14 The Queens Courier • may 16, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com politics s REPUBLICAN TO RUN FOR BP BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] An Astoria technology professional is eyeing a Borough Hall run as a Republican, making the race for borough president a little tighter. Aurelio “Tony” Arcabascio confirmed his candidacy Bill would allow noncitizen residents to vote BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] New York may become the first major city in the country to allow noncitizen residents to vote in municipal elections. At a joint hearing on Thursday, May 9, the City Council’s committees on immigration and on government relations considered new voting legislation. It would allow immigrants who have been legally in New York for six months under designations including green cards and student visas to vote in mayoral, city council and other local elections. The legislation is co-sponsored by Immigration Committee Chair Daniel Dromm along with 34 of the 51 councilmembers. Dromm noted that this level of support would make the bill immune to mayoral veto. “I feel this is important because it will really empower a community like mine,” said Dromm. “I feel that it is wrong to deny the people the right to participate in the community they live in.” The next step for the bill is to go to the floor of the whole City Council for a vote by the end of the year. “We have the votes, so it’s a good chance that this will happen,” said Dromm. “We’re not going to give up, no matter what happens. This will change politics in New York City forever. By bringing more people in, it would shift the priorities.” The bill is coming under fire for the six-month time requirement. According to Councilmember Peter Vallone, Jr., that is not long enough for someone to be allowed to vote in elections affecting the community. “The current proposal has a ridiculously low time period to be in this country to even consider someone for voting,” said Vallone. “Six months is basically someone on a student visa. That doesn’t indicate any desire to spend the rest of their lives here.” and expects to receive county endorsement soon. Arcabascio, who ran his own technology company for 13 years, made his debut in the political world last year when he ran an unsuccessful race against State Senator Michael Gianaris for District 12. Now, looking to represent the whole borough, Arcabascio said he wants to bring his experience as the only non-elected official to the table. “I haven’t been caught up in politics for my whole career,” he said. A product of Jackson Heights, Arcabascio, 52, will face one of six Democrats vying for the spot: Councilmembers Leroy Comrie and Peter Vallone, Jr., State Senators Jose Peralta and Tony Avella, former Councilmember and former Assemblymember Melinda Katz and former Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik. The Dems will face off in a September 10 primary. Arcabascio, who nabbed the GOP endorsement for Senate last year, expects to pick it back up for borough president. Queens Republican chair Phil Ragusa said the candidate is going through the screening process for the endorsement, and a formal announcement should come soon. With his background in technology, Arcabascio said he is open to bringing more of the industry’s jobs to the borough, especially in western areas such as Long Island City and Maspeth. “We have a lot of empty factories in Queens,” he said. “One of the things I believe would be my responsibility as the number one cheerleader for Queens is to get businesses here.” Council District 22: Meloni drops out BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Tony Meloni, one of the first candidates to enter the Democratic race for Peter Vallone, Jr.’s City Council seat, announced he is dropping out. Meloni confirmed he is ending his campaign to represent District 22 in Astoria so he can focus on his family and work in the community. “It was a really hard decision,” Meloni said. “I have gone back and forth so many times. I absolutely love this community, but a person has to know their limitations and I decided to re-focus and reevaluate.” His positions in the community include chair of Community Board 1’s public safety committee, vice-president of the Astoria Civic Association, founder of New York Anti-Crime and executive director of the Immigration Advocacy Services, an outreach center in Astoria. Tony Meloni Even though he is dropping out of the race, Meloni said he will remain highly active in the community to make sure focus is not lost on important issues. In regard to a future City Council run, he said he does not rule anything out, but wants to take it a step at a time. Current candidates for District 22 are Democrats Costa Constantinides and attorney John Ciafone, Republican Daniel Peterson, Green Party candidate Lynn Serpe and Independent candidate Danielle De Stefano. CANDIDATES’ ENDORSEMENTS CITY COUNCIL: Several candidates have been endorsed by the Working Families Party: City Council District 19: Austin Shafran City Council District 21: Julissa Ferreras City Council District 22: Costa Constantinides City Council District 23: Mark Weprin City Council District 24: Rory Lancman City Council District 25: Danny Dromm City Council District 26: Jimmy Van Bramer City Council District 27: Daneek Miller City Council District 30: Elizabeth Crowley City Council District 31: Donovan Richards The Detectives’ Endowment Association endorsed Democratic Councilmember Peter Koo for reelection in District 20. The Queens GOP endorsed Republican candidate Dennis Saffran for District 20. Mayor: The Liberal Party endorsed Republican candidate John Catsimatidis for mayor. BOROUGH PRESIDENT: The Detectives’ Endowment Association, Inc. and the New York City Fire Marshals Benevolent Association gave individual endorsements to Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. for borough president. CAMPAIGN FILINGS NOTE: Net contributions, which were collected from March 12 to May 11, were available as of press time for the following candidates. This is not a full candidate list. Disclosures were due to the city’s Campaign Finance Board by midnight on May 15. MAYOR Anthony Weiner: $5,139,175 John Liu: $3,331,891 Hilda Broady-Fernandez: $6,925 Philip Marks: $500 Ceceilia Berkowitz: $14,715 He G Lee: $1,000 Kevin Coenen: $110,853 Randy Credico: $16,611 BOROUGH PRESIDENT: Melinda Katz: $80,661 Peter Vallone Jr.: $7,750** Leroy Comrie: $25,961 Jose Peralta: $57,180** Barry Grodenchik: $46,366 Tony Avella: $16,323 CITY COUNCIL: District 19: Paul Vallone: $34,165 Paul Graziano: $10,983 Austin Shafran: $28,205 Chrissy Voskerichian: $11,060 John Duane: $27,645 District 20 Peter Koo: $47,838 Evergreen Chou: $200 Sunny Hahn: $1,425 District 22 Lynne Serpe: $135 Daniel De Stephano: $2,666 Costa Constantinides: $8,818 District 23 Mark Weprin: $64,821 District 24 Rory Lancman: $9,425 Isaac Sasson: $281 Andrea Veras: $1,210 District 26 Jimmy Van Bramer: $13,247 District 27 Manuel Caughman: $16,940 Gregory Mays: $3,530 Ira Miller: $18,190 District 28 David Kayode: $4,233 Hettie Powell: $31,900 Ruben Wills: $18,775 District 29 Karen Koslowitz: $6,750 Jon Torodash: $1,195 District 30 Elizabeth Crowley: $8,665 Craig Caruana: $8,375 District 32 Eric Ulrich: $8,250 **Number provided by the campaign
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