Simanowitz takes 27th District seat

The Democrats prevail again.
Michael Simanowitz trounced his Republican opponent, Marco DeSena, in the state Assembly race for the vacant seat once held by political mainstay Nettie Mayersohn.
The Associated Press reported that Michael Simanowitz captured 76 percent of the vote in the 27th Assembly District that encompasses College Point, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens Hills, Electchester, Pomonok, Briarwood, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill.
“It was the culmination of a very long journey and it was really gratifying seeing the numbers that came in,” Simanowitz said.
DeSena wasn’t discouraged about his efforts to gain the seat, but knew in the end that the Democratic campaign was too much for his one-man show to handle.
“I wish Simanowitz the best. We tried our hardest, met some great people in a great district, but the registration proved too much to overcome,” he said. DeSena captured about 24 percent of the vote with 91 of 97 precincts reporting.
Simanowitz, a Queens native, was Mayersohn’s chief of staff for 15 years. The Queens College graduate also was an active member of the 107th Precinct Auxiliary Unit and served as commanding officer of the unit for the past nine years.
DeSena, a College Point resident, is a communications consultant and adjunct professor at Baruch College. He went to high school at St. Francis Preparatory School and received his bachelor’s in public affairs from Baruch. DeSena also worked for former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008.
Mayersohn, 87, had held the 27th District seat since 1982. She announced in March that she was going to retire from the position to be with her family.
The candidates campaigned for weeks throughout the district, making appearances at debates and forums, trying to garner grassroots support.
Simanowitz and DeSena had different agendas, but both were deeply interested in creating jobs for their constituents and helping small businesses. DeSena solely ran his campaign and preached the need for less government and influence in Albany. Simanowitz, on the other hand, was handpicked by the Democratic Party and had their support throughout his entire campaign.
The new assemblymember hopes to hit the ground running and to work for his constituents. He wants to get out and meet more of them before his duties in Albany begin.
“We have a few months before the legislation session starts, I want to get out and meet as many constituents as possible.”