By Juan Soto
Leroy Comrie’s campaign for embattled state Sen. Malcolm Smith seat is gaining momentum. He is accumulating support, endorsements and money.
.Last week, some Queens power brokers held a cocktail reception for the ex-councilman at a Long Island City restaurant. Some of the attendees included Borough President Melinda Katz, Queens Democratic Party Chairman U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), state Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-East Elmhurst) and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village).
And this week, Comrie met with representatives from Locals 1199 and 32 BJ of SEIU, the service employees union, in another sign that he is becoming the labor candidate. Both locals endorsed him Tuesday night.
In last week’s reception at Manducatis Rustica, around 30 people showed up.
“It was supposed to be a small event,” a source at the Comrie campaign said.
Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) and the Rev. Charles Norris have already gotten behind Comrie’s campaign. Norris, a political force in southeast Queens, was a longtime supporter of Smith.
He was upset when the indicted senator joined in 2012 the Independent Democratic Conference, a group that controls for now the upper chamber with Republicans.
Comrie announced his bid to unseat Smith back in April. The Democratic primary will he held Sep. 9.
Smith was accused of bribery and wire fraud federal charges for allegedly conspiring to pay several Republican county leaders so he could run for mayor on the Republican ticket.
A judge granted the senator a mistrial. A new trial is scheduled for next January, which allows Smith to run for re-election.
Comrie also keeps on adding union endorsements. The latest labor group standing behind the former Queens deputy borough president was the Teamsters Joint Council 16, representing approximately 100,000 workers. The Teamsters president, George Miranda, said that 1,000 union workers are registered to vote in the 14th Senate District.
“By mobilizing our members, we will have a big impact,” said Miranda.
In a statement, Comrie, who represented southeast Queens in the Council, said he was “honored to have earned the support” of the Teamsters union for “our campaign to restore integrity and to make a positive change” for the constituents of this Senate district.
The former councilman has also won the support of the Communications Workers of America Local 1182, the Retail and Wholesale Department Store Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers, among others.
He was a councilman for 12 years, serving as a deputy majority leader and chairman of the Queens delegation.
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
