By Adam Kramer
A small but enthusiastic crowd joined Democratic activist Rory Lancman Monday night to kick off his state senatorial campaign against the 14-term Republican incumbent for the 11th Senate District seat.
Lancman, who has the backing of the Queens Democratic Party, hopes to beat Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) in the upcoming November election.
“It is off to the races until the polls close on Election Night,” Lancman said. “Our program is to go door-to-door and meet as many voters as possible. Northeast Queens has not seen a race like this in a long time – we will contest in every district.”
He said the Democratic Party is behind him and he thinks at this point in his campaign he is right where he is supposed to be.
His plan is to follow the same model state Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) used to win her race against Republican Douglas Prescott. He said the young Democratic challengers for the state Senate are “working hard and focusing on issues.”
Lancman, 30, a south Flushing resident, is probably best known for his four-year chairmanship of the Queens Hospital Center Community Advisory Board, where he led the successful fight against privatization of the city-owned hospital.
State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) said the Democrats need to gain six seats in the Senate to take control from the Republicans. She said Lancman is an important part of the Democrats' plan.
“Padavan is well known and has been in the Senate for a long time,” Stavisky said. “It is the time to move and wage an energetic vigorous campaign, and I expect Rory will do very well.”
About 40 people attended the campaign kickoff at Lancman's election headquarters at 42-21 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Bayside. Some of the Queens Democrats who attended the event were Stavisky; Carrozza; state Sen. Dan Hevesi (D-Forest Hills); Jim Wrynn, Democratic district leader; Honey Miller, Democratic district leader; and Bernice Siegal, City Council candidate.
“It is a very important challenge because of the balance in the Senate,” Siegal said. “If the Democrats can win the Senate, New York City will enjoy more benefits, such as equity in education funding.”
Miller said Lancman's candidacy is important because of the issues he supports. She said he is pro-choice, Padavan is not and Lancman cares about senior citizens.
“I am here to support Rory with the view of taking back the Senate for the Democrats,” said Jim Gennaro, environmental policy adviser to City Council Speaker Peter Vallone (D-Astoria). “The only way to take back the senate is to run strong candidates like Rory.”
