New York News
Queens Dems to dump Monserrate in NY Senate race
AP
KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The Queens Democratic Party is backing a challenger to disgraced state Sen. Hiram Monserrate in next year's primary.
Party leaders meeting at a pre-election dinner Thursday announced their endorsement of Assemblyman Jose Peralta over Monserrate in the 2010 primary.
"The community is ready to move on," said Rep. Joseph Crowley, leader of the Queens Democratic Party.
He said Peralta "would bring dignity and honor to this office."
Monserrate was convicted Oct. 15 of dragging his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, through the lobby of his Queens apartment building during an argument in December. He was acquitted of charges he smashed her face with glass. He could face up to a year in jail at sentencing Dec. 4.
A Senate committee will conduct its own investigation into the incident, which could result in a vote to expel Monserrate from the Senate. In that case, there would be a special election to fill his seat.
Crowley said party leaders would back Peralta either in a special election or in the regularly scheduled Democratic primary in September 2010.
Monserrate, 42, has resisted calls for his resignation from Crowley, New York's two U.S. senators, and others. He did not return a call placed to his office for comment Thursday.
Peralta, a 37-year-old who was first elected to the state Assembly in 2002, said Monserrate's constituents are frustrated and embarrassed.
"After speaking to constituents and family, I came to the conclusion that the best way to make a statement is to act," he said of his decision to run against Monserrate.
Monserrate was sworn in to the state Senate just weeks after the December incident with Giraldo. During the summer, he and fellow Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. staged a coup in the Senate by joining a Republican-dominated coalition that overthrew the majority. The deadlock lasted a month before it was resolved, returning majority control to the Democrats.
Peralta said Monserrate's constituents are angry about the coup as well as the misdemeanor conviction.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Queens Democratic Party is backing a challenger to disgraced state Sen. Hiram Monserrate in next year's primary.
Party leaders meeting at a pre-election dinner Thursday announced their endorsement of Assemblyman Jose Peralta over Monserrate in the 2010 primary.
"The community is ready to move on," said Rep. Joseph Crowley, leader of the Queens Democratic Party.
He said Peralta "would bring dignity and honor to this office."
Monserrate was convicted Oct. 15 of dragging his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, through the lobby of his Queens apartment building during an argument in December. He was acquitted of charges he smashed her face with glass. He could face up to a year in jail at sentencing Dec. 4.
A Senate committee will conduct its own investigation into the incident, which could result in a vote to expel Monserrate from the Senate. In that case, there would be a special election to fill his seat.
Crowley said party leaders would back Peralta either in a special election or in the regularly scheduled Democratic primary in September 2010.
Monserrate, 42, has resisted calls for his resignation from Crowley, New York's two U.S. senators, and others. He did not return a call placed to his office for comment Thursday.
Peralta, a 37-year-old who was first elected to the state Assembly in 2002, said Monserrate's constituents are frustrated and embarrassed.
"After speaking to constituents and family, I came to the conclusion that the best way to make a statement is to act," he said of his decision to run against Monserrate.
Monserrate was sworn in to the state Senate just weeks after the December incident with Giraldo. During the summer, he and fellow Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. staged a coup in the Senate by joining a Republican-dominated coalition that overthrew the majority. The deadlock lasted a month before it was resolved, returning majority control to the Democrats.
Peralta said Monserrate's constituents are angry about the coup as well as the misdemeanor conviction.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces