Queens Tribune

President of the United States

Barack Obama is a new kind of American for a new millennium. While we admire and honor the hard work and sacrifice that his opponent John McCain has given to our country, we are concerned that when McCain sees a war he looks for victory while Obama looks for peace.

On the economy, and domestic issues, Obama’s intellect and leadership offers hope and mobilizes a new generation.

Most importantly, we believe Obama inspires us to see our lives, our nation and our world from a new perspective.

We endorse Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.

U.S. Congress

The incumbents running this year who face opponents, Gary Ackerman (D-5th), Joe Crowley (D-7th), Anthony Weiner (D-9th) and Carolyn Maloney (D-14th) have all served this nation and their districts adequately and should be returned to office. We endorse Congress members Ackerman, Crowley, Weiner and Maloney, as well as their unopposed colleagues from Queens, for re-election.

New York State Senate

The most critical election to take place in New York this year holds the possibility of Democratic control of the New York State Senate for the first time since 1965. With control of the Senate and continued control of the Assembly and Governor’s Mansion, the Democrats would have a chance at perhaps demonstrating that government can work in Albany; it has failed miserably for the last 40 years. While we are doubtful that electing Democrats to control the Senate will solve our state government’s fiscal and ethical problems, we believe that the chance is worth the try.

In the clearest place for the Democrats to pick up a seat is the election of Joe Addabbo over Serphin Maltese in the 15th Senate District. While Maltese has been able to bring home the bacon to his district he also has raised his hand to perpetuate years of stagnation in Albany. We endorse Joe Addabbo.

While we applaud Frank Padavan for continuing to serve his community admirably, and while he has come a long way in his ability to become inclusive, it is our hope that the anticipated voter turnout landslide caused by Barack Obama will sweep challenger Jim Gennaro, who has also served his community well, into the State Senate. We endorse Jim Gennaro.

The final senate race deserving our comment is a lively challenge to incumbent Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-16th) by Flushing businessman Peter Koo. We welcome Koo’s vigorous challenge and encourage him to stay on the scene. However, in a dull and ethically challenged Legislature, Toby Stavisky remains a principled servant, and we endorse her.

New York State Assembly

No matter which way you vote, the Democrats are going to win and continue to hold overwhelming control over their moribund house. Two of the incumbents seeking election are Audrey Pheffer (D23rd) and Marge Markey (D-30th), voted in 1999 to repeal the New York City Commuter Tax. That vote was a disgusting deal that has cost this city more than $600 million and was done at the bidding of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as a political favor. Though most of the Queens delegation would not sell out their city, these two voted to do so, and that vote should be considered when deciding to select the incumbents or their challengers, Gerald Sullivan in the 23rd District and Tony Nunziato in the 30th District.

Finally, the breath of fresh air from Flushing, Grace Meng, who defeated incumbent Ellen Young (D-22nd) in a Democratic primary, faces a perfunctory challenge from Young, who is on the ballot on the Independence and Working Families lines. We endorsed Meng in the primary, and we stand with her again, endorsing her in the general election.

City Council

While this newspaper was prepared to print an endorsement of Councilman Anthony Como is his re-election race entirely based on his commitment to not permit the council to legislatively overturn term limits, our only measure by which he would have gained our endorsement due to our lack of time to evaluate his performance, we have decided to hold back our opinion.

At the last minute before going to press we spoke to him and learned that he is not prepared to approve an amendment that would block the mayor’s term limit bill, the result of which could cause the amendment’s defeat and result in a legislative override of term limits. As a result we are holding back our endorsement and await his actions Thursday to determine who will gain our endorsement for the 30th District Council seat.