Children back at school, families back from vacation and a new U.S. Open champion crowned at the picturesque Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. But this year, September is special for a very different reason. This year, September 9th is Primary Day across the state of New York. Even though only a handful of races are being waged in Queens, the political implications run far deeper than the list of names on the ballot.
The anticipated Democratic Primary contest between City Councilmember Joseph Addabbo Jr., and Albert Baldeo was over before it began. Baldeo, who in 2006 nearly unseated Republican incumbent Senator Serphin Maltese, dropped out of the race and endorsed Addabbo. His absence from the race gives Addabo a strategic advantage to court the large minority population Addabbo will need to defeat the popular Maltese.
Though gone from the Primary, Baldeo has not been forgotten. Recently, Addabbo blasted Maltese for a campaign mailing which cited unflattering comments Baldeo made about Addabbo. Though the literature was not directly attributed to anyone connected to the Maltese camp, Addabbo claimed it was produced by a mail house employed by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee. In politics, friendships are short-lived and often more damaging than the most pointed comments of an enemy. While Baldeo’s elimination from the Primary gives Addabbo a boost, it remains to be seen if his critical words will come back to haunt Addabbo among the very voters he is trying to attract.
Competing in the 22nd Assembly District is Assemblymember Ellen Young and Grace Meng. Young, a disciple of Councilmember John Liu’s political organization, won the seat after Meng’s father, Jimmy Meng, left office prior to the 2006 election. Both Young, who received praise for her efforts to reduce healthcare costs, and Meng, who has a strong reputation as a community organizer, are well-known in the district. However, it is rare for even a first-term incumbent to be defeated in a primary contest and this race will likely prove to be the rule rather than the exception.
In the least challenging contest of the primary season, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky is being opposed by political newcomer Robert Schwartz. Stavisky has successfully executed an ambitious agenda on behalf of the three Ss of government: Seniors, Schools and Safety. Stavisky was instrumental in creating a senior center within her district, has advocated for making college more affordable, and worked to improve traffic safety conditions on Queens Boulevard. Schwartz is little known within political circles and will probably retain that distinction even after the conclusion of the primary election.
In the 10th Senate District in Southeast Queens, State Senator Shirley Huntley is being challenged by former City Councilmember Allan Jennings Jr. In 2006, Huntley defeated long-time incumbent Senator Ada Smith, who, like Jennings, has a tumultuous reputation for improper behavior. In 2005, Jennings was accused of sexual harassment by two female staffers. Following an investigation by the Council, Jennings was fined $5,000, but when Jennings failed to pay, the Council garnished his salary and issued a censure for his behavior. Jennings was eventually defeated in his bid for re-election by former and now current City Councilmember Thomas White Jr. Fast-forward to 2008, and Huntley now finds herself in a close contest against another embattled pol. Huntley should withstand the challenge from Jennings, because though well-known in the district, Jennings’ name recognition is decidedly more notorious than noteworthy.
Two of the borough’s most contentious primaries may never find their way into the voting booth. Donovan Richards and Ruben Wills, who are challenging Assemblymember Michele Titus and Congressmember Gregory Meeks, respectively, were removed from the primary ballots after their petition signatures were subjected to challenge. As a staffer to Councilmember James Sanders Jr., who is rumored to be eyeing his own run against Titus in 2010, Richards was seen by many as a bellwether to gauge Titus’ vulnerability.
Ruben Wills’ candidacy arose from the presidential primaries, when he supported a slate of delegates committed to Barack Obama, who defeated delegates committed to Hillary Clinton, supported by Meeks. Wills is not challenging Meeks solely on his job performance, which is very well regarded, but on what Wills perceives as a lack of objectivity in supporting a presidential candidate who did not win his district. Members of Congress are not elected for their objectivity. In fact, just the opposite is true. They are chosen for their subjectivity, their opinions, leadership and decision-making ability on behalf of their constituents. If the voters disagree with the job they are doing or the agenda they are leading, then every two years they have the constitutional right to fire them. Although the courts will decide whether Ruben Wills has a place on the primary ballot, his justification for opposing Congressmember Meeks has no merit.
While there may not be much action in Queens on Primary Day, the races that were, and almost were, have provided enough political excitement to get us to November, when the fate of the White House, Congress and the New York State Senate should hold our attention . . . at least until Thanksgiving.
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