Hiram Monserrate dodged a dumdum bullet when he was convicted of misdemeanor assault. However, yesterday his own borough's party effectively put him on an island when it endorsed a primary challenger.
José R. Peralta, 37, an assemblyman from Jackson Heights who is considered one of the party’s rising stars, said he would announce his decision to run for the seat whether or not Mr. Monserrate, a fellow Democrat, resigned or was expelled. And Mr. Peralta will enjoy the backing of the Queens Democratic Party, whose leader, Representative Joseph Crowley, said he would unveil his endorsement during the party’s pre-election dinner.
Earlier this week, the Queens Dems voted unanimously to demand that Monserrate resign both his state senate seat and his post as a district leader. Combined with the party's support of Peralta, it'll be a miracle if Monserrate will be able to raise another penny in this cycle.
Peralta only has $10,000 in the bank, but could have as much as $200,000 in a few weeks--and it will almost certainly be more with the Queens Democratic organization behind him. And there's a chance he might get to run a few months early--the state senate is mulling whether to expel him, in which case there will be a special election within months.
Crowley says he's fed up by the constant drip drip drip surrounding Monserrate, and also hasn't forgotten how he took part in the brief Republican-led coup in the state senate earlier this year.
Monserrate, at least publicly, isn't backing down. Unfortunately, some of his supporters are playing the race card.
Still, some Democratic officials are standing by Mr. Monserrate, including State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. of the Bronx and Martha Flores-Vazquez, a Queens district leader. In a statement this week, Ms. Flores-Vazquez noted that the party had stood by other officials accused or convicted of wrongdoing, and accused Democrats of employing a "racist double standard."
Um, how is taking a stand against domestic violence racist? And the fact that these statements are coming from an ordained Pentecostal pastor (Diaz) and a woman (Flores-Vazquez) are particularly disturbing. Sounds like two other people need to be out of jobs.