for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com april 25, 2013 • The queens Courier 3 //// SCANDAL FALLOUT //// Race to replace embattled Halloran underway BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] The first Republican candidate has thrown his hat in the ring to replace federallyindicted Councilmember Dan Halloran. Dennis Saffran, 57, said he is running in the 19th Council District to restore “the tradition of integrity and honesty in government.” The attorney from Douglaston ran for the seat in 2001 and narrowly lost to then-Councilmember Tony Avella. “I’m the strongest Republican candidate,” Saffran said. “I have a record of citywide and community involvement. I’ve been active in issues that turned New York City around.” Saffran is the vice president of the Douglaston Civic Association and works for the Nassau County Attorney’s office. Halloran faces conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud charges over allegations he helped State Senator Malcolm Smith try to buy his way to the Republican mayoral nomination. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a number of other state and city officials in the case as well. “He and I have never seen eye to eye on a lot of issues,” Saffran said of Halloran. “Given his arrest and indictment, he’s presumably not running, as far as I know. Nobody’s going to support him if he does. There’s essentially an open council seat.” There are also reports a former election foe of Halloran will seek his council spot. All City Council seats along with the mayor’s office will be on the ballot in November. Halloran’s office could be up for special election before then, although Halloran has made no indication he will resign. The Korea Daily reports Democrat Kevin Kim, who lost a 2009 bid for the district seat to Halloran, has been mulling a run. Insiders say Republican Rudy S. Giuliani, second cousin to ex-mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and current chief of staff to Councilmember Eric Ulrich, might also be a candidate. Neither he nor Kim have made any official announcements about Halloran’s seat. Democratic candidates who announced bids for Halloran’s seat prior to his arrest include ex-Assemblymember John Duane, attorney Paul Vallone, former governor’s aide Austin Shafran and urban planner Paul Graziano. THE COURIER/File photos Dennis Saffran Rudy S. Giuliani Kevin Kim COMO NAMED GOP VICE CHAIR BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] Former Councilmember Anthony Como will become the new vice chair of the Queens GOP, replacing indicted attorney Vince Tabone. GOP chair Phil Ragusa confirmed Como would be taking over, saying the former city legislator would be a good fit. “I know Anthony for a long time,” Ragusa said. “He was our city council candidate we ran against Liz Crowley. I had extensive conversations with him about the position.” Ragusa said the agreement to install Como was mutual. His experience Anthony Como as an elected official would make him a good fit for the party, he said. “I think he’s going to do a fine job,” Ragusa said. “He knows the political process like I know the political process.” Tabone was arrested on April 2 in connection with charges that he took bribe money to help get State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, on the mayoral ticket as a Republican. GOP Councilmember Dan Halloran is also accused of accepting $20,000 in bribes to sway party chairs to sign off on Smith’s Republican run. Como served in the city council for about six months, replacing disgraced Councilmember Dennis Gallagher in June 2008. He lost the general election to now- Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley in December of that year. When asked if Ragusa believes Como and his years of government experience would breathe new life into the party, the chair said the GOP was still strong and functioning. “We’re all here,” Ragusa said. “We’re working hard. Queens County is going to survive.” Ragusa said he has not spoken to Tabone, who was arraigned in federal court. NOT GUILTY PLEA ENTERED IN BALLOT BRIBERY CASE BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] Two Queens politicians and a borough GOP boss pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, April 23 in a federal case alleging they conspired to rig the mayoral election, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. State Senator Malcolm Smith, Councilmember Dan Halloran and Queens County Republican Party Vice Chair Vincent Tabone face bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud charges. Bronx County GOP Chair Joseph Savino, Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret also entered not guilty pleas. Prosecutors say Smith, a registered Democrat, sought to bribe county GOP leaders to let him run for mayor as a Republican. He needed consent from three county chairs to appear on this year’s GOP line. According to indictment details, Smith discussed the possibility of being cheated by county chairs with an undercover FBI agent. “The worst part about that is, when you screw somebody over money like that ... you’re looking over your shoulder all the rest of your life,” he allegedly said. The state senator, elected in 2000, is also charged with plotting to misuse $500,000 in state funds, the indictment said. Halloran is accused of setting up meetings “When you screw somebody over money like that ... you’re looking over your shoulder all the rest of your life.” State Senator Malcolm Smith between Smith and county bosses and negotiating payoffs. He also agreed to give an undercover FBI agent $80,000 in City Council discretionary funds in exchange for cash to fuel his 2012 congressional campaign, according to the indictment. The councilmember allegedly pocketed nearly $39,000 in cash and $6,500 in campaign checks, authorities said. Tabone and Savino took at least $40,000 in cash bribes for their support, according to court papers. An attorney for Tabone said the married father of three is “innocent of all charges.” “Vince Tabone has never before been accused or convicted of any crime and has been an attorney in good standing for the last 13 years,” said his lawyer, Deborah Misir. “We are confident that when all the facts become clear, Vince Tabone will be fully exonerated.” Lawyers for the other defendants could not be immediately reached.
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