State Assembly candidate Paul Newell was endorsed by City Council member Rosie Mendez last week, in his bid to replace Sheldon Silver in Albany.
Supporters huddled on the porch Thursday afternoon as the storm clouds opened up at City Hall. But it didn’t keep Mendez and fellow Council members Ben Kallos and Mark Levine from speaking up for Newell, a district leader for the past seven years.
Mendez said, “I am proud to throw my support behind the only person who had the temerity to run against Speaker Sheldon Silver about 10 years ago. He is not afraid to take on the heavy guns and he will do that again as a member of the Assembly come November. I am going to work every day to help him realize that goal for our district.”
Several candidates are competing in the Democratic Primary, which takes place Sept. 13. Alice Cancel currently holds the office in the 65th Assembly District (she won an April special election). Leading up to the first election, both Mendez and Council member Margaret Chin endorsed Cancel. Mendez’s decision this go-around was expected after her political club, Coalition for a District Alternative (CoDA), voted to back Newell. Chin is supporting Gigi Li, another candidate in the running.
The contenders faced a deadline this past week to submit petition signatures for the September ballot. There was also a fundraising disclosure deadline. We’ll have more about that in the next day or two.
Mendez represents Council District 2, which covers an area mostly above East Houston Street. Silver, of course, was forced from office after his conviction last year on federal corruption charges.
