By
STEPHEN McGUIRE
The race for mayor heated up this week as one of the two Democratic candidates
received endorsements from some of Southeast Queens’ biggest political names in hopes
to score local votes in the runoff election scheduled for Oct. 11.
Jeff Aubry (l) and Gregory Meeks (r) stand with Fernando
Ferrer last week as he received the backing of the Queens African-American community.
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
|
At a stop at Carmichael’s
Diner on Guy Brewer
Boulevard in Jamaica, candidate Fernando Ferrer officially announced his endorsements by
Congressman Gregory Meeks, Senator Ada Smith, Senator Malcolm Smith, Assemblywoman Pauline
Cummings, Assemblywoman Barbara Clark, Assemblywoman Vivian Cook, Assemblyman Jeff Klein,
Assembly Jeff Aubrey, Councilwoman Juanita Watkins, Councilman Tom White, and Democratic
District Leaders Elmer Blackburne, Yvonne Reddick, John McRae, Henry McCoy and Robert
Simmons.
“Ferrer is a
proven leader with a vision that works,” said Meeks. “His leadership makes a
difference in the lives of people.
When asked why he
chose to endorse Ferrer on the heels of the announcement that the Queens Democratic Party
endorsed Mark Green, Meeks told the PRESS
that he has “gotta go,” with his “strong belief in the candidate.”
On the following day, Tuesday, Oct. 2, former Mayor Ed Koch also officially
endorsed Ferrer despite the comments he made in an interview with New York Magazine for an
article in the Oct. 8 issue.
According to published reports, Koch told a reporter that having Ferrer as mayor
“worried” him.
“Freddy owes his election to Al Sharpton, which means Sharpton will have the
power to either appoint or veto commissioners, including the police commissioner.
That’s very frightening,” Koch told the interviewer.
But it was how Ferrer stood up to Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s bid to extend his
term that garnered Koch’s endorsement.
“He was tough enough to stand up to Giuliani when Mark Green folded,”
Koch told reporters at an Oct. 2 press conference.
Also on Oct. 2, former mayoral candidate Alan Hevesi backed his one time arch
rival Mark Green in the run-off race.
Hevesi called Green, “A dedicated public servant, a good Democrat, a friend,
and a man who is ready to tackle the challenges of safety, security, and rebuilding.”
Mayoral candidate Mark Green receives the support of the
Queens Democratic Party outside of Borough Hall on Oct. 1.
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen |
On Oct. 1, Green received the endorsement of several Queens elected officials on
the steps of Borough Hall.
Borough President Claire Shulman said, “Mark Green received
across the board support in Queens. Queens is one of the most ethnically diverse boroughs
in our great City. I’m a consensus builder – and I know how imperative that is
in a borough as diverse as ours. Mark is a consensus builder. He will serve our borough
and the entire City well.”
In addition to Shulman, Borough Presidential
candidate Helen Marshall, Senator George Onorato, Senator Toby Stavisky, Assemblywoman Ann
Carrozza, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, Assemblywoman Marge Markey, Assemblywoman Nettie
Mayersohn, Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, Assemblyman William
Scarborough, Assemblyman Mark Weprin, Councilman John Sabini, Councilman Walter McCaffrey,
Councilman Archie Spigner, all backed Green. |
