Report on Petition Challenges

The New York City Board of Elections has (almost) finished the hearings on petition challenges for this year’s Primaries.

And it looks like a quiet year will be even quieter.

In a previous post I reported that the only Primary contests for public office were for 5 judicial positions.

In the a race for a Brooklyn Countywide Civil Court spot, candidate Fred Arriaga, counsel to the Borough President, successfully challenged the petitions of opponent Pia Wood, who fell short by about 800 signatures.

In Brooklyn’s 6th district, where 3 candidates filed petitions, Sharen Hudson removed one opponent – Daniel McCullough, who is 250 signatures short. Hudson’s only opponent is Katherine Levine.

In Manhattan’s 9th District, it’s likely the Board will remove Mary Rosado as a result of the challenge by Andrea Masley. I say it’s likely because the Board put off ruling on this until August 11th. However the only argument that the Board must decide is if Ms. Rosado is short by 100 or 200 signatures.

Now the Board decisions are not final as any of the candidates removed can and are likely to go to the courts to try to get back on the ballot. Those court proceedings have already started.

The challenge by Brooklyn Surrogate candidate Justice Diana Johnson against her rival, Civil Court Judge Shawndya Simpson on the grounds of residence is also now being heard in court.