Democratic City Council Candidates challenged by Deirdre Feerick

District 26 City Council candidates at liQcity panel on July 21st, LIC

From the Queens Gazette:

“The Democratic primary race for the 26th District City Council seat had until lately been marked by civility among its five candidates, as reflected in the debates they held this spring in Sunnyside and Dutch Kills. That civility was disrupted when one of them, Deirdre Feerick, challenged the petitions submitted by two others, Kwame Smalls and David Rosasco. Not challenged were the remaining candidates, Jimmy Van Bramer and Brent O’Leary; but they took up the cause of Smalls and Rosasco. The four of them assembled Monday for an outdoor press conference on a terrace of the Ravenswood Houses in Long Island City.

Van Bramer acknowledged his unchallenged status but deplored what he saw as Feerick’s attempt to advance her chances in the September 15 primary vote by eliminating the chances of two competitors.

Smalls’ campaign manager, George Weissberger, said the challenge to Smalls was a challenge to diversity, since Smalls is African-American and disabled also, being afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition. Smalls himself called Feerick “a hypocrite” for expressing democratic sentiments while trying to crush two rival candidacies.

Rosasco thanked Van Bramer and O’Leary for standing by him, then reasserted his legitimacy by saying he had the names of more than 900 registered Democrats on his petitions. He was confident they would vote for him and added that the matter should be settled “in the ballot box, not in the courts”.

O’Leary agreed. Alluding to Feerick’s alleged legal assistance in the petition challenge, he said that victory should depend on the ballot box “and not the trickiest lawyer”.”

A spokesperson for Deirdre Feerick responded: “You’re entering into a legal process when you gather signature, [...] If they’re being challenged, there’s something wrong with their petitions.”

• 4 Of 5 Candidates For 26th District Debate Campaign [Queens Gazette]

• Rosasco eeks by challenge and preps for court, Smalls bows out [YourNabe]

• Three Queens candidates knocked off ballot by Board of Elections [YourNabe]

• Long Island City: meet your District 26 City Council candidates [liQcity]