This time they will go head to head.
On Tuesday, November 3, residents of District 32, which includes Rockaway, Belle Harbor, Neponsit and Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Lindenwood and Woodhaven, will decide between incumbent City Councilmember Republican Eric Ulrich and Democrat Frank Gulluscio, District Manager of Community Board 6.
But this will not be the first time the two have been political opponents.
In the February 24 Special Election to fill State Senator Joseph Addabbo’s City Council seat, Gulluscio, who had been widely considered the favorite to win the spot, had his petitions for inclusion on the ballot invalidated because they contained a star, an overt Democratic Party symbol, according to a bipartisan Board of Elections (BOE) committee. In the Special Election, all candidates were to run as Independents.
Now, Gulluscio told The Courier, “We have an incumbent councilmember with name recognition,” but, he said, he remains confident.
“We’re very optimistic,” he said. “I’m very confident that we pull this out.”
In the months since the Special Election and his March swearing in, Ulrich said, “I’m glad to have met the constituents. Since I’ve already been elected it’s given me the opportunity to prove myself to the community. I’ve proven in a few months that I should be reelected for four years.”
Noting that a politician’s accessibility is key, Ulrich said that he is most proud of his graffiti clean-up program and the monies he has secured for area libraries.
“Everyone uses libraries – the young and the young-at-heart,” he said.
And calling this a “hotly-contested race,” both candidates realize the importance of getting out the vote to combat voter apathy.
“I have a goal to shake 200 hands a day,” said Gulluscio, noting that his strategy includes knocking on doors, phone calls and “follow up, follow up, follow up.”
“We have a great crew, great volunteers,” he continued.
“The main thing is getting people out to vote,” echoed Ulrich, who said that, “In this district people are engaged.”
