: Let The Battle Begin: Petition, Finance Deadlines Pass As Races Heat Up For September

With petitioning underway and the public financing of campaigns for Council, Borough President and all citywide offices starting, election season is in full swing.

The deadline to declare for public financing for campaigns hit on June 10, and at least 241 candidates have filed to receive public matching funds from the City.

The participants have agreed to be bound by spending limits and participate in debates, although the latter requirement is only for those running for citywide office. The funds allocate $6 for every $1 raised for the first $175 in individual city residents’ contributions, for a possible maximum of $1,050 in public funds per city resident.

These funds help magnify the effect of small contributions. They are designed to make candidates less dependent on large donors and encourage grass roots efforts. The participants are bound by several other caps on their spending which are detailed at nyccfb.info.

In Queens, there are as many as 72 candidates who have begun the process of petitioning, the majority of whom have opted to partake in the public financing program.

A few new candidates have entered the fray since the May 15 filing deadline, and others dropped out shortly after the Queens County Democratic Organization made its endorsements for local races.

Joining the races are some old and new names alike. Tom Dooley and Jerry Kann, both political regulars have signed on in Corona, where Julissa Ferreras won a special election to fill the Council seat vacated by Hiram Monserrate.

In neighboring Jackson Heights, Charles Martellaro has thrown his hat into the ring following the departure of Alphonso Quiroz, who had intended to fight for the seat but left the scrum when any hope of overturning the term limits extension faded away, leaving incumbent Helen Sears to run for a third term. Quiroz had previously worked for Sears and is putting his support behind her.

Angelo Maragos has joined in to a race to fill the Sunnyside seat being vacated by Councilman Eric Gioia, who is running for public advocate. The seat is being sought by District Leader Deirdre Feerick and local activist Jimmy Van Bramer as well as newcomers Brent O’Leary and David Rosasco.

In Forest Hills, another seat vacated thanks to Melinda Katz’s run for comptroller, community board regular JR Nocerino has dropped out of the race, but newcomer Aron Borukhov has joined the field, pushing against newbie Mel Gagarin, community leader Heidi Chain, activist Lynn Schulman, former Assemblyman Michael Cohen and former Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz. Two other new entries to the race are Jay Golub and Albert Cohen.

In the 31st District, where James Sanders is seeking re-election, no fewer than seven challengers have lined up to seek his spot.

Two big rematches are also headed for the ballot this year – in two seats that had special elections recently. In Glendale, where Elizabeth Crowley lost her first special election to Anthony Como, following the resignation of Dennis Gallagher, the young Democrat beat out the Republican in November. Though Como has backed down, the GOP has sent the big guns after this race, pitting Gallagher’s predecessor, longtime Councilman Thomas Ognibene up against Crowley.

The other rematch on the ticket is in Sen. Joe Addabbo’s former district state, where Republican Eric Ulrich won a special election earlier this year. Community Board leader Frank Gulluscio never made the ballot in the special election, but is working hard this time around to challenge the seat and hand control back to the Democrats.

Petitions are still being circulated, and challenges are sure to whittle the field in many of these races significantly before a ballot is prepared for the Sept. 15 primary.
Vladic Ravich contributed