By Jennifer Warren
Queens Democratic Party boss Tom Manton clasped the hand of 23-year-old Elizabeth Crowley and raised her arm high in the air. Her other hand was clutched by her first cousin, U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), and the two men proclaimed her the face of the next generation of Democrats.
The occasion was the endorsement of Elizabeth Crowley for the 30th Council District seat currently held by Tom Ognibene (R-Middle Village). Her announcement came just days after Ognibene announced he may leave his post early to pursue a judgeship.
“I’ve got a lot of energy and I’ve got the will,” the mother of two said, standing on the street before the day care center where she works.
The other contenders for the race are Democrats Robert Cermeli, Erik De Paula and Linda Sansivieri as well as Republican candidate Dennis Gallagher, Ognibene’s chief of staff.
While Elizabeth Crowley promoted her youth, energy and drive to succeed, her elder cousin was quick to interject “intelligent” into the long string of attributes.
“And, as Joe said, ‘intelligent,’” she said.
Her bid for the 30th CD seat surfaced five weeks after she announced an initial run for the seat now held by Councilman Walter McCaffrey (D-Woodside). She said she made the switch because she saw little distinction between the two districts and considered it the same community.
She lives in Glendale, which is covered by Ognibene’s council district.
Elizabeth Crowley also said she had been advised by Manton on the benefits of running in the 30th Council District since it offered the opportunity to “take a seat away from a Republican and shift it over to the Democrats.”
Nearly three years ago Manton handpicked Joseph Crowley, then a state assemblyman, to be his successor when he decided to retire from Congress in a move that stunned Queens political circles.
Manton said he gave his blessing to Elizabeth Crowley in part because of the potential for a special election in light of Ognibene’s expected resignation before his term expires Jan. 1 If the early election takes place, he said, the Democrats will need to prepare quickly and having a candidate with a familiar name will certainly help, he said.
“She has the Crowley name. There’s no need to build name recognition,” Manton said.
In response to the other Democratic candidates who were hoping for his endorsement, Manton called the campaign a “competitive business” and said the others were still “free to run.”
Elizabeth Crowley lives in Glendale with her husband, a New York City police officer, and her two children. A child-care professional and artist, she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1999. While studying fine arts, Elizabeth Crowley said she became politically active in artists’ unions.
Elizabeth Crowley maintained that while at 23 she may be younger than the other candidates, she did not consider age to be important. “The older people may have experience, but I have a lot of people to turn to for advice if I need it,” she said.
Her cousin, 16 years her senior, said that while growing up with her he had not expected she would enter politics, but then again he said he had not anticipated his own political fortunes.
But it did not completely surprise him. “We were both steeped in public service as a tradition in our family,” Joseph Crowley said.
Reach reporter Jennifer Warren by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 155.
