Assemblywoman Grace Meng, one of the contenders for the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District Seat, collected an important endorsement on May 29 – that of Rep. Gary L. Ackerman, who holds the seat now.
Ackerman shocked the political world in March when he announced he would not seek re-election.
Since Ackerman dropped out, the field filled with candidates, and the race has been a hotly contested one ever since.
There are four candidates in the tempestuous Democratic primary: Meng, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Assemblyman Rory Lancman, and latecomer Dr. Robert Mittman, a newcomer to the political field.
Whoever wins the primary won’t be able to let the dust settle for long – they’ll have to be ready to take on republican challenger Councilman Dan Halloran, who also seeks election to the position.
Crowley, who currently represents parts of Middle Village, Glendale, Maspeth, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, and Woodhaven on the City Council, was endorsed by various police, fire and labor unions, including the NYPD Captains Endowment Association and the Uniformed Firefighters Association. Crowley heads the Fire and Criminal Justice Committee in the council.
Lancman hasn’t slacked in the endorsements department either, with nods from the New York State Public Employees Federation and numerous other labor unions, including the Communications Workers of America District 1. Former Mayor Ed Koch threw his support behind Lancman as well.
Meng has the official endorsement of the Queens Democratic Party among others,
including the Amalgamated Transportation Union Local No. 1056, the United Federation of Teachers, and now Ackerman.
Ackerman said that, out of the available candidates, Meng most closely reflects his own values. “She’s a quiet fighter,” he told The Daily News. “She’s not about getting her name on a bill, but about getting the bill through.”
Ackerman went on to say that he and Meng shared a similar work ethic and middle-class upbringing, and that he felt comfortable about her filling the position.
In an interview with the NY Times, Ackerman said, “It’s not a matter of being the most flashy or the most self-promoting, but the ability to bring people together… She understands that it’s not about her, but the people who sent her there.”
By Liz Peterson
