Simon will not run for City Council

With primaries still three months away, and the election five, Democratic District Leader Lew Simon has announced that he will not be running for City Council in the 32nd District.
Simon did run in the February 24 Special Election to fill the seat vacated by Senator Joseph Addabbo, against Eric Ulrich, Geraldine Chapey and Michael Ricatto. Ulrich won and is now serving as City Councilmember.
“My dream was to become a Councilmember to help my district,” said Simon, whose decision not to run was due to the economic climate and difficulty in raising financing. “It is very, very difficult to raise money.”
He told The Courier that he would continue in his role as District Leader, one that he has held for 16 years, and that he has thrown his support behind fellow Democrat Frank Gulluscio.
“I am ecstatic that he is on my team and that the [Democratic] party has come together,” said Gulluscio. “I’m positive that he made the right choice in supporting me.”
“I am very sorry for disappointing my constituency,” said Simon, who said that his supporters have been calling him and even offering up donations.
“We thought Lew would always shrug off adversity and come back again for another fight,” wrote Norman Silverman of Far Rockaway. Silverman had volunteered on Simon’s previous campaigns and said he would have again. “It seems like Lew has always been there; getting street lights replaced, streets paved, and loudly advocating for better transportation, schools and lifeguards for our beaches. Why can’t Rockaway have its own City Councilmember?”
In the meantime, Simon said, he will begin raising funds and plans to run again in the future.
Ulrich, too, is set to run again in November.
“[This] doesn’t change my campaign,” he said. “I am prepared to take on whoever the [Democratic] nominee is and run on my own record and merits, regardless of who my opponent will be.”