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By Colin Campbell 8/05/12 7:06am

queens

james sanders

In Extremely Animated Speech, Sanders Makes His Pitch to South Asian Voters

“So Sanders, what are you going to different? All you guys come up here, what are you going to different?” an audience member asked Councilman James Sanders Friday night at a Democratic club in Richmond Hill.

Mr. Sanders, a candidate for the State Senate against incumbent Shirley Huntley, then strolled up to the front.

“I’m glad you asked that question sir, and I’m going to answer you this way,” he responded. “One of the things that we’re going to different is that we’re going to open up an office in this community. This noble community should not have to trek a million miles to get service.”

The audience member, who happened to be Mr. Sanders himself assuming multiple roles as he scurried back and forth between his speaking position and the crowd, amusingly countered, “That’s good Sanders, but that’s only the beginning, we need more!” Read More

By Colin Campbell 12:30pm

queens

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Facing a Latino Challenger, Mike Miller Highlights His Latino Support

Assemblyman Mike Miller is running for reelection in a district that is more than 47% Latino, and facing a primary challenge from Etienne David Adorno, he’s clearly looking to solidify his support in that community. To wit, Mr. Miller’s campaign sent out a press release earlier this morning entitled, “Leading Latino Elected Officials Endorse Mike Miller for Re-election.”

“Mike Miller is a leader who has been delivering results for our families and community,” Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, one of several Latino elected officials said in the statement. ”He fights to improve our schools, works to protect the most vulnerable citizens among us, and is committed to bringing good jobs back to Queens, and that’s why I fully support him.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/06/12 11:59am

queens

Phil Gim (Photo: Gim campaign)

Candidates Pile Into Race for Grace Meng’s Seat

Earlier this week, Ethel Chen registered a campaign committee to run for Assemblywoman Grace Meng’s seat. Like Ms. Meng, Ms. Chen is a Democrat, and even though there remains some doubt as to whether Ms. Meng might be running for reelection or as the Democratic nominee for an open congressional seat, Ms. Chen is one of several candidates plowing forward with their campaigns.

This week, Democrat Ron Kim and Republican Phil Gim also declared their campaigns, setting up a primaries in a field that may already be set to include Democrats Isaac Sasson and John Scandalios, as well as Republican Sunny Hahn. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/29/12 2:53pm

queens

Eric Ulrich (Photo: Facebook)

Eric Ulrich Picks Up Conservative Endorsement

While the Queens Republican Party can’t quite seem to get its act together and unify behind Councilman Eric Ulrich, the leading GOP candidate against Democratic Senator Joe Addabbo, the county’s Conservative Party gave Mr. Ulrich a fist bump with an official endorsement today.

“Eric understands that job creation is the key to strengthening our communities and putting New York back on the right path,” Queens Conservative Chairman Tom Long said in a statement. “He will fight for lower taxes on small businesses and provide incentives for businesses to hire and grow. We need new leaders in Albany, like Councilman Ulrich, who will focus on fixing the economy and making our neighborhoods safe.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/01/12 4:33pm

queens

Toby Ann Stavisky

Toby Ann Stavisky Consolidates Asian-American Political Support

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, who recently announced she’s moving into, and campaigning for, a newly created Asian-majority district (that still contains most of her pre-redistricting electoral territory), has consolidated the backing of every Asian-American elected official in New York City.

Councilman Peter Koo, Comptroller John Liu, and Assemblywoman Grace Meng all endorsed Ms. Stavisky at her endorsement event last week and the lone straggler, Councilwoman Margaret Chin, joined the crowd today, according to an announcement from Ms. Stavisky’s campaign. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/30/12 8:38am

queens

Grace Meng (photo: assembly.state.ny.us)

Grace Meng: No Concerns About Stavisky Endorsement [Update]

Last Friday, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky announced she would move into a neighboring, Asian-majority State Senate district and seek reelection there rather than face a primary battle against her colleague Tony Avella. Notably headlining the event were two of the area’s Asian-American elected officials: Councilman Peter Koo and Assemblywoman — and congressional candidate — Grace Meng. Asked if she had any reservations endorsing Ms. Stavisky instead of an Asian candidate, Ms. Meng stressed Ms. Stavisky’s work on behalf of the community.

“Right now, we’re focusing on the congressional race obviously,” she said yesterday after an endorsement event from the Alliance of South Asian Labor where she had stressed the importance of adding to the diversity of Congress. “I mean, Toby happens to be someone that I have worked with extensively on issues relating to diversity and issues in our local community.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/09/12 10:23am

queens

Grace Meng

Jeffrey Gottlieb Was Previously Gathering Signatures for Grace Meng

In Assemblyman Rory Lancman’s press release denouncing the entry of Jeffrey Gottlieb into the Democratic field, Mr. Lancman claimed Mr. Gottlieb was previously gathering signatures for Assemblywoman Grace Meng’s now-rival congressional campaign, a fact confirmed to The Politicker earlier this morning by the president of the JFK Democratic club in Queens, Herb Ryan.

However, Mr. Ryan said it was merely because Mr. Gottlieb always heads the club’s signature-gathering efforts on behalf of whatever candidate is endorsed by the Queens Democratic establishment. The Queens Democratic Party endorsed Ms. Meng just before she announced her candidacy a couple weeks ago.

“He takes care of all of the petitions for the JFK Club, and the club supports county,” Mr. Ryan explained. He wasn’t immediately aware of whether Mr. Gottlieb would continue to work on Ms. Meng’s behalf. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/27/12 11:06am

queens

grace meng announces

EMILY’s List Gets Behind Grace Meng

EMILY’s List, a prominent political action committee that aims elect pro-choice Democratic female candidates, has gotten behind Assemblywoman Grace Meng’s bid for Congress in Queens even though there’s another pro-choice Democratic female candidate in the race, Councilwoman Liz Crowley.

“Grace Meng is not just a strong candidate, she’s exactly the kind of fierce advocate for women and families that we need in Washington right now,” Stephanie Schriock, the organization’s president, said in a statement this morning. “Grace is a true progressive who will stand up to the radical Republican agenda and get things done in Congress.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/18/12 10:23pm

queens

Grace Meng and Rory Lancman (photo: assembly.state.ny.us)

Grace Meng, Rory Lancman Move Towards Congressional Run

According to multiple reports, as well as The Politicker‘s own sources, Assemblywoman Grace Meng has received the support of Queens Democratic Chairman Joe Crowley in her bid for the new 6th Congressional District this evening. Establishment backing is a big boost in low-turnout primaries where little else is on the ballot. Congressman Gary Ackerman was initially expected to run for the seat but suddenly exited the race last week, creating a vacancy for aspiring politicians in eastern Queens.

Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who was running against Mr. Ackerman before bowing out, had already made his plan to campaign for the seat again clear. This evening, he even more directly stated his intentions by tweeting, ”Congrats to my friend Grace, looking forward to a spirited campaign on the issues.” Read More