Primary Anyone?

The races are on! Generally considered the election that determines who wins a councilmanic seat, the primaries are less than a week away. In some districts, an uncontested incumbents re-election is a no-brainer. In others, current councilmembers are facing real battles. Heres a break down of the more interesting races, all of them on the Democratic ticket, taking place in Queens on September 9. They include a volatile volunteer, an incumbent whose 2001 election came down to less than 200 votes, and a councilman with a "God complex."
Kings Of Corona
The shooting of Councilman James Davis in City Hall by a wouldbe political opponent illuminated the darker side of city politics and the dangers of unstable rivals. Seeing what happened to his colleague, District 21 Councilman Hiram Monserrate took no chances after he and his staff received numerous threats from Julio Abreu, a former volunteer for his opponent, Luis Jimenez. Police arrested Abreu three days after the tragedy in City Hall, for his violent messages.
Usually a candidate linked to such a scandal, even if only peripherally, would be tarnished, but, said Jimenez, its done the opposite.
"It helped me because my campaign was not known to the outside, especially the media," said Jimenez, the only candidate facing Monserrate.
The businessman, who owns a travel agency in Corona, said its his roots in the community that give him an edge over the incumbent. "The difference between the councilman and myself is that I have been here publicly for 17 years," he boasted. "The councilman has only been here a year and a half."
If elected, Jimenez said quality of life would be his main issue. The challenger also said that as a businessman, his experience would be helpful to neighborhood merchants, who, he said, have been suffering through a recession.
Monserrate, on the other hand, is confident of his re-election. "I have broad support throughout the community," said Monserrate, adding that its "laughable" for his opponent to question his roots in the community. "Ive lived here for quite a few years, and Ive been doing community work since 98 or 99."
As far as achievements in his first term, the councilman refers to the money he secured for the expansion of the Corona Library, the allocation of $550,000 for a mobile mammography unit for Elmhurst Hospital, and helping to secure the construction of two new schools. If re-elected, the councilman plans on focusing on education, public safety and senior citizens.
As for Abreu, hes out on bail and back working for the Jimenez campaign, but Monserrate does not fear the volunteer. "I have no doubt he did it," said the councilman. "He will be prosecuted by the DA."
Too Close For Comrie
In 2001, Councilman Leroy Comrie narrowly defeated Helen Cooper-Gregory by a margin of 177 votes in the District 27 primary. Almost two years after he took his seat, Comrie is set for a rematch with the private-practice attorney.
With only her and Comrie on the ballot this time, Cooper-Gregory predicts victory for herself because voters now have a clear choice, one or the other. "The last time I ran, only a quarter [of the electorate] voted for him," said Cooper-Gregory, noting that the remaining three-quarters were split among her and four other candidates. But this time, she said, "Its going to be just Comrie and myself." The challenger, who has the support of local ministers like Bishop Norton, Bishop Del Shields and Reverend Artis, said people are ready for change. Cooper-Gregory intends to make education, economic development and youth services her top priorities.
Not expecting a close call this time around, Councilman Comrie said, "I have a strong track record of service over the past two years." Comrie, who serves as the majority whip in the Council, prides himself on securing $10 million to remove toxic waste in his district. He also touts renovated tracks at Roy Wilkins, Jamaica and Liberty parks. "My biggest accomplishment is being able to establish my own voice and earn the respect of my colleagues," he said. If re-elected, the councilman plans on making seniors and youth his primary focus. "Ive proven myself to be able to work with every other positive person who is trying to do things in the community," he crowed.
Jennings And Company
By far the most fascinating and bizarre of all the election races, the District 28 primary plays like a soap opera. Over the course of his 20 months in office, Councilman Allan Jennings has managed to anger the Queens Democratic Organization so much that hes the only incumbent not to receive its imprimatur for re-election. While the councilman says his maverick style of bucking party lines to stick up for his constituents he was one of only three Dems to vote against the property tax increase is what got him in deep water with the organization, party leaders say it was his embarrassing antics. Aside from comparing himself to Jesus Christ during one Council session, Jennings has also taken out ads in local Chinese weeklies, expressing his love for Asian women. As a result, the Queens Democratic Organization wants him out of office, throwing their support behind District Manager Yvonne Reddick in the primary race.
Since the race started, Jennings became the first incumbent in the history of the city to be thrown off the ballot at the Queens Supreme Court by a challenge from his own party. However, the wily incumbent managed to have the decision reversed at the Court of Appeals level.
"The choices are between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum," said Inderjit Singh, about his rival candidates. The economist, who has worked for the United Nations, the Department of City Planning and CUNY, calls Jennings handling of tax increases a "mocking gesture towards all of us." Singh said Jennings should have worked to find an alternative solution to the property tax. The challenger, who Jennings tried unsuccessfully to remove from the ballot this summer, thinks that unemployment in the district needs to be addressed, especially when JFK Airport generates billions of dollars in revenue each year.
"For the past two years, the 28th councilmanic district has lost what we had gained," said Yvonne Reddick, who points to nearly 10 years of service as the district manager as her qualifications for the job. She says that, unlike the incumbent, she has a working relationship with the Democratic party and with other councilmembers and district leaders, so she can get things done for the community. "When you cannot work with your colleagues, the ones who get hurt are your constituents," said Reddick.
Unfortunately, Jennings declined to talk about his accomplishments and re-election plans with The Queens Courier, calling this reporter a brother to two adopted Korean siblings a racist over a past article that referred to him as an "Asian-phile."