The city Board of Elections disqualified Flushing City Council hopeful Jay C. Liu from the ballot Monday, saying he cannot run against Democratic incumbent John C. Liu…
By Alexander Dworkowitz
It appears that Flushing’s Liu vs. Liu grudge match may not happen after all.
The city Board of Elections disqualified Flushing City Council hopeful Jay C. Liu from the ballot Monday, saying he cannot run against Democratic incumbent John C. Liu (D-Flushing). The two are not related.
Jay Liu was appealing the decision in court Wednesday morning, after the TimesLedger deadline.
As of press time, one challenger, Democrat Isaac Sasson, remained on the ballot to oppose John Liu.
In order to run as a Democrat in a City Council primary, a candidate must collect at least 900 signatures to make the ballot.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the Queens County Democratic Organization typically challenge the petitions of candidates who are running against incumbents backed by the organization.
Jay Liu said he collected 1,574 signatures on his petition.
But the Board of Elections found that only 557 of those signatures were valid.
“I understand they are very concerned about having me on the ballot,” Jay Liu said. “They are going to extreme means to get me off.”
Jay Liu, a downtown Flushing property owner, had decided to challenge John Liu over the issue of a Business Improvement District for downtown Flushing.
When he ran for City Council in 2001, John Liu said cleaning up downtown Flushing was his priority.
After he took office, John Liu pushed for a Business Improvement District. Under a BID, property owners must pay an assessment in exchange for additional services, most often extra sanitation pickups.
Of the nearly 300 people who own property in the area of the proposed downtown Flushing BID, about 75 percent of them support its formation, John Liu has said.
But Jay Liu said the plan lacked support, contending the property owners could not afford an additional assessment
The two Lius were classmates as teenagers, both attending the Bronx High School of Science.
Jay Liu said if his appeal failed, he would consider running again in 2005.
“I’ve learned quite a bit,” he said. “I’ll be ready next time.”
The Queens County Democratic Organization had also challenged Sasson’s petitions, but the Board of Elections found he had enough signatures.
Sasson, a member of Community Board 7, could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this month, civic leader and fellow Community Board 7 Kim Ohanian decided to drop out of the race against John Liu, saying the incumbent was too popular.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for Sept. 9.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 141.
