By Mark Hallum
State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) objected to a story published by TimesLedger Oct. 6 stating he had not pulled his endorsement for Bob Holden in the race against Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), clarifying that his endorsement for Holden was only for the Democratic primary and did not carry over into the Nov. 7 general election, in which Holden will run as a Republican following a Wilson Pakula vote nominating him at the most recent Queens County Republican Party meeting.
“I supported Bob in the Democratic primary, but I cannot support a Republican candidate,” Avella said in the Oct. 6 story.
Avella said the headline of the story, which read “Avella pulls endorsement for Holden,” was “misleading.”
Holden stated he did not see his nomination by the GOP as a step away from the Democratic Party, which he has claimed to be a member of for 44 years.
“They know me and it shows they know I’m popular in my community. I told them I remain a Democrat,” Holden said in regard to his nomination. “There were no negotiations and no strings attached. I won’t march in lockstep under the Republican banner. I don’t wear political labels anyway. I’m a community guy.”
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
