Special election in 21st CD heats up

With less than a month remaining before the Special Election in the 21st City Council District, a crowded field is jockeying for position to replace now-Senator Hiram Monserrate.
Five candidates have filed paperwork with the City’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) during the January 15 filing deadline including former Monserrate Chief of Staff Julissa Ferreras, Angel Del Villar, George Dixon, Jose Eduardo Giraldo and Francisco Moya. In addition, Carlos Pena has also told supporters that he plans to run for the seat.
Many people believe that Ferreras is the frontrunner in the campaign, and she has received endorsements from a number of current Councilmembers and some New York State Senators and Assemblymembers.
“As his [Monserrate’s] Chief of Staff, I have a wealth of experience in the district working in the community for many years,” she said. “I think there’s no one better to represent it.”
In addition, Ferreras just landed the endorsement of the powerful 32BJ Union on Wednesday, January 21.
“Like us, Julissa Ferreras is committed to making sure development works for the entire community,” said Mike Fishman, 32BJ President. “Ferreras worked hard to ensure that the Willets Point redevelopment plans include job training and placement opportunities for more than 1,000 Queens workers.”
Meanwhile, Moya said that even though he is not the established name in the race, he should be the one to represent the area. Moya, a life-long resident of Corona, started the Corona Gardens Neighborhood Association at age 15, and he has worked on the staffs of two Congressmembers including current Queens Congressmember Nydia Velazquez, who recently endorsed Moya for the seat.
Although a somewhat late entrant into the Special Election, Moya said his campaign has raised about $50,000 in money raised by Friday, and he considers himself the best person to fill the vacant seat.
“There is nobody with a better record on a r/sum/ style level and in the community,” Moya said. “We need to have people who invest in the neighborhood and invest in the community.”
Monserrate resigned from the City Council in order to take his Senate seat effective New Year’s Day.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for a special election to take place on Tuesday, February 24 in order to fill the vacant seat.