Following inaugurations in Queens, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, there are now four vacancies in the State Assembly – including the 24th Assembly District seat formerly held by City Councilmember Mark Weprin – so Governor David A. Paterson has called an Assembly Special Election.
Paterson issued a proclamation declaring Tuesday, February 9 as Election Day on Tuesday, January 5. “These Special Elections will ensure that all New Yorkers are represented in the New York State Assembly,” he said. “I urge all eligible voters to go to the polls.”
The Queens Republican Party is once again supporting Democrat Bob Friedrich – who lost to Mark Weprin twice – once in the Democratic primary in September and in the general election in November, to vie for the seat in the heavily Democratic district.
“We’re going to run a spirited political campaign,” said Queens GOP chair Phil Ragusa, who questioned the February 9 date. “The law allows 45 days but he [Paterson] made it quick. It’s crazy, but we’ll deal with it.”
Former Councilmember David Weprin is running for his brother’s old seat – having converted his former City Council district office to campaign headquarters and kept the same phone number for his campaign.
“After January 1 the city lease was up and Mark didn’t want the office, so I took the office for two months,” Weprin said. “I prefer a five-week campaign to a four-year one,” he chuckled.
In fact, because of the 35 day time frame, anyone who wants to run as an independent has to file their nominating petitions by Tuesday, January 19.
If you live in the district and want to register to vote, if you don’t mail your application by Friday, January 15, you have to apply in person at a Board of Elections office by Friday, January 29.
Special elections are notorious for low voter turnouts, and the midwinter date is considered a big political factor. “I’d be surprised if 3,500 people turn out,” said a source close to one of the campaigns. “If the weather’s bad it could be a fraction of that and anything could happen.”
Early last February the weather was mild, but in 2008 it was frigid and snowy, according to archived weather reports. “A snowstorm could help Friedrich a lot,” said the source.
