GOP placeholder kicked off Queens special election ballot after Gennaro challenge
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Former Councilmember Jim Gennaro challenged paperwork filed by a Republican opponent in the special election in Queens’ Council District 24.
By David Brand
Former Councilmember Jim Gennaro’s path to reclaim his old seat in Central Queens got a little clearer Tuesday after the state Board of Elections blocked a conservative rival from appearing on the ballot in a special election early next year.
Gennaro, one of 11 candidates who filed paperwork to run in the Feb. 2 special election, challenged the petition submitted by Republican District Leader Philip Grillo. A judge barred Grillo from the ballot after determining that he did not obtain enough valid signatures.
But Grillo, who lives outside the district in Glen Oaks, had no intention of actually running to represent Kew Gardens Hills, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Pomonok and various other Central Queens neighborhoods.
After submitting his campaign petitions before the Nov. 18 deadline, Grillo filed a declination that would allow a substitute candidate to take over his ballot position. It’s an uncommon move in an open special election, where candidates run on made-up party lines, not as Republicans or Democrats. Grillo had filed to run on the “Save Our City” line.
He had planned to give his spot to Leo Yakubov, a Bukharian Jewish attorney who goes by Leo Jacobs professionally.
Gennaro’s successful challenge means Yakubov will not run in the special election to replace Rory Lancman, potentially preventing a split among Bukharian Jewish voters who support both Gennaro and Yakubov.
“We see today that New York’s political establishment will do just about anything to keep newcomers from underrepresented minority groups from running for office,” Yakubov told the Eagle. “May the best man or woman win.”
Gennaro remains popular among Bukharian Jewish residents of Queens, many of whom live in Kew Gardens Hills, based on his three terms representing the district from 2001 to 2013.
Gennaro did not immediately provide a response for this story. Grillo has not responded to requests for comment.
People familiar with Grillo’s paperwork said only 350 petition signatures were valid. Candidates needed to submit 400 valid signatures to secure a place on the ballot.
Queens’ first ranked-choice election may still feature ten candidates, each on a different ballot line.
Gennaro, a moderate Democrat, is running on the “Queens Strong” line. Progressive organizer Moumita Ahmed will run on the Mo For The People line. And small business owner Deepti Sharma is running under the mantle of “A Better Queens.”
Higher education executive Dilip Nath chose the “Your Voice Matters” party. Retired psychologist Howard Nieman represents “Law and Liberty.”
Queens Democratic District Leader Neeta Jain chose the “Community First” party.
Jamaica attorney Soma Syed will run on the “Soma for Queens” line.
Mujib Rahman is running on the “Unity” line. And Angelo King went with the aptly named “King for Queens” party.
Real estate agent Michael Earl Brown filed paperwork to run on the “United Citizens” line after previously attempting to run in a special election for a Bronx council seat. It is unclear if he made it on the ballot in Queens,
The ranked-choice election will give District 24 voters the chance to designate their top five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the last-place finisher is eliminated and voters who picked that candidate will have their second choice tallied. That process will continue until one candidate receives a majority of the vote.
The new dynamic should unite coalitions of candidates looking to win over diverse sections of the district, Common Cause New York executive director Susan Lerner, an RCV supporter, told the Eagle last month.
“In a winner-take-all race, when you talk to a voter and they’ve made up their minds, that’s the end of the conversation,” Lerner said. “In a ranked-choice voting campaign, that’s the beginning of the conversation.”
