With 18 seats in the Assembly belonging to Queens representatives, looking at the party affiliations for those members usually isn’t important. That is because Democrats currently hold all 18 seats.
However, one seat Republicans are targeting for the November 4 election is Democratic incumbent Margaret Markey, who has represented the 30th Assembly district that includes parts of Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City and Astoria for the past 10 years. The Republicans are supporting longtime civic and community activist Tony Nunziato hoping to wrestle one of the seats away from the Democrats.
“I see that there’s not enough being done; people are not being represented,” said Nunziato, who rattled off a number of issues including job creation and the environment that he believes Markey has done nothing to benefit the community. “Right now, I’d say we have an empty seat.”
For Markey, she believes that her experience serving in the Assembly for the past 10 years immediately gives her a leg up on her opponent.
“First of all, I know the process,” Markey said. “I know the committee process. I know how to get pieces of legislation enacted.”
“Probably the most important part is that it takes years to really understand the budget,” said Markey, who mentioned that during the past 10 years she has brought back $3.3 million in capital funding and more than $1 million in expense funding for her district.
Markey said that in recent years it has always been education and healthcare topping the legislators’ agenda, but this year the priorities are shifted somewhat, and it is even more crucial to have someone who understands the Albany nuances and budget process representing the district during difficult economic times.
“My main concern is that we have to take care of the economy of New York State, but I don’t want it to be done at the expense of our school children,” said Markey.
However, Nunziato, whose family has owned Enchanted Florist in Maspeth for three generations, has been actively involved in Middle Village and Maspeth for 25 years, offered a somewhat different take on his lack of government experience. He pointed to the apprehension New Yorkers had when Mayor Michael Bloomberg took over following 9/11 and the success he has had since then as well as Markey’s own lack of governmental experience when she entered the Assembly.
“I want to be the voice of the people,” Nunziato said. “I’ll quickly adapt.”
Prior to her tenure in the Assembly, Markey held positions in the Queens Borough President’s Office when Claire Shulman was in office. Markey worked as the Assistant Director of Economic Development as well as the Director of Marketing and Tourism for that office.
However, her ties in the Queens community go back even further, serving as a member of both Community Board 2 and 5 as well as the founder of Maspeth Town Hall - a community center that provides activities for hundreds of families in her district.
Meanwhile, Nunziato believes that it is time for a change in leadership in his district. He plans to open his campaign office in Maspeth on Saturday, September 27 as well as phone banks and a web site with information about his campaign.
Nunziato said his campaign slogan is “taking action and getting results, because that’s exactly the whole history of everything I have done.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Courier will continue to spotlight the different races leading up the November 4 election as well provide updates and analysis on the campaigns as they happen.
