24th Assembly Endorsement

Due to an editorial error, this endorsement was omitted from the Feb. 4 print edition of the Queens Tribune.

In the special election race to replace Assemblyman Mark Weprin, who stepped down from his post after winning a seat on the City Council, two familiar candidates will face of next Tuesday.

David Weprin, Mark’s brother, whose seat in the Council Mark took, is running against Bob Friedrich, who ran against Mark in the Democratic Council primary last year, and a again on the Republican line in the general election, losing both times.

This time, Friedrich, a registered Democrat, is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, and David Weprin is running as a Democrat.

Friedrich, who said he would push hard to enact reform, would come to Albany with high ideals and his heart in the right place. But he would also enter as the lowest-ranked member with the least ability to bring home the bacon for his community of all the members.

He also asserted in an endorsement interview this week that he has never favored gay marriage, opting for civil unions, but in a previous interview with this newspaper he said he was “for” gay marriage.

Weprin, who served on the Council for eight years, brings not only personal experience, but connections in Albany from his life in political circles. Though we are uncertain of his ability to enact significant reform in Albany, we are sure he will be able to provide for his district from Day One.

The Queens Tribune endorses David Weprin for the Feb. 9 special election for the 24th Assembly District.