John Sampson speaks at Tony Avella’s inauguration in 2011.

Dems cite weak leadership as they vote out Sampson

Posted by Rebecca Henely in District 12, District 14, District 15, District 16, State Senate on December 20, 2012 | No Comments

Amid the formation of a new coalition between the state Senate Republicans and the breakaway Independent Democratic Council, the Democrats voted to oust Sen. John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) as their leader in favor of Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers). Sampson, first elected to the Senate in 1997, has led the Democratic Conference since 2009. The decision makes [...]

Arcabascio (l.) and Gianaris

Senate races set as fall elections loom

Posted by Steve Mosco in City Council, City Offices, District 11, District 12, District 15, District 16, District 32, State Senate on October 11, 2012 | No Comments

With November’s general election on the horizon, four different races for the state Senate have emerged, according to the city Board of Elections. According to a citywide candidacy list provided by the BOE, Senate races in the borough will be decided Nov. 6 for the 11th, 12th, 15th and 16th districts. In the 11th District, [...]

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Two Dems win thorny primaries

Posted by Joe Anuta in Assembly, District 16, State Senate on September 20, 2012 | No Comments

A dismal turnout in state primary elections in and around Flushing saw state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) fend off a well-financed ?challenger and a Korean-American candidate come one step closer to making history after emerging from a five-way, bare-knuckled battle. Stavisky, who will serve her seventh term in Albany should she defeat Republican candidate J.D. [...]

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Messer clashes with Stavisky in lively debate

Posted by Phil Corso in District 16, State Senate on September 6, 2012 | No Comments

Democratic Party primary challenger John Messer and state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) traded jabs over gay marriage and term limits in a heated debate last week, although they agreed on some key initiatives, such as job creation, opposition to hydrofracking and support for the state Dream Act. The candidates squared off at New York Hospital [...]

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Messer, Stavisky debate before Senate primary

Posted by Phil Corso in District 16, State Senate on August 30, 2012 | No Comments

Democratic Party primary challenger John Messer squared off against state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) Wednesday night in a lively debate  on raising the minimum wage and other issues facing the newly drawn 16th Senate district. The candidates  met at New York Hospital Queens, fielding questions from moderators Joe Anuta of TimesLedger Newspapers and Melissa Chan [...]

(1) John Messer launches his campaign last month.

Messer gets Chinese name in Flushing Assembly race

Posted by Joe Anuta in District 16, State Senate on August 16, 2012 | No Comments

John Messer, a candidate opposing state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) for a seat based around Flushing, is targeting his campaign at the Asian-American voters in the district. Last week, Messer announced the promotion of Diana Her, former chief of staff to state Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing), as his lead campaign manager in a widely distributed [...]