Your Petition is Challenged

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 25- Before I get into what petitions was challenged Last Wednesday was the Annual Bronx Democratic County Committee Dinner. 

As you drove up to Marina Del Ray where the dinner was being held there were a group of people from the Freedom Party protesting political corruption. Public Advocate candidate Lettita James (endorsed by the BDCC) greeted you at the door. 1,000 or more people were expected one time or another, and that figure was correct. As for just who showed up, I would have to say it would be a toss up between New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli, and State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein as to who was the highest ranking elected official. Of course Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was in the house, along with his good friend and the only mayoral candidate to attend Bill Thompson (also endorsed by the BDCC). Many of the local state and city elected officials came, but I did not see one of the four congressmen that represent parts of the Bronx nor either U.S. Senator.

Last year no non-BDCC endorsed candidate was allowed to attend, but that was not the case this year. Both the BDCC endorsed candidate in the 86th A.D. special election Victor Pichardo and opponent Yudelka Tapia were in attendance. I had a good laugh with with Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj who last year as a challenger to the incumbent backed by the BDCC was told he was not welcome. However one never knows in politics what may happen I told him. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more on the Bronx Democratic County Dinner, and see photos of the event. I asked both Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson and New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman about all the new people that I saw at the Board of Elections the day before the dinner. I knew they could not comment, but I did get a chuckle out of both when I asked if some were from the DA's, AG's or U.S. Attorney's office.

Speaking off the Board of Elections July 15th was the last day to submit general objections to petitions that were handed in. I went down the following day to see just who was being challenged. In all 40 general objections were filed to petitions for the 8 full Bronx council races, and Borough President's race. In the 15th council district 16 general objections were filed against the petitions of the 7 candidates, and in the special election in the 86th A.D. there were 8 general objections to 6 petitions of the 7 candidates. Candidate Yudelka Tapia's petition was not objected to, while candidate Isreal Martinez has 3 general objections to his petition.

All Bronx council districts had objectors to petitions that were submitted by either people on the payroll, candidates friends, the incumbents chief of staff, or even wife to name a few. The most objections to one petition came in the 14th council district where there were 4 different general objectors to the petition of current Councilman Fernando Cabrera. These general objections must have specifications to the general objections filed by now to be heard by the commissioners of the Board of Elections starting on Tuesday July 30th. That is where Ace Election Lawyer “King Stanley Schlein” is called in either to defend or go after a petition. King Stanley gets even better when the court challenges begin, as he rarely looses in court. I was once told that King Stanley wrote the book on election law, and knows election law better than anyone else.

The Roselyn Johnson Democratic Club of the 87th A.D. is the Bronx headquarters of the Bill DeBlasio for mayor campaign. You can go to my blog to see photos of the opening with 87th A.D. with Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and DeBlasio's wife who stood in for her husband who was fighting the closing of a hospital in Brooklyn. Assemblyman Sepulveda asked that I mention the club is also the headquarters of Public Advocate candidate Reshma Saujani. Check my blog archive on the left for more on both endorsements complete with photos, and both Deblasio visits to the Parkchester section of the Bronx.

Don't forget to check my blog archive (on the lower left) for the schedule of debates on Bronxtalk with host Gary Axelbank that begins on Monday night July 29th with the 11th council district. Bronxtalk airs at 9 PM Mondays on channel 67 Cablevision and channel 33 on Verizon Fios. Also check the many other items that did not make it into this column such as the new Boating Safety Regulations of State senators Jeff Klein & David Carlucci and Assemblywoman Sandy Galef. The new Bronx Breast Cancer Support Group starting Friday July 25th and one Friday each month at Jacobi Hospital 1400 Pelham Parkway. The many other items that may not make it into this column or that may come in after our deadline plus all the photos.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.