Adorno
Miller
A Democratic and a Republican state primary – two Queens races that have been dubbed rarities – are coming down to wire, with elections held on September 13.
The match-ups this year are made even rarer by the fact that ballots will be cast on a Thursday, instead of the customary Tuesday, due to the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack falling on that date.
Vying for a spot to take on incumbent Joe Addabbo (D-Queens) in the general election for State Senate in the 15th District, current City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) is in Tampa, Florida this week at the Republican National Convention hoping to gain momentum in his battle against Queens County GOP backed candidate Juan Reyes, whose campaign says is still in Queens, knocking on doors.
Reyes
This is Reyes’ first attempt at public office. Although the Forest Hill resident and partner at a Manhattan law firm has worked on high-profile election campaigns for leaders like Bob Dole, and despite the endorsement of the the borough’s Republican party, Reyes has been largely labeled as the underdog.
It is no secret that Ulrich has long been at odds with the county GOP, but has received several bolsters to his cam
paign recently in the form of union endorsements and the backing of groups like the New York City Uniformed Fire Officers Association.
The State Senate hopeful skirted around a question asking if he wins the primary if the Queens GOP will stand in solidarity with him against Addabbo stating, “My focus at that point is just winning the general election.”
Both Ulrich and a spokesperson for Reyes said they are cautiously optimistic going into the primary and they are taking measures to ensure people are aware of the September election.
“We will make sure that anybody can cast ballots who wants to get to the polls,” said Ulrich.
Ulrich
Although both candidates have sparred in the past, neither Ulrich nor Reyes’ spokesperson attacked the other, but instead spoke to their individual campaigns propelling them towards their general election ambitions.
“We are focused on the primary, but the day after, we are doing the same thing but reaching out to Democrats and Independents,” said Reyes’ spokesperson.
In the other big, undecided September race where newcomer and relatively young, 27-year-old candidate, Etienne David Adorno hopes to unseat incumbent Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) for the newly redrawn 38th Assembly District, both candidates worry about voter turnout.
“This district in particular has incredibly low turnout. We’ve never seen a Thursday race so we don’t know if the regular crowd will come down. We’re operating under the assumption that people will not know so with redistricting and the date change we’re with a lot of new headaches and working to alleviate that as much as possible,” said Nick Roloson, Campaign Manager for Assemblyman Miller.
Miller has served the state since 2009 and has the backing of the Queens Democratic party.
Adorno, also recognized the apparent apathy in the district he hopes to represents’ eagerness to get to the polls.
“In 2010, 2,300 [people] out of a population of 124,00 came out [to vote], said Adorno who entered the race in July and recently served as an aid for Councilman Robert Jackson.
Although Adorno hopes to deny Miller another term, he professed that the primary goal of his throughout the campaign has been to increase constituent voter participation.
“Of course I want people to support me, but the bottom line is whoever wins the election can truly say ‘I am representing the district.’ If only 2,300 people vote, that person is not representing the majority of voices,” the Woodhaven rookie said.
Although Adorno is nervous that people will be more apt to vote on a Tuesday rather than a Thursday, it gives him no pause that Miller’s campaign finances are exponentially greater than his.
“When people ask me why I have no money, I say we have the definition of a grassroots . What we don’t have in funding we make up for in quality volunteers,” said Adorno.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face no Republican opponent in the general election.
“We need the win, and that’s the bottom line,” said Roloson of Miller’s primary pressures.
Roloson says if Miller takes the primary, they will focus on helping Addabo protect his seat from either Ulrich or Reyes in November.
By Katie Riordan
