504 Democratic Club: Screening Panel Report June 2010

Congressional District 7

Joseph Crowley submitted a written questionnaire - He has generally been supportive of our issues.

Congressional District 8

Jerrold L. Nadler submitted a written questionnaire - He has always been a strong and reliable supporter of our issues and Chaired the subcommittee that held a hearing on Achieving the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Congressional District 10

Challenger Kevin Powell submitted a written questionnaire - He has run before with our endorsement, and failed to win the nomination in the primary. The incumbent, Ed Towns, did not participate in our endorsement procedure.

Congressional District 12

Challenger George Martinez was interviewed. His opponent, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, submitted a questionnaire. Congresswoman Velazquez has been supportive of supportive of our issues.

Congressional District 14

Both the incumbent, Carolyn Maloney and the challenger, Reshma Saujani, submitted written questionnaires. Congresswoman Maloney been supportive of our issues and our Club for many years.

Congressional District 15

The incumbent, Charles Rangel, and the challenger, Joyce Johnson, submitted a questionnaire. Ms. Johnson was also interviewed. She failed to give a convincing rationale for her candidacy.

Congressional District 17

Eliot Engel, the incumbent, has been a supporter of our Club and our issues.

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All five candidates, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Attorney Sean Coffey, Former State Insurance Commissioner Eric Dinallo, Nassau District Attorney Katherine Rice, and State Senator Eric Schneiderman participated in our endorsement process. Senator Schneiderman is the only candidate with a strong legislative record of support for our issues, has always been accessible to us, and always has strived to have accessible district offices.

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Incumbent Tom DiNapoli submitted a written questionnaire. He has generally been supportive of our issues.

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Senate District 10

Lynn Nunes submitted a written Questionnaire. He shows strong support for our issues. The incumbent, Shirley Huntley, did not participate in our screening process.

Senate District 11

Tony Avella submitted a written questionnaire. He was supportive of our issues as a Councilman. He is opposing the long-time incumbent, Republican Frank Padavan, who was nearly defeated in the last election.

Senate District 16

Businessman John Messer was interviewed. He seems to be supportive of our issues. He is opposing, the incumbent, Toby Stavisky, who did not participate in our process.

Senate District 22

Mike DeSanto submitted a written questionnaire. He is supportive of our issues and is running against the incumbent, Republican Martin Golden, who hasn't previously been challenged.

Senate District 26

Incumbent Liz Krueger submitted a written questionnaire. She has been one of our champions in the Senate.

Senate District 29

Tom Duane submitted a written questionnaire. He has been one of the principle supporters of disability legislation.

Senate District 30

Bill Perkins submitted a written questionnaire. Challenger Basil Smikle was interviewed. and submitted a written questionnaire. We were unimpressed with Mr. Smikle's responses. We admire Senator Perkins, who has been a strong supporter of our issues.

Senate District 31

Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat and Anna Lewis was interviewed. Misotis Munoz was interviewed and submitted a written questionnaire. Anna Lewis has been a long-time member and supporter of our Club and understands and supports our issues.

Senate District 33

Gustavo Rivera and Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter participated in our endorsement process. They are opposing incumbent Pedro Espada. Mr. Rivera seemed to have a stronger grasp on our issues.

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Assembly District 23

Audrey Pheffer submitted a written Questionnaire. She generally has been supportive of our issues.

Assembly District 26

Former Council candidate Steve Behar and former Assemblyman John Duane participated in our process. We believe that either candidate would make an outstanding Assemblyman. We give the edge to John Duane because we think that he a stronger candidate.

Assembly District 35

Former Police Officer Anthony Miranda was interviewed and submitted a written Questionnaire. He did not demonstrate a strong grasp of our issues.

Assembly District 36

Jeremiah Frei-Pearson was interviewed and submitted a written questionnaire & Aravella Simotis submitted a written questionnaire. Both candidates would be strong supporters of our issues, but we believe that Ms. Simotis is the stronger candidate in this district.

Assembly District 44

Incumbent James Brennan has long been a strong and reliable supporter of our issues.

Assembly District 52

Joan Millman, the incumbent, has been the chief sponsor of legislation on visitability in housing in the Assembly.

Assembly District 65

Micah Kellner submitted a written questionnaire. Micah has been a strong advocate for wheelchair-accessible taxis and on transportation issues.

Assembly District 68

Marion Bell & Evette Zayas were interviewed and submitted written questionnaires. We believe that Ms. Zayas has a much stronger grasp of our issues.

Assembly District 71

Incumbent Herman "Denny" Farrell submitted a written questionnaire; Ariel Ferreira was interviewed and submitted a written questionnaire. Assemblyman Farrell has grown over the years to a better understanding of our issues.

Assembly District 72

Attorney Julissa Gomez, former Councilman Guillermo Linares and Assembly staff member Gabriella Rosa submitted written questionnaires. Mr. Linares was a reliable supporter of our issues while in office.

Assembly District 73

Incumbent Jonathan Bing submitted a written questionnaire. He is a former Chair of the Task Force on People with Disabilities.

Assembly District 75

Incumbent Richard Gottfried, submitted a written questionnaire. He has been the long-time and effective Chair of the Health Committee.

Assembly District 76

Luis Sepulveda was interviewed and submitted a written questionnaire. The incumbent, Peter Rivera, did not participate in our process. We believe that Mr. Sepulveda may be a stronger candidate in the future.

Assembly District 78

Sergio Villaverde submitted a written questionnaire. He is opposing the incumbent Jose Rivera. We regret that Mr. Villaverde is unsure about whether he supports community reintegration of persons in nursing homes.

Assembly District 80

Robert Giuffre submitted a questionnaire and was interviewed. He is opposing the incumbent, Naomi Rivera. He has strong concerns about disability accessibility.

Assembly District 81

Incumbent Jeffrey Dinowitz submitted a written questionnaire. He has been a consistent supporter of our issues.

Assembly District 83

Incumbent Carl Heastie, Bronx Democratic County Chair, submitted a questionnaire. He is a long-time supporter of our issues.

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