The hotly-contested 6th Congressional District race that has featured allegations and pot shots has its first casualty.
Jeffrey Gottlieb denied the nomination on Wednesday, April 18 and transferred the signatures he received to Stephen Green, a Rosedale resident, the Board of Elections said.
The announcement comes just days after the candidates submitted their petitions to the Board of Elections, with Gottlieb being among six Democratic candidates who collected the necessary signatures.
From the get-go, Gottlieb’s run set-off a firestorm of accusations.
Assemblymember Rory Lancman accused the Board of Elections employee of being a “sham” candidate whose entrance into the race was solely to divide the Jewish vote.
At the time Gottlieb said he was prepared to run a spirited campaign despite the attacks, but a New York Post report regarding a prior charge of arson led to him bowing out.
The Post reported last week that Gottlieb was arrested on charges of arson in 1971 for setting fire to his apartment. The charge was plea-bargained down to fourth-degree criminal mischief, the paper reported.
A source close to Gottlieb told the New York Times that the personal strain for the public disclosure caused the candidate to quit the campaign.
Gottlieb could not be reached for comment.
The primary election will be held on June 26.
