Peralta Wins Special: 'Sanity Reigns' As Ex-Sen. Defeated
By DOMENICK RAFTER
Former State Sen. Hiram Monserrate will not be returning to the body that expelled him last month. In a decisive result, Assemblyman Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights) defeated Monserrate and Republican Robert Beltrani to claim victory in the 13th Senatorial district special election and will take the seat from which Monserrate was booted. |
| Peralta supporters berate Monserrate after he voted in Tuesday’s election. |
“We won!” beamed Borough President Helen Marshall at the Peralta victory party at Gran Rancho Jubilee in East Elmhurst Tuesday night.
Peralta arrived shortly after 10 p.m., when the race was called, greeting supporters as the room erupted in a chant of “Jose, Jose, Jose” usually reserved for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes.
“Sanity reigns in Queens tonight!” shouted New York State Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs.
“Our nightmare is over,” said Peralta to a standing ovation. “Tonight we put an end to dysfunction, to divisiveness, to disappointment.
Prominent Democrats from across Queens and Manhattan gathered onstage. Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights) noted the irony of Monserrate’s resounding defeat coming on Domestic Violence Prevention Day. City Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens), who served with Peralta in the State Assembly, praised Peralta’s years of service.
“Jose is a very dedicated individual,” a smiling Weprin said. “I served with him; I can attest to his dedication.”
“This is the final nail in Hiram Monserrate’s coffin,” said Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), who strongly supported Peralta.
State Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith, ousted as Majority Leader in June after a coup supported by Monserrate, was on hand to introduce Peralta.
“You can’t change the past, but you can change the future,” said Smith. “Tonight you have changed the future of the State of New York.”
Two prominent citywide elected Democrats were also on tap to congratulate the victor.
“This community deserves leadership that brings people together, and not divides them,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
“This is the day we reclaim New York for victims of domestic abuse,” said City Comptroller John Liu, who served in the City Council with Monserrate for seven years. “Today is a great day for LGBT New Yorkers. A real Democrat represents the 13th District.”
LGBT rights activists strongly supported Peralta in the race. Within seconds of the race being called, Fight Back New York, a pro-same-sex marriage group focused on ousting State Senators from both parties who voted against same-sex marriage in December, issued a statement.
“One down, seven to go,” said Fight Back spokeswoman Valerie Berlin in the statement, noting that her group will be targeting seven more state senators of either party who voted against same-sex marriage in both the September primaries and November general election.
Some of Peralta’s supporters included prominent officials who had formerly been strong backers of Monserrate such as Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst), who once served as Monserrate’s chief of staff when he was in the City Council.
“I’m so happy to say we have elected the right person to the State Senate,” said Ferreras.
Last month, Ferreras endorsed Peralta – a move that was seen as a slap in the face of her former boss. Peralta gave a special thank you to Ferreras.
“[Julissa] demonstrated courage and conviction in this race,” Peralta said.
Peralta thanked his staff by name and thanked the hundreds of volunteers who flooded the district on his behalf in the past few weeks. He also reiterated his support for same-sex marriage and said he will fight for a budget that does not cut services for seniors and children.
“The burden cannot be on the backs of seniors, children and the working class,” Peralta said.
Gathered with a few dozen supporters in Jackson Heights, Monserrate thanked them and noted that he always knew that he was not the favorite in the race.
“We took on the entire political establishment of the State of New York; every single labor union, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars with an army of hard working average New Yorkers from the great borough of Queens,” Monserrate said. “It is indisputable that from the very beginning, this was a battle of Goliath proportions against us.”
Monserrate gave no indication as to what his future plans are, if there are any, but he could make a run for Peralta’s now-vacant Assembly seat. Gov. David Paterson may call a special election to fill the seat, but does not have to. Peralta’s Assembly district includes parts of Corona and Jackson Heights, mostly south of Roosevelt Avenue between 69th Street and 112th Street. Two Democrats, Francisco Moya and Bryan Pu-Folkes, have already announced their candidacy for the seat. Monserrate could also challenge Peralta again in the September Democratic primary for the Senate seat or as an independent in the general election.
About 15,000 people voted on Tuesday, far less than the 39,000 that turned out in the 2008 general election, but close to the 22,000 that voted in November 2006. Borough President Marshall, a longtime resident of the district who represented parts of it in the City Council and State Assembly, noted that turnout was high.
“I have lived in this district since the 1960s and I’ve never seen such a large turnout in a special election,” Marshall said.
Peralta’s victory gives the Democrats their 32-30 majority back in the State Senate. With Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch providing a tie-breaking vote, Democrats can afford to lose one vote in their caucus and still pass legislation without GOP support.
Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.