Simotas vows to leave Democratic conference if Hiram Monserrate invited
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Assemblymember Aravella Simotas said she would leave the Assembly Democratic conference if Hiram Monseratte were to win election and be invited. Photo courtesy of Simotas’ office
By David Brand
A Western Queens assemblymember has vowed to leave the Democratic conference if Hiram Monserrate, an ex-lawmaker convicted of a domestic violence-related offense, wins election and is invited into the caucus.
Assemblymember Aravella Simotas said she could not “in good conscious” remain in the Democratic conference if Monserrate, who was expelled from the state senate in 2009 following his conviction for misdemeanor assault against his then-girlfriend, wins his bid for Assembly District 35 and is welcomed into the fold.
“I will not sit in the Democratic conference if he is sitting there with me,” Simotas said during an appearance on the WBAI radio show “City Watch” Sunday night (Editor’s note: City Watch is co-hosted by David Brand, this story’s author).
Monserrate is challenging Assemblymember Jeff Aubry, who has represented East Elmhurst, Lefrak City and parts of Corona and Elmhurst, since 1992.
He was convicted of misdemeanor assault in 2009 stemming from an incident that left his then-girlfriend with a slashed and bleeding face and prompted Monserrate to drag her across a parking lot and drive her to a hospital roughly 30 minutes away. Prosecutors said Monserrate cut the woman with a broken glass, but a Queens judge presiding at the bench trial said there was not enough evidence to find Monserrate guilty of a felony and instead convicted him of a misdemeanor for aggressively dragging the victim. Monserrate and his then-girlfriend said the cut was an accident.
Simotas, who has sponsored legislation to curb sexual harassment and uplift women’s rights, said she believes in second chances for past offenders — if they show remorse. Monserrate, she said, has not shown sufficient contrition for his misdeeds.
“I’m very passionate about this because I’ve spent years talking with domestic abuse survivors and survivors of sexual assault and women and men who’ve had this violence,” Simotas said.
“I will not sit next to someone who I feel does not respect women,” she continued.
Listen to the full interview:
Monserrate was also sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to an unrelated public corruption charge in 2012, an offense dating back to his time as a city councilmember before his election to the senate. He diverted $100,000 in Council funds from a nonprofit he controlled into his campaign, federal prosecutors said.
Despite his criminal history, Monserrate has remained popular among many constituents in north-central Queens. After failed bids for the assembly and city council, Monserrate won a 2018 election as a Democratic district leader, one of 72 local officials with a vote in party decision-making. He also runs a political club in East Elmhurst.
Monserrate did not respond to requests for comment for this story and declined through a spokesperson to appear on “City Watch.”
Simotas may not have to make good on her pledge, even if Monserrate does win.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie indicated last month that the Democrats would not automatically invite Monserrate to join their conference.
“Being a part of the conference is not up to the member who's elected,” Heastie told State of Politics last month. “Being a part of the conference is up to the conference. I do think there's going to be a lot of members of the conference who may not want to see Hiram Monserrate part of the conference.”
A bill before the state legislature would prevent convicted felons from holding office less than 10 years after their conviction. The bill would preclude Monserrate because his felony corruption conviction came in 2012, but it faces an uncertain fate amid budget negotiations and wrangling over justice reform.
Aubry declined to take a position on the proposed measure during an appearance on City Watch Sunday. He said he would likely recuse himself from voting if the bill reached the Assembly floor because it would specifically benefit him.
Simotas is herself facing a formidable primary challenge from Zohran Mamdani, a candidate who has received the endorsement of the Queens branch of the Democratic Socialists of America.
