Report Marshall An Easy Winner In Dem B.P. Race; Vallone, Hevesi Trail In Mayor’s Race

Capping one of the most bizarre election campaigns in memory, Democratic Party voters in Queens trickled out to the polls yesterday in the city’s first-ever term limits election and overwhelmingly selected Councilmember Helen Marshall as their candidate for borough president, according to returns reported to Democratic Party headquarters in Forest Hills.

In early council returns reported winners were Peter Vallone, Jr., Eric Gioia, Tony Avella, Helen Sears, Hiram Monserrate, Elizabeth Crowley, Melinda Katz, David Weprin, Jim Gennaro and Joe Addabo Jr.

Here are brief profiles on the projected winners:

Peter Vallone Jr./22nd District (Astoria/Long Island City): With high name recognition and support from the powerful Taminent Regular Democratic Club and the county Democratic organization as well, Peter Vallone Jr. easily defeated attorney John Ciafone and Astoria businessman Mike Zapiti. The 40-year-old attorney figures to have an equally easy time in the general election with a victory which will see him succeed his father, Speaker Peter Vallone, as the district’s representative. The potential Councilmember has been involved in efforts to get clean power plants in the area and also in youth activities.

Eric Gioia/26th District (Woodside/Sunnyside): At 28, Gioia was the youngest candidate in the 26th District race. A Woodside resident and an attorney, he brought White House connections to the contest. He managed then Vice President Al Gore’s local presidential campaign and received many significant endorsements, which figured in his victory, as did his strong neighborhood roots. He defeated Matt Farrell, Joe Conley, Michael Kearney and Patrick O’Malley.

Tony Avella/19th District (Bayside/Whitestone): Avella started his career as a community activist more than 20 years ago as Mayor Ed Koch’s community liaison and after that continued as a civic leader. He’s also been a Democratic party district leader for four years and had the organization’s endorsement and support. He defeated Jerry Iannece, Arthur Cheliotes, John Frank and Joyce Shepard.

Helen Sears/25th District: (Jackson Heights/East Elmhurst): Sears is a health care professional and has been involved in her district as a Democratic district leader and community activist, serving on Community Boards 3 and 4. She had the county organization’s endorsement. Education has also been a priority. She defeated Rudolph Greco, Jimmy van Bramer, Magdalena Schultheis and Louisa Chan.

Hiram Monserrate/21st District (East Elmhurst/Corona): Monserrate, a 34-year-old ex-Marine and Persian Gulf veteran, ex-cop and Democratic district leader with the organization’s endorsement, became the first Hispanic in Queens who has a good shot at winning a City Council seat with his primary victory yesterday. He has no opposition in November. He defeated three other Hispanics: Aida Gonzales-Jarrin, Luis Rosero and Angel L. Del Villar. The CUNY graduate had broad Democratic and labor support.

Elizabeth Crowley/30th District (Middle VIllage/Glendale): A Glendale resident, Crowley’s election chances were excellent. She had great name recognition, as both her parents served in the Council and Congressmember Joseph Crowley is a first cousin. County Democratic endorsement and very strong labor backing ensured campaign cash and lots of volunteers for campaign support. She defeated School Board 24 members Linda Sansivieri and Robert Cermeli.

Melinda Katz/29th District (Forest Hills/Rego Park): Katz, a former Assemblymember, a Democratic district leader, director of community boards at Queens Borough Hall and the regular Democratic endorsee was almost unbeatable in Alan Hevesi’s home district, which assured a huge turnout for Katz and the mayoral candidate. She has the background to be a major player in the new council in the race for which she defeated Lynn Schulman.

David Weprin/23rd District (Queens Village/Bayside): Another county organization supported candidate with a highly recognizable political name, Weprin easily defeated Jairam Thakral, a SUNY Stony Brook official. The winner is the son of the late Saul Weprin, a former Assembly Speaker, and brother of Assemblymember Mark Weprin.

Jim Gennaro/24th District (Kew Gardens Hills/Flushing): Gennaro has spent 11 years as environmental policy advisor to the City Council and for the past six years has taught at Queens College. He’s president of the Jamaica Estates Association and the Saul Weprin Democratic Club. He states public schools need a "Student Bill of Rights" to assure every student a certified teacher and manageable class size. He defeated Barry Grodenchik and David Reich.

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr./32nd District (Ozone Park/Rockaways): The son of the late Congressmember, Addabbo Jr. is an attorney and a Democratic Party official, and is active in community, youth and church activities throughout the council district. He defeated John Seminerio, Lew Simon and Christina Jorge.

On the citywide scene television station projections and Associated Press exit polls all showed Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer polling in the high 30 percent area, thus appearing to qualify for the run-off in two weeks. Queens’ two mayoral hopefuls, Peter Vallone and Alan Hevesi, trailed.

In the Republican primary for mayor, Michael Bloomberg was projected as that party’s candidate, defeating Herman Badillo.

There were no other GOP primaries on the ballot.

At Democratic Party headquarters in Forest Hills, party leader Thomas Manton’s face was aglow every time executive secretary Michael Reich announced results showing Marshall swamping Carol Gresser, of Douglaston, and Councilmember Sheldon Leffler, of Queens Village.

Their unofficial returns showed Marhsall taking not only her home area of East Elmhurst/Corona/Jackson heights by huge margins, but also white conservative areas like Astoria, Forest Hills and Maspeth. As expected, she was also running very strong in black communities.

If Marshall wins, she will be the first black to hold the office of borough president. Reich said the organization had about 750 workers out everywhere in the borough pulling votes for Marshall and their council candidates.

"We worked very hard in black communities to maximize her voter base there," he acknowledged, "but we were also out strong in areas like central and western Queens."