It turns out that voters in Assembly District 39 actually don’t have a choice on Election Day.
That’s because Humberto Suarezmotta, 54, who had declared himself as the Republican candidate, is no longer on the ballot, leaving Democratic candidate Francisco Moya, 36, as the only choice.
“We are still fighting,” Suarezmotta said, “but it seems like there is no time to fight some more.”
Suarezmotta is listed as a Republican on the New York State Board of Elections candidate petition list as of September 27, but he was not included on the list of candidates to appear on the ballot published by the New York City Board of Elections on Wednesday, October 13.
After that, Suarezmotta commenced a special proceeding in the Supreme Court in Queens against the New York City Board of Elections to compel his inclusion on the ballot for the General Election on Tuesday, November 2. But his request was denied after a hearing on Thursday, October 21. He said he still has not gotten an official letter that he is not on the ballot.
“They took me off the ballot without proving anything,” said Suarezmotta, who has been living in Elmhurst for more than 20 years. “It was an act of corruption.”
His removal from the ballot means that Moya will not face any challenger.
“I have no problems with him (Suarezmotta). He is a nice guy,” Moya said. “Hopefully, when this is over we hope we can work together. We need to unify the community.”
During the September 14 democratic primaries for the Assembly seat, Moya defeated disgraced ex-Senator Hiram Monserrate, who tried to find his way back to Albany by way of the Assembly seat, which covers parts of Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. Moya, a community activist, won with more than 66 percent of the votes.
Moya remains focused on his plans to improve the community by addressing the rise in gang violence, standing up against domestic violence, keeping the streets clean and helping the unemployed.
“We have a real tough assignment when we go in on January 1,” Moya said.
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