It’s shaping up to be a very interesting battle in the Democratic primary for the 39th Assembly seat on Tuesday, September 14.
Bad boy ex-Senator Hiram Monserrate is trying to find his way back to Albany by way of the 39th District Assembly seat, which is vacant because Jose Peralta won a Special Election to replace him. But his opponent Francisco Moya, a community activist, said Monseratte doesn’t stand a chance.
“We are winning this election,” Moya said. “There is no doubt. This election is won because the people want change. They know I am not corrupt.”
Monserrate was forced out by the Senate in February after being found guilty of misdemeanor assault against girlfriend Karla Giraldo in October 2009 for the December 2008 incident in which he allegedly slashed Giraldo’s face with a broken glass and pulled her through the lobby of his apartment by her hair. He received three years probation, mandated community service and one year of counseling. Giraldo and Monserrate maintain that happened by accident.
Moya has developed a plan to address the rise in gang violence, and said he is committed to stand up against domestic violence and get stronger protections for domestic violence victims.
“He (Moya) has a record on women’s issues that we can be proud of,” said State Senator Liz Krueger at the Women for Moya rally on Saturday, August 28. “We also know his opponent’s record on women – it’s a criminal record!”
Local elected officials including State Senator Jose Peralta were upset that Monserrate showed up with Giraldo at the street renaming of the corner of 94th Street and 37th Avenue in honor of the Ecuadorian Community on Saturday, July 31.
“It is typical of his thuggish way,” said Moya, 36, who is Ecuadorian. “It was an insult to the Ecuadorian community.”
Monserrate, 43, who served in the City Council for seven years until he was elected to Albany in 2008, told The New York Times that he remains convinced that he has support in the district, which covers parts of Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. In fact, he has received support from COPOLA USA, a local Latino political committee.
“Let them believe I have no shot at winning,” Monseratte told The Times.
Monserrate’s campaign spokesperson, Mike Nieves, could not be reached for a comment from the candidate.
Moya, who founded a neighborhood association at 15 and became a Congressional aide at 23, ran unsuccessfully in the past for the Assembly and most recently for the City Council. But now Moya enjoys strong support from party leaders, unions and elected officials, including Congressmember and Queens Democratic Leader Joseph Crowley, State Senator Peralta, Assemblymember Michael DenDekker, and City Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras and Daniel Dromm.
Moya is also better financed than Monserrate, who had a little over $50,000 in campaign contributions by the end of August. Moya had raised more than $150,000.
“He cannot put his ego aside,” Moya said. “It’s time for us to move on. We need people who are going to bring back integrity to the community.”
