In the past five years, he’s won a City Council election, lost a State Senate primary, won a State Senate election and lost a Special State Senate election. And, that’s not even where he’s generated the most headlines.
Now, Hiram Monserrate is embarking on what may be his biggest political challenge – overcoming a misdemeanor assault conviction and ousting from the State Senate – to regain an elected position as a New York State legislator.
In order to do that, Monserrate must first defeat the county-backed candidate, community activist Francisco Moya, in a Democratic primary in District 39 – a seat vacated when former Assemblymember Jose Peralta defeated Monserrate in a Special State Senate Election in March of this year.
“There’s one thing that’s clear – the voters want change, and they certainly don’t want Hiram Monserrate,” said Moya, a lifelong Corona resident, who has amassed widespread support amongst local elected officials and unions, recently securing the backing of the nation’s largest healthcare workers union, SEIU 1199.
Monserrate, who has been known for his aggressive campaign tactics, has been keeping a low-profile – at least with the media – but a person inside his campaign said Monserrate is as active as ever, canvassing the neighborhood every night, knocking on doors and talking with voters.
While any race with Monserrate is likely to garner its fair share of headlines, the Moya camp is hoping to squash the primary before it actually starts by filing specific objections with the Board of Elections to Monserrate’s petitions.
“I just think it’s a ploy by the other side and the [Queens Democratic] organization to tie up the campaign in court and to make the campaign spend resources rather than be out on the street fighting,” said a Monserrate campaign source.
Even if the Monserrate campaign gets on the ballot for the September 14 primary, Moya is confident, he will emerge victorious.
“People want change. They don’t want to deal with scandal, they don’t want to deal with dysfunction, they want to have a voice in Albany that will go out and represent them,” Moya said.
“I have lived here long before Hiram moved into the district, and I will live here long after he moves out,” Moya continued. “This community deserves a representative that will care for it.”
