16 THE COURIER SUN • JUNE 6, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com PERALTA BOWS OUT OF BP BALLOT STATE SENATOR ENDORSES KATZ BY TERENCE M. CULLEN tcullen@queenscourier.com State Senator Jose Peralta has dropped his bid for borough president and is endorsing county pick Melinda Katz for the job. “I want to thank the thousands of Queens residents and civic and community leaders that I had the pleasure of meeting during the course of the campaign,” Peralta said in a Friday, May 31 statement. “Your warm reception of my candidacy and your encouragement and support are enormously appreciated.” At one point in the race, Peralta was considered the likeliest pick for the county’s Democratic Party endorsement for Borough Hall. But on May 20, District leaders backed Katz, a former councilmember and former assemblymember who is second in polls and fundraising behind Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. Peralta is the second candidate to drop out of the race following that endorsement. Former Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik threw his support behind Katz after dropping out two weeks ago. Insiders bel ieve Democrats have been pressuring candidates to drop out and make way for Katz, who will likely face a general election as Republican Tony Arcabascio has declared an interest in running. The race is now down to five Democrats in the narrowing primary: Katz, Comrie, State Senator Tony Avella and Vallone Jr. Everly Brown, another declared Democratic candidate, has had little participation in the race and only raised $1,701 for his campaign. In his statement, Peralta said he plans on continuing to fight for issues he laid out in his beep campaign. Those include fighting for State Senator Jose Peralta more seats in schools, getting more affordable housing in the borough and kindling economic growth. He was one of several state legislators secretly recorded by former State Senator Shirley Huntley, who was recently sentenced to more than a year in prison for embezzlement. Peralta said the content of Huntley’s recording of him was trivial, adding that federal prosecutors have assured him he is not the target of an investigation. Since officially announcing last fall, Peralta raised a total $301,316 on the road to Borough Hall, according to the city’s Campaign Finance Board. Those funds are low compared to the more thatn $1 million in Vallone’s war chest and Katz’s more than $800,000. Photo Courtesy of Councilmember Leroy Comrie Councilmember Leroy Comrie, surrounded by family, officially announced his run for Borough President. COMRIE ANNOUNCES BP BID BY MAGGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com Democratic Councilmember Leroy Comrie officially announced his run for Borough President on the steps of Queens Borough Hall, where he was surrounded by friends, family and supporters. “Queens’ future looks brighter every day,” Comrie said on Monday, June 3. “We will seize this unique opportunity to use and build on the energy and vitality of our neighborhoods.” The City Council Deputy Majority Leader said that as Borough President, he would continue to build coalitions “because they work.” He added that as proof of the success, he has supported affordable housing, made sure small businesses do not get fined for violations they are unaware of and expanded tax exemptions for the disabled and elderly. “We have made great strides and as Borough President we will have an opportunity to expand our work throughout the borough,” he said. Supporters at the announcement included clergy leaders from around the borough as well as his wife Marcia Moxam Comrie and their two children, Liana and Benjamin. Comrie was elected to represent the 27th Council District in 2001 and is currently chair of the Land Use Committee. st of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Place 183rd Fresh Long Island Strawberries Collectibles Raffle Prizes Flea Market Strawberry Festival Delicious Food Saturday, June 15 10am-4pm Kid’s Games & IDs Music Bring the whole family! Moon Walk Sit-Down Food Court Zion Episcopal Church 243-01 Northern Blvd near Douglaston Pkwy • 718-225-0466 Multi Specialty Physical Rehabilitation Center SPINAL & SPORTS INJURIES, ARTHRITIS, POST SURGICAL & MORE! • Pain Management • Internal Medicine • Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Physical Therapy We accept most types of Insurance & Workers Compensation Please call to make an appointment: 516-218-2222 40 East Merrick Road, Suite #104 · Valley Stream, NY 11580
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