|
|
|
Candidates work to ensure that supporters make it to the polls By Heather Boerner
With a little over a week left before the special election to replace Tom Duane in the City Council, political analysts are saying that last-minute campaigning won’t make much difference if the candidates aren’t able to pull people to the polls. Experts described the Feb. 16 election as a "friends and neighbors" contest. Since just a fraction of voters usually show up for special elections, they said, the race is likely to be won by the campaign that is the most organized, mobilizes the most volunteers, and convinces the most supporters to take the time to vote. "The overwhelming majority of those who are registered to vote will not even know that this election is taking place," said Kenneth Sherrill, an openly gay political science professor at Hunter College on the Upper East Side. "The only way anyone is going to vote is if they know who they want ahead of time. And the only way they are going to go to the polls is if a friend comes up to them and says, ‘Do this as a favor for me.’" Four candidates are running to represent the third City Council district, which runs from SoHo to Hell’s Kitchen and from Madison Avenue to 12th Avenue. Democratic District Leader Aubrey Lees, Tax Appeals Commissioner Christopher Lynn, and former New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project Executive Director Christine Quinn are openly gay. The fourth candidate, State Committeemember Carlos Manzano, has repeatedly refused to state his sexual orientation. Experts said Quinn is the currently the front-runner because she has put together a well-organized campaign, has won the backing of powerful political groups, and can deliver large numbers of volunteers. And it doesn’t hurt, they said, that she has close ties to Duane and once worked as his campaign manager. But few were willing to concede the race to Quinn, saying that special elections like this one are notoriously difficult to call. Norman Adler, a political consultant who helped run Peter Vallone’s race for governor last year, said Quinn "has the edge" because of her work with the City Council and in the gay community. But he pointed out that candidates don’t have to appeal to all voters because so few turn out at the polls. Therefore, a candidate only has to find a base of support and then try to "pick up a few extra voters along the way." Adler said that while Quinn has been mobilizing her forces in Chelsea, Lees has been working hard to shore up her support in the West Village. Manzano has done the same in Hell’s Kitchen. But he said that Lees, Lynn, and Quinn are all seeking the same constituency — that is, gay voters. That could splinter the vote, he said, and make it more difficult for any one candidate to establish a clear lead. All the candidates have been touting their endorsements. Quinn’s campaign literature, for example, lists big-name supporters like Duane and Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Dick Gottfried. But Margarita Lopez, the openly lesbian City Council member from the Lower East Side, said endorsements from political officials will mean less than support from residents who are well-respected in their neighborhoods. Lopez is quick to note that grassroots organizing, marked by support from community activists and not officials, is what helped her win in 1997. "Although the names of Deborah Glick and Tom Duane and Dick Gottfried do mean something, the names of ordinary people mean a lot, too," she said. "Just look at my campaign in 1997. I didn’t have big names. I had a handful of endorsements from elected officials, but I also had the names of 55 individuals in the community endorsing me. That was key to my campaign." Lopez refused to pick a front-runner, saying the election is probably too close to call. "This is going to be a very difficult race," Lopez said. "I disagree with people who say things like, ‘Didn’t Christine win already?’ The winner is not made by having a beautiful campaign put together or by putting money together. What’s going to matter is who can generate the excitement in their campaign." Quinn’s campaign predicts it will have more volunteers on the streets than any of the other campaigns. Maura Keaney, Quinn’s campaign manager, said that she expects to have about 500 people out in the week before the election, doing everything from calling supporters to handing out fliers on street corners. Manzano expects to have 400 people, Lees is counting on about 300, and Lynn plans to have "a couple hundred" people. But more than just the sheer number of people working the streets, Quinn expects to have Duane out stumping for her as well. Duane has written letters to constituents backing Quinn, highlighting her background in community organizing. In a Dec. 28 letter, Duane wrote that Quinn is "a progressive Democrat deeply committed to serving our neighborhoods." Quinn also has the endorsements of the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats, Comptroller Alan Hevesi, and the National Organization for Women. But Quinn’s presumptive front-runner status has not stymied her opponents. All the campaigns are sending out last-minute mailings to constituents seeking to set their candidates apart from the others. No candidate is defining herself in response to Quinn as much as Lees. Michael Oliva, her campaign manager, said Lees is trying to position herself as an "independent candidate." She is seeking to make a virtue of her outsider status by trumpeting her support among the type of community leaders who helped Lopez win. Her web page, www.aubreylees.com, emphasizes, "Endorsed by: the community, not the same old politicians."
"One of our biggest obstacles is that a lot of the powers that be seem to have chosen to endorse Quinn as the heiress-apparent to the seat," Oliva said. "We are not concentrating on issues that we all agree on in this race, like housing. Instead, we’re concerned about the individual’s rights and opening up government." One Lees pamphlet decries "ultra-partisan slash ‘n burn politics" and states that Lees is the "one woman bringing us together." The pamphlet characterizes her as a quality-of-life activist who would "fight for stronger police protection, close down rowdy bars and eliminate street prostitution by getting the ‘johns’ out of our neighborhoods, get drugs off the streets and out of the clubs." Lees hopes to get supporters to the polls with fewer volunteers than Quinn. Lees spends mornings meeting residents at schools and evenings doing door-to-door campaigning. Her volunteers are writing letters to friends encouraging them to vote. Lees is endorsed by the Village Independent Democrats, the Independence Party, and the Millennium Triangle Democratic Club. Her literature includes a "statement of support" from Public Advocate Mark Green, who is not endorsing in the race. Meanwhile, Lynn is trying to shatter his conservative image. Howard Hemsley, Lynn’s campaign manager, said the mail coming from his office in the next week will emphasize Lynn’s work as a public interest lawyer, defending ACT UP activists, and fighting for the rights of AIDS patients who are being hassled by their landlords. "This is aimed at those voters who only have a surface knowledge of Chris, who know he is a Giuliani appointee and therefore must be a Republican," Hemsley said. "They don’t know that, about 10 or 15 years ago, he was one of the first gay delegates to the Democratic convention, who introduced the first gay civil rights plank." Indeed, Hemsley described one of the letters that will be coming out in the next two weeks as the "gay mailing," focusing on his opposition to HIV names reporting. Lynn has the endorsements of the Village Reform Democratic Club, the Chelsea Midtown Club, the Stonewall Democratic Club, and the Log Cabin Republicans. Manzano, whose base is in Hell’s Kitchen, is counting on the people he has helped over the years as a Democratic State Committeemember to sweep him into office. Michael Muller, Manzano’s campaign manager, said the Latino voting bloc has been largely untapped in district elections. But Manzano, an immigrant and a longtime proponent for immigrants living in housing projects on the West Side, has a groundswell of support among Latino voters, Muller said. "Since Carlos was elected a state Committeeman, 600 new citizens have walked in his doors," he said. "That’s a very important base for Carlos, and it’s an untapped base in elections. There are 9,300 Latino households in this district. And there hasn’t been a Latino candidate out there till now." Manzano is campaigning across the district, but especially in the housing projects where he has worked. Manzano’s campaign contributions bare this out. His campaign racked up a hundred $10 to $25 donations from individuals living around his neighborhood. Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrar, and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer endorsed Manzano as well. And while Muller says that Duane’s endorsement will certainly help Quinn, he said he believes the endorsements Manzano has will help him bring out his base of support. But Sherrill warned candidates against worrying too much about differentiating themselves from one another. For one thing, he said, the candidates hold essentially the same platforms on many issues, such as affordable housing, education, and health care. And, for another thing, the candidates ought to be concentrating on getting the people who know who the candidates are to the polls. "Maybe if one candidate were for the war in Vietnam, for instance, and one were against it, that might mobilize voters. But for the most part, issues are not going to win this race. Organizing is," said Sherrill. "This whole thing is a battle of organizing. Nothing else matters."
This article appeared in the issue of: State gay group endorses Quinn By Heather Boerner
The Empire State Pride Agenda, a statewide gay political group, this week endorsed longtime activist Christine Quinn in the race to replace Tom Duane on the New York City Council. Quinn, former executive director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, is one of four candidates for the 3rd City Council District, which covers SoHo, the West Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen. Democratic district leader Aubrey Lees, Tax Appeals Commissioner Christopher Lynn, and state committeeperson Carlos Manzano are also seeking the seat. Lees, Lynn, and Quinn are all openly gay, and Manzano has repeatedly declined to discuss his sexual orientation. Tim Sweeney, ESPA’s deputy executive director, said all four candidates turned in "impressive" responses to ESPA’s questionnaire. It was during a face-to-face interview with Quinn that Sweeney said made the difference. Quinn seemed to have the best-formed plan for expanding domestic partner benefits to companies that contract with the city, expanding funding of health and social services for gays, and combating anti-gay violence. "It felt like we had a clear choice at the end," Sweeney said. For her part, Quinn said she is "thrilled" to win the endorsement of a political organization she said she "grew up with." "Many of my personal organizing skills, I learned during my work with the Pride Agenda," she said. "And I think the fact that a statewide group is endorsing in this race shows how important we have become as a community." ESPA is the last of the large political organizations to endorse in the race. Among large gay political clubs, Quinn also has the endorsement of the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats. Lynn has the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club and the Log Cabin Republicans. Among smaller gay political clubs, Lees has the endorsement of the Millenium Triangle Democratic Club and the Metropolitan Gender Network and Manzano has the endorsements of the Pride Democrats and the Stonewall Republicans.
This article appeared in the issue of:
State's Largest Lesbian/Gay Political Organization Endorses Christine Quinn for Manhattan City Council Seat New York City, February 2, 1999. The Empire State Pride Agenda, New York's largest lesbian and gay political organization, today announced its endorsement of Christine Quinn for the 3rd Councilmanic District in Manhattan. The special election, to fill the seat of now-State Senator Tom Duane, will be held on February 16. Tim Sweeney, Deputy Executive Director of the Pride Agenda said, "After careful reflection, we concluded that Chris Quinn has the greatest experience with and understanding of the City Council." Pointing to Ms. Quinn's service as Councilmember Tom Duane's Chief of Staff for five years, Mr. Sweeney said, "She knows the inner workings of the Council, has strong relationships with many current members, and developed an excellent record of constituent service." He said these experiences and talents would be "particularly crucial" because only 11 of the 51 current members will be in office after 2001 due to term limits. Sweeney said two other factors also led to the endorsement decision. "First, in both her written responses to our questionnaire and in her personal interview, Ms. Quinn had the most comprehensive and strategic plans for advancing issues important to the Pride Agenda's public policy agenda. And second, we feel that Ms. Quinn has the best capacity to use this unique City Council seat for the entire lesbian and gay community." The 3rd District lines were drawn, with the involvement of the Pride Agenda, to create a gay-winnable seat in the City Council. Over the last 8 years, its occupant has been called upon time and again to comment and provide leadership on broad issues, both at the state and national level. "This Council seat has become one of our community's more prominent bully pulpits against bigotry and discrimination. We believe that Ms. Quinn has the experience, commitment and skills to use this special position wisely and effectively," Mr. Sweeney said. In making its endorsement, the Pride Agenda called the field of candidates in the race "extraordinary" and emphasized that three of the four candidates -- and those with the longest and most diverse leadership experience -- Aubrey Lees, Christopher Lynn and Christine Quinn - are all openly gay or lesbian. Mr. Sweeney said that all four candidates were "100% on our issues" in their written responses to the organization's 24-issue candidate questionnaire. Mr. Sweeney said, "Each of the candidates has a solid record of service and the endorsements of well-respected individuals and organizations. Every lesbian and gay man in the district should take real pride in what these candidacies say about our progress over the last 30 years." The Pride Agenda will mail a voter guide to its 3,000 members in the 3rd District, including each of the candidate's responses to its questionnaire. -------- Founded in 1990, the Pride Agenda is New York's statewide, non-partisan lesbian and gay political advocacy organization. With offices in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and New York City, the Pride Agenda fights for the respect and equality of lesbian and gay New Yorkers by lobbying the state legislature and the Governor, electing supportive candidates, organizing the community, and educating the public. In recent months the Pride Agenda was responsible for negotiating with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the City Council a law broadly extending recognition of domestic partners in New York City. Candidate’s charges rankle political group Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats endorse Christine Quinn By Heather Boerner
Members of the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats, saying they were "insulted" by candidate Aubrey Lees’ charges of improprieties in the group’s endorsement process, last week refused to delay the group’s vote on whom to back in the upcoming City Council election. The group threw its support overwhelmingly behind one of her opponents, Christine Quinn. Lees and Quinn are two of five candidates running in a special election to replace City Councilmember Tom Duane, who won a seat in the State Senate in November. The special election will be held in February or March. Of the five candidates, three — Lees, Quinn, and Tax Appeals Commissioner Christopher Lynn — are openly gay. Bill Murawski is straight and State Committeemember Carlos Manzano has repeatedly declined to reveal his sexual orientation. Quinn and Manzano were the only candidates to speak at GLID’s Dec. 9 endorsement meeting. Lees boycotted the meeting, complaining that the group had failed to inform her and other candidates that they could send out mailings to the group’s membership. Lees, noting that Quinn was the only candidate who contacted the group’s members, asked the group to postpone its endorsement vote until its next meeting so other candidates could also do so. But leaders of major political clubs across the district said that candidates should know that they can send out mailings to club members. Of the nine large political clubs that will endorse in the race, none have policies that require them to inform candidates that they can send letters to members. Gene Glaberman, president of the Chelsea Midtown Democrats, which endorsed Lynn last month, said that savvy candidates know to find out what a club’s policy is on letters to members. "It’s not the responsibility of the club to inform the candidate about that kind of thing," he said. "The candidate should have enough initiative to find out what the policy is." GLID President Kevin Finnegan said that Lees — who is a GLID member, was on the club’s executive board, and has sent out two mailings to GLID members in the past — should have known the policy. Finnegan said he reminded Lees supporters about the policy during a phone call on Dec. 5, several days before the Dec. 9 endorsement vote. Lees also charged that Quinn colluded with GLID officials to exclude Lees supporters from her mailing. Since GLID doesn’t give out its mailing list, candidates hoping to contact members must provide the group with stamped envelopes that GLID officials address and mail. Lees said four members of GLID who are backing her campaign, including herself, did not receive Quinn’s mailing. The only way this could have happened, Lees said, was for GLID officials to intentionally leave them off the mailing list. Chuck Thies, Lees’ campaign manager, said that by excluding Lees’ supporters from her mailing, Quinn was able to solidify her support in the club, woo undecided voters, and remind everyone except Lees’ supporters about the endorsement vote. Thies also charged that Finnegan has been a "vocal supporter" of Quinn’s and may have worked with her to change who received the mailing. "We cannot endorse this endorsement," Thies said. "This whole process has been unethical and dirty." Thies added that Lees has no proof to back up the allegations. Finnegan, who denied the charge from the Lees campaign, wrote in a letter to Lees that her allegations were "as confusing as they were unfounded" and that "voters will make the appropriate judgement as to your suitability for public office." Though one person at the 30-minute debate on whether to postpone the vote said it would be "disrespectful not to take these charges seriously if they are made by another member of the club," most of members said they felt "insulted" by Lees. "I think we have a very full room here tonight and it’s disrespectful to the people who showed up here to be held hostage to someone’s fit of pique or outrage," said Deborah Glick, an openly lesbian State Assemblymember and a former GLID president. Tim Gay, a club member and openly gay Democratic district leader, concluded the discussion, saying to applause that "I think this is a smokescreen from a candidate who is not going to be happy with the outcome anyway so why doesn’t she just try to mar the process." The club voted unanimously to hold the endorsement vote. Of the 60 members who voted, 54 voted for Quinn, four voted for Lees, and two opted for no candidate. Lees was unavailable for comment after the vote, but her campaign manager Thies said that "it’s unfair and unfortunate that greater steps weren’t taken to ensure that everything was done fairly." But many club members said the Quinn endorsement was a foregone conclusion, adding that Quinn has been a member of GLID for years and enjoys the enthusiastic support of Duane himself, also a GLID member. While Lees has also been a member of the club for years, Finnegan said, Quinn has been a more influential member. Sterling Zinsmeyer, president of the Stonewall Democratic Club, said that it’s "no more of a surprise" that GLID endorsed Quinn than it is that the Stonewall Democrats, a group Lynn helped to found, endorsed him. "I don’t think this is a total outrage by any means," he said. "Why does [this endorsement] shock anybody?" Some even said the controversy made the vote for Quinn even stronger. "I think you would have seen the same vote anyway," said Glick, a Quinn supporter. "But the controversy brought out a lot of people, so what you may have seen otherwise was a 24-to-4 vote was instead a 54-to-4 vote." Arthur Schwartz of the Village Independent Democrats said that GLID’s endorsement wasn’t a surprise. He said that Lees’ move seemed designed to lessen the credibility of the endorsement. "I think," he said, "that Lees is just looking to explain away the inevitable endorsement of Christine Quinn." Schwartz is lobbying his club to endorse Quinn at its January meeting.
This article appeared in the issue of: |
|
|
![[District 03 : CHRISTINE QUINN]](http://www.council.nyc.ny.us/pictures/photo_03.jpg)
ew York City will hold a special election
tomorrow to replace three City Council members who have moved on to other posts. The
winners must all stand for re-election this fall. If they keep their seats, they have a
chance to develop substantial influence in a body where most incumbents must leave office
in 2001, when term limits kick in. 
andidates in three boroughs spent the
weekend making a barrage of telephone calls and walking through neighborhoods to urge
voters to go to the polls Tuesday in a special election to fill City Council seats in
Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island. 
