Gazette Endorses David Weprin In Special Election

The Queens Gazette strongly endorses David Weprin in the special election to be held Tuesday for the vacant 24th Assembly District seat in Eastern Queens. The 24th AD includes the communities of Oakland Gardens, Glen Oaks and Hollis Hills.

Weprin is opposed by Robert Friedrich, an accountant and community activist. The vacancy was created when Weprin’s brother, Mark Weprin, ran for and won the City Council seat that had been held by David, who left the office to run for City Comptroller last November.

Mark Weprin defeated Friedrich in the Democratic primary for the council post.

David Weprin would bring solid credentials for the Assembly seat if elected. He held the council post for eight years and was council Finance Committee chairman during those two terms. The knowledge in budget-making which he gained as chairman will be very helpful to him in carrying out his Assembly duties when budget time arrives in Albany.

Weprin, who was state Deputy Commissioner of Insurance and also an investment banker prior to his city council service, is running on three ballot lines on Tuesday—Democratic, Working Families Party and Independence Party.

Friedrich switched from Democrat to Republican–Conservative for Tuesday’s special election.