Seminerio seat scramble in 38 Assembly District

BY VICTOR G. MIMONI

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 3:36 PM EDT

For the first time in nearly 30 years, there’s an open seat in the State Assembly’s 38th District, thanks to the recent resignation of admitted felon Anthony Seminerio – and candidates are scrambling to get on the ballot.

Seminerio formally resigned on Monday, June 22; two days later he pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court room to taking illicit payments. The state Board of Elections certified that the seat was vacant that day.

Unless Governor David Paterson decides to call for a special, non-partisan election to fill the seat, a successor will be elected on the regular November ballot.

So far, five local citizens have expressed interest, and they have to scramble to collect signatures on nominating petitions over the next two weeks – before the July 16 filing deadline.

Albert Baldeo of Richmond Hill considers himself the front runner for the Democratic nod.

In 2006, he nearly defeated 20-year incumbent Senator Serphin Maltese; in 2008 Baldeo stepped aside, leaving former City Councilmember Joseph Addabbo a clear and ultimately successful run against the Republican.

“I’ve been getting calls – not just now but for awhile – asking me to run for the seat,” Baldeo told The Queens Courier. “I got 70 percent of the vote in Richmond Hill when I ran against Maltese – I’ve got the base,” he said.

Baldeo, 49, said he had “over $16,000” in his political war chest, and that he had “reached out” to the Queens County Democratic Party organization for their support.

Another Democratic hopeful, Nick Comaianni, 41, is a member of Community Board 9 and President of the Community Education Council in District 24. He told The Queens Courier that he didn’t think Baldeo was a shoo-in. “Nobody is entitled to anything,” he said.

Newly-elected City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley quashed rumors of her interest. “I love my job in the Council,” she told The Queens Courier.

Political neophyte Paul Gagliardotto, 23, entered the race via an email to the media on Tuesday night. The Queens College student, who grew up in the district, told The Queens Courier, “I have a lot of friends and family in the district who have stepped up to help me.”

The Queens Conservative Party endorsed a registered Democrat, Michael Miller, on Monday, June 29, according to Party chair, Thomas Long.

Republican Donna Marie Caltabiano, executive director of the Forest Park Senior Citizens Center, received the GOP endorsement on Friday, June, 26.

Caltabiano, 55, of Woodhaven, cited her experience at the senior center, as vice president of School Board 27 in the days before mayoral control of schools and 14 years on Community Board 9 proof of her ability.

“When I took over the center in 1994, it was only open three days a week. With the same budget, the center is now open four days a week. That’s what we need to do in Albany; we have to do more with less,” she said.

Caltabiano will have a fight on her hands, even with a second Democrat in the race.

According to the Queens Board of Elections, as of this April, there were 32,282 Democrats and only 9,328 Republicans registered to vote in the district. As a result, any Democrat needs 500 valid petition signatures to get on the ballot; any Republican would need only 467.

Republican County Chair Phil Ragusa told The Queens Courier that it was wise to leave nothing to chance when it comes to gathering signatures for election petitions.

“Opponents always try to invalidate signatures,” he said, adding with a chuckle, “In this business, it pays to wear a belt and suspenders.”