WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 3
Don’t forget to vote next Thursday, Sept. 13, in the primaries
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
We’re just a week away from
the all-important statewide
primaries on Sept. 13, and
Queens voters in both major parties
will help determine the future of New
York’s government.
Keep in mind that the primaries are
on a Thursday, with polls open from
6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The state primaries
were pushed back from a traditional
Tuesday date this year due to Rosh
Hashanah and the 17th anniversary
of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Democrats have the overwhelming
majority of key primary races, headlined
by the gubernatorial primary.
Governor Andrew Cuomo seeks his
third term in offi ce against actress
and political activist Cynthia Nixon;
the heated primary battle featured
one particularly eventful debate between
the candidates on Aug. 29. You
can watch a replay of it on WCBS-TV’s
website.
Two other statewide primary races
are also on the Democratic ballot:
the lieutenant gubernatorial contest
between incumbent Lieutenant Governor
Kathy Hochul and Brooklyn
Councilman Jumaane Williams; and
a four-way attorney general race between
New York City Public Advocate
Letitia James, upstate Congressman
Sean Patrick Maloney, political activist
and law professor Zephyr Teachout of
upstate Saatsburg, and attorney Leecia
Eve of Manhattan. (The candidates
debated on NY1 News on Aug. 28.)
Republican voters won’t have statewide
primaries, as their candidates for
governor (Dutchess County Executive
Marc Molinaro), lieutenant governor
(former Rye Deputy Mayor Julie Killian)
and attorney general (Manhattan
lawyer and entrepreneur Keith Wofford)
have been set. On Nov. 6, they’ll
face the winners of the statewide
Democratic primaries.
However, Republicans in the Times
Newsweekly coverage area will go to
the polls on Sept. 13 to choose their
candidates for a state Senate seat.
Republicans will choose their nominee
for the 15th Senatorial District seat
between Thomas Sullivan, a Breezy
Point resident and business owner who
also has the Queens County GOP’s backing,
and Slawomir Platta, an attorney
from Middle Village. The winner will
face incumbent Democratic state Senator
Joseph Addabbo for the right to represent
the 15th District, which stretches
across southwestern Queens from
Ridgewood to the Rockaway Peninsula.
Local Democrats will also pick a candidate
in the 30th Assembly District
race between two Woodside residents:
incumbent Assemblyman Brian
Barnwell and activist Melissa Sklarz.
Barnwell is seeking his second term
in Albany aft er knocking off longtime
Assemblywoman Margaret Markey in
a primary upset two years ago, while
Sklarz is looking to make history as
the fi rst transgender person elected
to the state Assembly.
The 30th District includes areas of
Astoria, Elmhurst, Long Island City,
Maspeth, Middle Village, Sunnyside
and Woodside.
In New York state, primary elections
are restricted to registered
members of a given party. Registered
Democrats can participate in the Democratic
primary; registered Republicans
can participate in the Republican
primary. Registered independent, unaffi
liated or third-party voters cannot
participate in either primary.
All registered voters, however, can
and should vote in the Nov. 6 general
election. If you are not a registered
voter, you have until Oct. 12 to fi ll out
and submit your voter registration
form to the New York City Board
of Elections. Click here for more
information.
For additional information on the
Sept. 13 primary, visit vote.nyc.ny.us
or call 212-VOTE-NYC.
VOTE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
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