By Connor Adams Sheets
Whitestone has three contentious political races this year, with candidates battling for seats now held by state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone), state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Whitestone) and state Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside).
Stavisky’s challengers, Democrats Isaac Sasson and John Messer, and Republican Robert Schwartz, are hoping an expected anti-incumbency trend will sweep them into office, but Stavisky has a large fund-raising lead.
Padavan has raised more money than former City Councilman Tony Avella in the race for his seat this fall, while six contenders for Carrozza’s seat have brought in a combined total of nearly $300,000, according to state campaign finance documents.