By Steve Mosco
The Queens Democratic Party settled some family business last week.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley’s bid for re-election as Democratic district leader was halted after party lawyers challenged Crowley’s petitions at the city Board of elections and got her bounced off the ballot.
Democratic sources say Crowley’s cousin, U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), who is chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, and other party loyalists were not pleased with the councilwoman’s bid to challenge Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) in the congressional primary in June.
The congressman’s office had no comment.
Crowley finished a distant third place in the 6th Congressional District primary behind Meng, who was endorsed by the Queens Democratic Party before the city councilwoman even entered the race.
A spokesman for Elizabeth Crowley said the Democratic leader spot was “a voluntary position” and she remains dedicated to her constituents.
“She [Crowley] is going to focus on her work as a Council member to help her constituents in the community,” said spokesman Eric Yun. “She will be working on issues such as paid sick leave, women’s health and the commuter tax. Elizabeth Crowley is a City Council member and she is committed to that job and helping the district.”
It has been a rough few weeks for Elizabeth Crowley. Last month the councilwoman had her discretionary funds slashed by a committee composed of Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) and 24 of her appointees.
