The Political Scene

Giuliani, Ognibene On Campaign Trail

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined former City Council Member Thomas Ognibene in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill this weekend as part of Ognibene’s campaign to win the 30th City Council District seat.

“I had the extreme privilege of serving with the mayor during his eight-year tenure and was proud to have participated in the great Giuliani revolution that dramatically reduced crime in our city and cut welfare rolls by 50 percent,” Ognibene said. “It was a time when government committed to serve the people in the outer boroughs.”

“It is a great pleasure to visit the many communities that make up our great city like Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, and I look forward to reaching out and visiting as many as I can,” Giuliani said. “I am pleased to see that one of our great City Council leaders is running again for his old position. He was a leader at the City Council and a strong advocate for his community.”

Ognibene, a Republican from Middle Village, is challenging Democratic City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley of Glendale for the 30th Council District seat—which covers parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill—in the Nov. 3 general election.

AG Cuomo Backing Crowley For Council

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has endorsed City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for reelection to the 30th City Council District seat.

“Elizabeth Crowley is the kind of leader that middle-class New Yorkers need,” said Cuomo. “[She] has spent her career fighting hard for working people and getting results for Queens. We need Elizabeth in City Hall fighting for our neighborhoods and for hardworking New Yorkers.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement from Attorney General Cuomo,” Crowley said. “Like me, [he] comes from a family tradition of leadership and fighting for the rights and services of all New Yorkers. I am proud to have the support of Attorney General Cuomo, who has remained committed to protecting the middle class and creating jobs for the working people.”

Cuomo’s endorsement came on the heels of a rally at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village, during which 50 Italian-American leaders voiced their support for her re-election to the City Council on Nov. 3.

Teachers, Gianaris Go For Van Bramer

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris have endorsed Democrat Jimmy Van Bramer in his quest to become the new City Council member representing the 26th City Council District.

The UFT represents over 200,000 New York City public school employees, including 87,000 teachers and 19,000 classroom paraprofessionals along with school secretaries, attendance teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers and other education employees.

“Jimmy Van Bramer, with 10 years of excellent service at the Queens Public Library System, is a proven advocate of education who will fight for our schools,” said Michael Mulgrew, president of the UFT. “Jimmy will work not only for increased school funding and smaller class sizes, but for the quality-of-life improvements the teachers, students and residents of western Queens deserve.”

Gianaris, a lifelong resident of Astoria, has represented western Queens for nearly a decade and was previously an aide to Rep. Thomas Manton and later served as the Queens representative for former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

“Through his excellent work at the Queens public libraries and on Community Board 2, Jimmy demonstrated his deep commitment to our community,” said Gianaris. “Jimmy has lived in and fought for western Queens all his life, and I know he will continue to do so as a City Council member.”

In accepting the endorsements, Van Bramer thanked the UFT and Gianaris, adding that, if elected, he would work with both of them to advocate for various improvements to schools and community.

“I look forward to working with UFT to ensure that our education professionals have the benefits and resources they need so that the children of our community can receive the good education that every American is entitled to,” said Van Bramer.

He added that he also looked forward to working with Gianaris “to secure the green jobs, green spaces and healthy environment the residents of Queens deserve.”

Van Bramer is facing Republican Angelo Maragos in the November election for the 26th City Council District seat, which covers parts of Astoria, Long Island City, Maspeth, Sunnyside and Woodside. The seat is currently held by City Council Member Eric Gioia, whose term expires on New Year’s Day.

Retail, Food Unions Backing Gulluscio

The United Food and Commer- cial Workers Union Local 1500 and Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union Local 338 have announced their support of Democratic District Leader Frank Gulluscio in his bid to win the 32nd City Council District seat.

“We need Frank Gulluscio in the City Council to fight for middle class families,” said UFCW Local 1500 Director of Special Projects Pat Purcell. “Frank has stood up for working people; he knows we need to keep and attract jobs to New York that offer good benefits and fair pay.”

“Frank is a proven leader and a champion for working New Yorkers,’ added John R. Durso, president of Local 338. “Frank understands the needs of working families and has been a good friend of the labor movement. We look forward to working with Frank to improve access to quality healthcare and attract good jobs for New Yorkers.”

“I am honored to have the support of the UFCW Local 1500 and RWDSU Local 338,” Gulluscio said. “If elected, I will work tirelessly with them on the issues that matter most to working families: education, healthcare and job creation.”

Gulluscio has been previously supported by other unions including District Council 37, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the Detectives Endowment Association. He is challenging Republican City Council Member Eric Ulrich in the Nov. 3 election for the 32nd Council District seat, which includes parts of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, South Richmond Hill, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Broad Channel and the Rockaways.

City Unions Support Vallone’s Re-Election

City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. has announced that he has been endorsed for re-election to the 22nd City Council District seat by “virtually ever municipal union, including the United Federation of Teachers, Policemen’s Benevolent Association and the Uniformed Firefighters Association.”

“Our community consists of people who are a part of these unions,” Vallone said. “I’m honored to have their support.”

The two-term legislator is being backed by the Queens County Democratic Party as well as the Conservative Party. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also said that Vallone is able to get “past parking politics.”

It was noted that Vallone has refused to take taxpayer funding from the city’s Campaign Finance Board for his campaign, even though he is eligible to receive the maximum amount of matching funds.

Vallone is being challenged by Green Party nominee Lynne Serpe and Populist Party pick Gerald Kann in the November general election race for the 22nd Council District seat, which includes parts of Astoria, Long Island City, East Elmhurst and Woodside.

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