Monserrate May Not Have Senate Foe If Sabini Gets OTB Job

Nominating petitions for the November elections are still floating around the borough, but Councilmember Hiram Monserrate, the official Queens Democratic Party designee for the Jackson Heights state senate seat, is already piling up endorsements for his campaign.

However, the ex-cop and ex-Marine may not need that powerful a buildup because he may not have an opponent.

The incumbent in the 13th senate district, state Senator John Sabini, won't be running for another term because he's suddenly in line to become the chairman of the new Racing and Wagering Board created by Governor David Paterson as part of his plan to take over the New York City Off Track Betting Corporation and save the public betting system in the city.

The governor's plan was officially passed by the state legislature on Monday and although we haven't seen any official announcement about Sabini's appointment, we fully expect it will come to pass because the governor put out a news release last Friday saying Sabini was his man to run the newly constituted Empire State Off-Track Betting Corporation.

On Monday Sabini's PR guy told us before the bill was voted on in Albany that Sabini had already "discontinued" circulating nominating petitions for his re-election bid in anticipation of being nominated by the governor to the new $120,000-a-year, six-year term.

Photo Steven Stites Sabini stated at the press conference regarding his nomination as chairman of the new Racing and Wagering Board that was held at the downstate executive office in Manhattan, "It is an honor that Governor Paterson has chosen me to take on the challenges of the administration as they relate to the racing and gaming industry. I look forward to helping the administration find new ways to maximize revenue for taxpayers through racing and Native American gaming including the New York City OTB and, at the same time, ensuring the integrity of an industry that is so important to our state."

Sabini's PR rep didn't know who might be replacing Sabini for the remainder of the year in the state senate, or to whom Sabini might turn over his nominating petitions for the primary against Monserrate. The way Monserrate is piling up endorsements and support for his senate bid, there may not be anyone around Jackson Heights, Corona or East Elmhurst anxious to get into the contest against him.

Last week, before Paterson's plans for Sabini were announced, Monserrate released news of several major labor union endorsements.

Peter Ward, president of the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, AFL-CIO, a 30,000- member union, announced his union's endorsement of Monserrate, who was also endorsed by UNITE HERE New York State Council, a group of six local unions affiliated with UNITE HERE, an international union representing hotel, hospitality, garment, textile and laundry workers.

Previously, Monserrate had been endorsed by the Working Families Party, DC 37 Local 983, Laborers Local 78 and the Mason Tenders District Council, UFCW Local 1500, the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens and, of course, the Queens Democratic Party.

Earlier, Monserrate, the first Latino elected to public office from Queens, was endorsed by the

New Visions Democratic Club.

Next Wednesday evening, Monserrate will be the honored guest at a reception to be held at AFSCME District Council 1707 at 75 Varick St., Suite 1404, near Canal Street, in Lower Manhattan. Sponsor of the fundraiser is United for Monserrate.

MALTESE BANKING ON McCAIN: State Senator Serphin Maltese (R- C, Middle Village) is facing a tough re-election challenge this November from Democratic Councilmember Joseph Addabbo Jr. (Ozone Park), but Maltese feels he'll be getting some help from Senator John McCain, the GOP's topof the-ticket candidate.

In an interview, Maltese, seeking an 11th term, said he's already met with McCain and expects he'll get some help from the Arizona Senator, who's expected to run well in Maltese's state senate district, which usually comes out strong in presidential years. Maltese could also benefit from McCain's fundraising efforts, he said.

However, Addabbo should run well in many parts of the senate district such as Ozone Park and Richmond Hill where his dad, the late Congressmember, was a favorite. His namesake could benefit from voters who used to come out strongly on election day.

HOUSE EXTENDS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT: What Congressmember Joseph Crowley described as a "critically needed extension of federal employment insurance that will immediately stimulate the economy" was passed by the Democratic controlled House last week.

The vote extends unemployment benefits up to 13 weeks to 1.6 million Americans in every state. An additional 13 weeks would be offered to workers who have exhausted the 26 of regular unemployment benefits, and for states with especially high unemployment rates according to Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D- Queens/Manhattan).

Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) said in New York alone, there are an estimated 432,700 unemployed residents. He said that last week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent, the highest one-month increase since 1986.

President George W. Bush is expected to veto the measure, but Crowley urged Bush and Republicans to support it. Maloney said, "Too many people have lost ground on President Bush's watch."

Crowley said by passing the additional benefit, "We will help to provide financial support to America's workers as well as stimulate our flagging economy."

DEMS ENDORSE McCAIN: U.S. Senator John McCain's campaign announced last week that a group of prominent Democrats and unaffiliated leaders and activists had joined "Citizens for McCain", a new grassroots effort headed by U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, of Connecticut, a Democrat-turned-Independent.

Lieberman stated, "Citizens for McCain is an organization within the McCain campaign for people who put country before political party and support the presidential candidate who has a proven record of bipartisanship."

GORE ENDORSES OBAMA: On Monday, former Vice President Al Gore endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Gore, who served under President Bill Clinton, had remained neutral during the primary campaign which Obama won over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

GIANARIS BILL AIDS VETERANS' SPOUSES: A bill sponsored by Assemblymember Michael Gianaris (D- Astoria) which would extend property tax exemptions to the spouses of deceased veterans has been passed by the Assembly.

Deceased veterans' spouses are currently allowed to maintain the benefit of the Veterans Property Tax Exemption as long as they remain in the home they shared with their loved one, Gianaris explained, but if they leave that home to relocate elsewhere, they lose the benefit.

Gianaris' legislation would entitle a surviving but not remarried spouse of a veteran, to transfer his or her veteran's property tax exemption to another property, should the spouse decide to move after the veteran's death.