One week ‘til Special Election

With one week to go before the 30th City Council District Special Election, all four candidates are making their final push to get their message out and secure votes.
“The campaign is basically working 24/7 at this point,” said Democrat Charles Ober, who is one of two Democrats running in the race. “We are ringing doorbells, seeing the voters at subway stops and bus stops.”
Ober along with fellow Democrat Elizabeth Crowley and Republicans Tom Ognibene and Anthony Como are vying to replace City Councilmember Dennis Gallagher, who resigned from office earlier this year after pleading guilty to misdemeanors associated with sexually abusing a woman in his Middle Village district office.
The June 3 Special Election has garnered significant amounts of attention locally and throughout the city, with all candidates appearing at candidate forums, local community organizations and senior and youth groups.
“I am continuing to get my message out there,” Como said. “The best way to win the election is going door to door, shake hands and meet people.”
On Friday, May 23, all four candidates filed their second disclosures with the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB). Elizabeth Crowley led the way with $158,850 raised, however, she does not qualify for public matching funds because she still owes more than $50,000 in fines for CFB violations during her failed 2001 Council bid.
Ober reported $23,744 in fundraising during the second disclosure and as of Tuesday morning, May 27, CFB officials were still going through the disclosures to determine if Ober had enough city contributors to qualify for matching funds.
Meanwhile, Republicans Como and Ognibene, who have raised $48,230 and $35,365 respectively, both qualified for matching public funds, which are being doled out at $7.18 to $1 ratio. Currently Como has received $75,192 in matching public funds while Ognibene has received $58,351.
“It helps because it allows a person like myself in a short period of time and with the support of the neighborhood and the district, to run against Liz and Tom that have raised [almost] all their money from lobbyists,” Como said.
Shortly after Gallagher’s resignation became official, Mayor Bloomberg called for a June 3 special election that will choose the former councilmember’s replacement.