City leaders blast ‘vampire’ Monserrate’s bid for Assembly
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Convicted felon Hiram Monserrate filed a campaign committee to run for state assembly. Photo via the State Senate website.
By David Brand
Disgraced former lawmaker Hiram Monserrate’s bid for state Assembly has prompted strong responses from several local leaders, including Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“God help us all. It’s like — what is it? The vampire that keeps coming back,” de Blasio said at a press conference Wednesday.
“We have to — well, we’re not allowed to put a stake through someone’s heart,” he added.
Monserrate, a current Queens Democratic district leader, was expelled from the Senate after he was convicted of a domestic violence-related misdemeanor assault charge. He was later convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy for using Council funds to pay for campaign expenses during his time in the City Council.
He is weighing a run in the Democratic primary for Assembly District 35, a seat held by incumbent Jeffrion Aubry. Aubry did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.
Councilmember Francisco Moya, who defeated Monserrate in 2017, weighed in on Aubry’s behalf.
“A convicted domestic abuser and disgraced politician convicted of stealing taxpayer money wants to go after a man who is synonymous with the social justice movement in this state?” Moya said. “Assemblyman Jeff Aubry is a pillar of dignity and public service. This challenge is a joke.”
State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who holds Monserrate’s old Senate District 13 seat, said it’s up to the voters to keep Monserrate out of office.
“We all the know the history here, but ultimately, there’s nothing barring him from running for office, so really it’s on the voters to remember the history and make a decision about who deserves to represent them,” Ramos told the Eagle.
“There are the domestic violence charges, but there’s also stealing tax payer dollars, which is what he actually did time for,” she added. “Once someone has been convicted of a very serious crime they shouldn’t be rewarded and given a platform.”
Despite the backlash to his candidacy, Monserrate remains popular among many residents of Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. He won the district leader seat last year, and he has been active with the local organization Nos Quedamos Queens.
A person close to Monserrate who agreed to speak with the Eagle under the condition that they be referred to as Monserrate’s “close friend” said Monserrate filed a campaign committee with the Board of Elections in order to test the waters ahead of his potential bid for assembly.
“He hasn’t made his decision yet, but he’s strongly considering it and he has opened a committee to try to raise money to see where things are,” the friend said.
