By Phil Corso
Fresh Meadows’ Nily Rozic achieved her goal of bringing a fresh face to the 25th District Assembly race ticket Thursday after beating her Democratic Party-backed opponent Jerry Iannece in a primary election.
Community Board 8’s Rozic beat the Community Board 11 Chairman in his second bid for public office 55 percent to 45 percent with 68 percent of the precincts reporting as of 11 p.m. Thursday night.
With 86 percent of the precincts reporting, Rozic had 56 percent of the vote to 44 percent for Iannece, according to CBS News.
Iannece told supporters in Bayside earlier in the evening that his time “has come and gone.”
Rozic will go on to face Republican Party-backed William Garifal, Jr. and Conservative candidate Abe Fuchs in the November general election for the seat currently held by Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows). Lancman, who chose not to publicly endorse any candidate in the race, said he would not seek re-election in the Assembly after losing a Democratic primary election for Congress in June to Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing).
At her victory party in Fresh Meadows, Rozic told supporters that “this campaign reveals the true believers, the true Democrats, the true feminists, the true progressives, the true reformers, and the true believers in the American dream.”
The newly drawn 25th Assembly District lines run from Flushing to Douglaston and include most of Bayside Hills.
While both candidates have not been elected for public office, Iannece had already run for City Council in 2009 for the seat currently held by Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone).
Iannece, 53, said his experience working in the community made him a viable candidate for the seat. The former Bronx assistant district attorney said the newly drawn district lines made him a perfect fit for the community as he lives in Bayside Hills, served as chairman for Community Board 11 and works as an attorney in Fresh Meadows.
“Politics is just not in the cards for me,” Iannece said, minutes after he arrived to his scheduled victory party at C.J. Sullivan’s in Bayside Thursday night. “I guess my time has come and gone.”
Iannece told his crowd of supporters, including Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) and District Leader Carol Gresser, that Rozic’s home areas of Fresh Meadows showed much stronger numbers than he had by the time the polls had closed.
Rozic, 26, a former chief of staff for Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan), challenged Iannece because she said there was a growing need for women representatives and fresh faces in Albany.
“I don’t wait in line,” Rozic said last month, referring to her opponent’s past attempts at public office, including a failed bid for the City Council in 2009.
Aside from the Queens Democratic Party, Iannece received endorsements from Meng, U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).
Rozic collected endorsements from different groups including The New York Times, EMILY’s List, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ Joint Council 16, the Working Families Party and the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
