By Sarina Trangle
State Sen. James Sanders (D-South Ozone Park) characterized his first primary for his Albany seat as a rematch with his predecessor, albeit through a surrogate.
Sanders secured roughly 75 percent of the votes, trouncing Rosedale developer Everly Brown’s 22 percent and Bayswater real estate executive Gian Jones’ 4 percent, with all precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.
“I feel like the winner,” Sanders said after the results came in Tuesday. “It quickly showed we were not fighting against Everly Brown, but he was a stand-in, and this was a repeat with the former state senator. This was Shirley Huntley II. And we are very glad that the people of our district have voted to continue the path away from the past.”
Brown said he was supported by Huntley, who represented the 10th Senate District, which stretches from Arverne to Far Rockaway and north to South Jamaica, South Ozone Park and Richmond Hill, until 2012, when Sanders defeated her as she tried to win re-election after being indicted.
Huntley served 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud in an effort to cover up a scheme she used to pocket more than $87,000 from taxpayers.
She appears to have a following in the district. Close to 75 people gathered at a party this summer to welcome her home from prison.
Brown could not be reached for comment.
Jones said he needed time to study where Sanders’ supporters hailed from before commenting extensively.
“It is what it is,” he said. “I’ll look to see where the votes came in from and we’ll make a determination on whether or not I see it in 2016.”
No major political party with ballot line status has filed petitions to run a candidate in the Nov. 4 election, which means Sanders is headed back to Albany for a second term.
All three candidates pitched economic development plans ahead of the primary, with Sanders and Jones noting gentrification of the peninsula merited attention.
Endorsements did not seem to roll in until weeks before the race. Mayor Bill de Blasio, the building service workers union 32BJ SEIU, city public employees union DC 37 and other organized labor groups backed the incumbent.
Jones touted endorsements from Michael Duncan, Sanders’ former chief of staff, and Community Board 14 member Felicia Johnson.
And Brown said he received support from Huntley and former City Councilman Allan Jennings, who was censured by City Hall for sexually harassing female staffers.
Sanders had a $90,760 war chest at his disposal, while Jones reported roughly $3,026 and Brown $7,615 in their campaign coffers in the weeks ahead of the primary, state Board of Elections filings show.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
