Queens Tribune Endorsements

Every Vote Counts
Though this Tuesday’s primary is six weeks prior to the General Election, in many of our local races this is the place where November’s victory will be decided. A large percentage of November’s races have either no or minimal Republican contest, save a handful.

The message could not be clearer. As we enter a year where redistricting is at stake, we support the New York Uprising tenet that redistricting be done in an independent, fair and sensible way with clear and contiguous districts.

In most State Legislative contests on the Primary ballot, the votes cast this Tuesday will determine who will represent us in Albany next year when this important step is taken. In short, this Tuesday’s vote counts for quite a lot. Be sure to go to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Attorney General
In a competitive field this newspaper finds difficulty in the transition from an Albany elected official to Attorney General, an office that needs to scrutinize the failing peers in the legislature. Eric Schneiderman’s use of his Albany staff and the hit and run explicitly eliminates him in our eyes. While Richard Brodsky represents the Albany independence that we admire, after assessing all of the candidates our preference is Kathleen Rice, an established prosecutor.

The Queens Tribune endorses Kathleen Rice for Attorney General.

Assembly & Senate
This newspaper has supported the New York Uprising since its inception. We have encouraged all who care about true reform to take the pledge to stick to its guidelines, key among them being non-partisan redistricting. If candidates have not signed the pledge, we cannot and will not endorse them.

Sadly, a number are running unopposed and will be a part of the Assembly cabal to block non-partisan redistricting. Shame on them all. This newspaper has spent a lifetime railing against the most dysfunctional legislature in the United States. This redistricting is the opportunity to right most of the wrongs of the past. It will be the conduct of this legislature over the next few moments in history in the act of redrawing district lines by which we will judge the members.

We praise the words of Sen. Toby Stavisky, who has, over the years, been a vocal supporter of reform in Albany. But based on past performance of this borough’s representatives in Albany we have chosen to withhold all endorsements in seats where incumbents are running. We believe that they neither need our endorsement nor have they brought real reform to Albany.

In the two Queens races where there are no incumbents, the Tribune has evaluated the candidates.

Based on his command of the system and its processes, in the 26th Assembly District we endorse Ed Braunstein for Assembly.

And in the 39th Assembly District, Francisco Moya, a longtime community activist, gets our endorsement over Hiram Monserrate, a person who has been a part of the Albany problem – which is the least of it in his case.

Congress
There are two Democratic Congressional primaries. This paper’s founder, Gary Ackerman, is facing a Primary challenger for the first time in almost a decade. It is apparent in our judgment that his opponent has failed to present a rationalization for her candidacy. And with our bias and love for Gary we proudly endorse Gary Ackerman to represent the 5th Congressional District.

In the 14th Congressional District in Astoria, Reshma Saujani has presented a spirited, well-financed challenge to Carolyn Maloney. Maloney has served this bi-boro district effectively and has warmly wrapped her arms around the residents of Astoria. We believe she deserves to be returned to Congress.