Assemblymember Ann-Margaret Carrozza has announced that she will not seek re-election in November
“It has been a profound honor to have represented the people of the 26th Assembly District for the past 14 years,” Carrozza said in an email on Friday, March 26.
“I have focused on the rights of seniors and holding insurance companies accountable. I plan to continue this advocacy as a full-time elder law attorney in the Bayside community,” she said.
Carrozza told The Queens Courier that she would continue to serve as a Democratic District Leader. “I will continue my community participation – working with schools and veterans with drives and essay contests,” she said.
“When I first ran for office, I said I only planned to serve for 12 to 14 years and the time has just flown by,” Carrozza said. Family concerns also influenced her decision, she said.
“I was on the floor of the Assembly the other day when my cell phone rang,” Carrozza recalled. “It was my eight-year-old telling me my four-year-old had fallen out of a tree – and I could hear him crying ‘Mommie!’ in the background. That did it for me,” she said.
The seven-term Democrat had come under fire over questions of her residence, and certain real estate-related tax deductions. With her departure from the race, observers note that the field is now wide open for another multi-candidate primary campaign.
So far, Ed Braunstein, who was appointed to Community Board (CB) 11 a year ago, has thrown his hat into the ring as a Democrat. Other Democrats being mentioned are Michael Sais, chief of staff for Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and Steven Behar, who last year unsuccessfully sought the nomination to replace Tony Avella in the City Council.
Behar was just appointed to CB11 on the recommendation of Republican City Councilmember Dan Halloran, who won the seat last November.
Republican Assembly candidate Vincent Tabone welcomed Carrozza’s decision, saying, “With what has been going on up in Albany voters want a change – and in the 26th District, they have a real chance to get it.”
