Two candidates skip debate, anger community

Two weeks before the 30th City Council District Special Election, the absence of two candidates from a local debate is causing an uproar in the community.
Just hours before a Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) debate, Republican Anthony Como and Democrat Elizabeth Crowley informed JPCA President Bob Holden that they would not participate in the debate because of other commitments, even though both candidates had previously committed, according to Holden.
“To me, this is disgraceful,” Holden said, before introducing the Republican Tom Ognibene and Democrat Charles Ober, who did attend the debate on Tuesday, May 20, at Our Lady of Hope auditorium in Middle Village.
Holden had harsh words for both Como and Crowley, and told the audience to remember those who did not feel it was worth their time to attend the debate.
“Elizabeth Crowley has been afraid to come to the Juniper Park Civic Association for quite some time,” said Holden, who believed that Crowley ducked the debate because she was afraid of answering difficult questions the group may have asked her.
Crowley’s Campaign Manager Alyson Grant said she left a message with Holden shortly before 6 p.m. - less than two hours before the debate was scheduled to start - and told him that Crowley would not attend because of a meeting with a newspaper. Grant said that the campaign only realized the scheduling conflict late yesterday.
As of press time, Como did not return calls seeking comment.
Meanwhile, during the hour-and-a-half debate, Ognibene and Ober took turns answering questions from the panel as well as questions submitted by audience members. Ognibene continued to stress his experience and preparedness to assume all the Council responsibilities on day one, while Ober continued to push his civic accomplishments and commitment to the community.
Although Ognibene and Ober predominantly stayed away from criticizing each other, both took turns taking jabs at the two absentee candidates. Both criticized Como for building a house that is not in character with the neighborhood, and Ognibene took issue with Crowley even being allowed to be on the ballot since she owes more than $50,000 in fines to the city’s Campaign Finance Board for violations during her failed 2001 Council bid.
“It’s an outrage,” Ognibene said.
In addition, on Tuesday, May 20, the city’s Board of Elections ruled that Republican Joseph Suraci would not be included on the ballot after his petitions failed a challenge.
“You are always disappointed that a lot of people went out and got signatures and pounded the pavement,” said Suraci, who showed up at the debate Tuesday night, but did not participate in the event. “If we would have had another week or two I’m sure we would have had well over the amount.”
Suraci said he contemplated appealing the decision in Federal Court, but he decided against it.
Shortly after former City Councilmember Dennis Gallagher’s resignation became
official, Mayor Bloomberg called for a
June 3 special election that will choose Gallagher’s replacement.
The winner of the special election will only serve until November 2008 when another election takes place to decide who will serve the remainder of Gallagher’s term though 2009.