CANDIDATE PROFILE: JOSEPH SURACI

More than 25 years after he was the Republican nominee for a State Assembly seat in Sunnyside, attorney Joseph Suraci hopes to keep the 30th City Council seat in Republican control.
Suraci, who is one of three Republican candidates running in the June special election to replace former Councilmember Dennis Gallagher, currently practices law in Middle Village and is counsel to the Middle Village Property Owners Association. He said he has represented a number of local residents and organizations throughout the last 20 years and worked hard to fight for issues affecting the community.
In addition, Suraci served as the President of the Middle Village Republican Club for four years before becoming somewhat disenfranchised with the club. He also trumpeted a wealth of experience with other Middle Village organizations and issues that affected that neighborhood; however, he said if is elected he would not confine himself to the one neighborhood.
“I would be a very active Councilmember and attend civic meetings in other parts of the district,” Suraci said.
In a recent interview, Suraci pointed to overdevelopment as a key issue in the district and attacked his fellow Republicans Thomas Ognibene and Anthony Como for their history with dealing with developers in the area. Suraci also vowed that he would not take any large contributions from developers because he did not want there to be any possibility of impropriety.
In addition, Suraci also took a shot at the leading Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Crowley, for her lack of experience saying that there was no comparison between her and him.
Meanwhile, two people have challenged the petitions Suraci filed with the city’s Board of Elections in order for him get on the ballot for the special election. Suraci said that he did not know the exact number of petitions he filed, but he believed it was only somewhat over the minimum requirement to get on the ballot.
The two individuals who filed general objections to Suraci’s petitions had until Monday, May 12 to file specific objections before the Board of Elections would rule on the case.
Suraci said he was confident that the people soliciting petitions for him followed the rules, but he also criticized the short amount of time candidates had to collect the required signatures.