By Joe Anuta
Bayside allergist Dr. Robert Mittman held his first news conference late last month, where as a self-proclaimed citizen candidate running for the newly created congressional seat centered around Flushing, he sought to portray himself as different from the other three politicians in the Democratic Party primary.
Mittman stood outside the shuttered St. John’s Hospital amid a small group of family supporters and campaign posters affixed to parking signs and light posts — all city property — where he outlined some proposals he would seek to enact should he be elected over the currently sitting lawmakers, whom he called “three peas in a pod.”
Mittman first stressed his solution for the nation’s health care crisis.
The allergist vowed to close the Medicare “donut hole,” which requires certain senior citizens to pay full price for their drugs, and to regulate pharmaceuticals to bring down prices.
Although running on the Democratic ticket, Mittman opposes the president’s requirement that every American purchase health care as part of the Affordable Health Care Act.
“I will deliver results, and after a few terms I will return to being a citizen and will practice once again,” he said, holding a red apple, the theme of his campaign.
Mittman is considered a longshot candidate in the four-way Democratic primary that also includes City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and state Assembly members Rory Lancman (Fresh Meadows) and Grace Meng (D-Flushing).
Two of those candidates picked up endorsements Tuesday, with Crowley receiving the nod from the Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Fire Inspectors FDNY Local 2507 and Uniformed EMS Officers Union Local 3621.
Meng was endorsed by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Leadership PAC, an organization that tries to increase the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander legislators.
At his news conference, Mittman’s supporters had taped up posters on city property, a campaign violation that has plagued other hopefuls in the past.
City Comptroller John Liu was fined $527,000 for putting campaign posters on city property.
The supporters began taking down the posters afterward.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
