After weeks of not knowing whether he would be running against other Democrats or a lone Republican, Michael Miller easily won the special election to replace disgraced former Assemblymember Anthony Seminerio in the 38th District, representing a swath of central Queens.
Miller who was selected as the candidate by Democratic District Leaders after Governor David Paterson decided to call a special election to fill the seat, established an early lead against Republican Donna Marie Caltabiano with the first returns and never looked back.
By the time two-thirds of the electoral districts reported, Miller was declared the winner by some media outlets, with two-thirds of the votes.
In the final tally, it was Miller: 2,730 (65 percent) and Caltabiano: 1,499 (35 percent.)
Miller was not surprised at the light turnout, with only about 4,229 persons voting. “It was actually more than we expected by about 200,” he told The Courier.
Nevertheless, he said he would “hit the ground running.”
“I’ll be meeting with Speaker [of the Assembly] Sheldon Silver tomorrow [Wednesday, September 16] to figure out my schedule, office space and hire a staff,” Miller said, before counting off locations on Fresh Pond Road, Woodhaven and other parts of his new district where he would greet voters or attend civic meetings.
“I know I’ll have to run again next year,” he said, adding, “I may have a primary next year, too.”
Miller was in an abortive though hotly contested primary race against six other Democrats until Paterson short-circuited the process last month. At least one other contender expressed bitterness at the move and others joined in demanding that the Governor “let the voters decide” who the Democratic candidate should be.
Paterson, after a couple of false starts, finally substituted the special election for a Democratic primary on Tuesday, September 15.
The move made it necessary to set up separate voting machines, for the special election and the primaries, sometimes in different rooms at some polling places.
Because the primaries were for City Council Districts and the 38th Assembly District overlaps with the 29th, 30th and 32nd Council Districts, the “two election” situation caused consternation among in some Democratic circles.
The risk of voters leaving the polling place before casting a ballot in the “other” election led to the placement of signs throughout the district, advising Democrats to “VOTE TWICE.”
