10 The QUEE NS Courier • october 24, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶politics SPARKS FLY AT SECOND DEBATE Concannon calls ‘fraud’ on CFB BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] The retired police captain running a pointed City Council bid against a popular incumbent says the city’s Campaign Finance Board should have accommodated his late entrance into the race. Joe Concannon, who is taking on Councilmember Mark Weprin in a general election next month, said he was a “victim” of the CFB’s “incompetence and fraud” when his profile did not appear in the board’s widely distributed voter guide. “I am running for public office to ensure that New York City government is more transparent and to alleviate the corruption, fraud and mismanagement,” said Concannon, who is on the Reform and Independent line. “The CFB seems to have succumbed to all three.” About 4 million copies of the nonpartisan newsletter were mailed out throughout the city this week, a CFB spokesperson said. The guide contains voting information and detailed profiles submitted by candidates. CFB spokesperson Matt Sollars said the hopefuls have until early July, at the latest, to submit their profiles, which then go through a timely process of getting translated into five languages in Queens. “These are reasonable deadlines that are necessary for us to collect and produce a voter guide that is printed and mailed to every registered voter in New York City,” he said. Concannon did not register with the CFB until September, Sollars said, months after the submission deadline. But Phil Orenstein, the candidate’s campaign manager, said there should have been an exception, or at least an addendum. “Accommodations should be made for his independent line candidacy, but nothing of the sort was done,” he said. “To us, this smacks of voter fraud and we hold the CFB culpable. They have failed in their responsibilities to properly inform the voters.” Concannon leaped into the race August 8 because Weprin voted in support of two controversial police oversight bills in the Community Safety Act. Concannon said the bills would increase crime and handcuff police, a belief numerous police unions shared when they endorsed him. The Bellerose candidate unsuccessfully tried to unseat State Senator Tony Avella last year. BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] It was round two for mayoral candidates Joe Lhota and Bill de Blasio. The two sparred over a range of issues during their second debate on October 22, including taxes and education, but some of the most heated exchanges came over crime and public safety. Lhota, who received the backing of the Queens County Republican Party, brought up the fact that de Blasio served in the administration of Mayor David Dinkins—a period when there were 2,000 murders a year and “the last time we had a race riot in the city of New York.” “He is actually bringing us backwards,” said Lhota. Lhota, who disagrees with de Blasio over having an inspector general for the NYPD, said, “we cannot handcuff the police department.” De Blasio said he believes in “a strong NYPD,” and “an independent inspector general is a smart form of check and balance to make sure we’re doing things right, to make sure that civil liberties and individual liberties are being recognized.” Lhota already targeted his Democratic opponent on his weaknesses on crime in an ad released on Wednesday, October 16, which was brought up during the debate. Calling the ad divisive, de Blasio said it was “race-baiting” and “fear-mongering.” The ad shows scenes from the city’s higher-crime past and suggests crime will go up under a de Blasio administration. “Don’t tell me I throw out the race card because there is nothing racial in there. And Bill, you cannot stoop that low and bring that up,” Lhota said, firing back at the charges at one point. Lhota also blasted de Blasio over comments he made about Rudy Giuliani, whom Lhota worked for during both his terms as New York City mayor. “I am getting sick and tired of you impugning the integrity of Rudy Giuliani,” Lhota said. De Blasio and Lhota will meet for their next and final debate on Tuesday, October 29. Constantinides eyeing Vallone seat BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] After winning the Democratic primary last month, Costa Constantinides is ready to head into the General Election to fill departing Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr.’s seat in the 22nd Council District. “I think Astoria has always been a great place to live, I had a wonderful childhood growing up here,” he said. “It’s a wonderful place and I just want to help continue to foster that same atmosphere.” In 2009, Constantinides was elected to serve as the Democratic District Leader for the 36th Assembly District, Part A. He served as Legislative Director and Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilmember James F. Gennaro. In September, Constantinides took the win against attorney John Ciafone and longtime Community Board 1 member Constantinos “Gus” Prentzas in the Democratic primary. Some of the main areas Constantinides hopes to address if elected are better environmental protection, including reducing traffic congestion, expanding open space and investing in clean energy. He also hopes to improve schools for the children in his district, with introducing better technology and dealing with overcrowding. Constantinides also plans to clean up the streets by prioritizing garbage pickups, funding a street sweeping program like the Doe Fund, and making sure there are enough enforcement agents to make sure the community stays clean. “All these things are sort of interconnected with one another and I think when we deal with each individual problem we’re going to help our community move itself forward,” said Constantinides. Constantinides will run against Republican Daniel Peterson, Green Party candidate Lynne Serpe, Independent Danielle De Stefano and Populist Party candidate Gerald Kann in the general election on November 5. “This is a real opportunity to vote for the mayor. It’s going to decide our city government,” he said. “It’s important to make sure your voice is heard. So I really encourage every constituent to come out and be part of the process, whether they’re voting for me or not.” EX-LIU AIDE FILES APPEAL BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] The prison-sentenced former mayoral campaign treasurer for City Comptroller John Liu filed a notice of appeal Wednesday in hopes the court will reverse its conviction. Jia “Jenny” Hou, 26, was sentenced to 10 months in prison on October 10 for attempting to commit wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing justice in a straw donor scheme. “Jenny Hou is not guilty of any crime, not factually and not legally,” said her attorney, Gerald Lefcourt. “I believe she is a scapegoat, onto whom all of the limitations of the Campaign Finance Board, the ills of raising money for political campaigns, have unfairly been placed.” Federal officials said Hou and another convicted Liu aide, Xing Wu “Oliver” Pan, evaded Campaign Finance Board restrictions that limit donor contributions to citywide candidates to $4,950. The pair used straw donors, prosecutors said, or individuals who illegally make political contributions in their own names with money they have received from others. Hou was caught offering to reimburse an individual for donations well-above the allowed amount during a series of instant messages on July 14, court records show. Prosecutors said she also instructed campaign volunteers on how to imitate the handwriting of campaign donors on the contribution forms in order to make it appear official. But Lefcourt said there was no evidence Hou knew anyone was being reimbursed for donations made at a May 9 fundraiser. The warrant to obtain her e-mails was also “not legally sufficient and should never have been issued,” he said. “The conviction of Jenny Hou cannot stand,” the attorney said. Hou also failed to give up documents with identities of several campaign contributors in response to subpoenas and lied about producing them, according to court records. “I’m not in the least bit surprised that Jenny would appeal even in light of receiving what many consider a light sentence,” Liu said in a statement. “She is a person of strong mind and uncompromising character. I believe in her and remain hopeful that she will be vindicated.” Photo Courtesy of Joe Concannon’s campaign Joe Concannon
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