 11:35am

challenging charlie

Charlie Rangel at his campaign launch a few weeks ago. (Photo: Hunter Walker)

Rangel’s Race Rumbles On

Last night, Congressman Charlie Rangel and his challengers spoke at the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club in the Bronx, where, after making their pitches, the club voted 54-13 to endorse State Senator Adriano Espaillat for the seat. While the result wasn’t earth-shattering, it was notable that Mr. Rangel attended at all — he has not been known to attend contested club endorsement meetings in the past.

While the Benjamin Franklin club is fairly influential, Mr. Rangel has recently rolled out his own set of big-name endorsements, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Speaker Christine Quinn and former Mayor Ed Koch. Former Mayor David Dinkins is also expected to back Mr. Rangel. Read More

By Colin Campbell 11:42am

challenging charlie

The scene from yesterday's candidate forum.

Moments From Last Night’s Debate Between Rangel’s Challengers [Video]

“Is the empty seat for the other person who’s running?” an audience member asked the moderator before the candidates running against Congressman Charlie Rangel introduced themselves in Washington Heights last evening.

“Since you asked it now, I’m happy to tell you now,” the moderator responded. “Hudson Heights has called Congressman Rangel’s office repeatedly and we were told a few days ago, and again today, that the congressman would be unable to be here.”

Mr. Rangel himself contested this explanation, insisting that he had never been invited, but regardless, the four challengers to Mr. Rangel in this year’s Democratic primary discussed federal policy issues without the sitting incumbent they are hoping to unseat. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/22/12 3:13pm

challenging charlie

Clyde Williams (photo: clyde2012.com)

Clyde Williams: Jobs!

“I’m talking about real jobs that are available today,” Clyde Williams said as we talked over brunch in Harlem this morning (he wanted otmeal but settled for the scrambled egg plate). “Studies show that if all the jobs available were filled, the unemployment rate would be under 7%”

Mr. Williams was explaining his next policy push in his congressional campaign as he works to unseat veteran Rep. Charlie Rangel. He argued that the federal government should be doing much more to retrain workers for targeted industries and that Mr. Rangel, currently in office, has not been delivering. Read More