What’s the over-under on a swath of September Democratic primaries for City Council and Board of Education?
So far not a lot but some action is in play on the first day opponents to endorsed candidates could pull petition sheets to primary onto the ballot.
True to his word, incumbent school board member Joe Sokolovic, who won reelection running on the Connecticut Working Families Party line four years ago, is trying to petition his way onto the citywide ballot the day after the 90-member Democratic Town Committee endorsed three candidates for Board of Education, ex mayoral candidate Lamond Daniels, current school board chair Jennifer Perez and newcomer Jowanne Burks-Jennings.
Will Joe-So bring anyone along with him? It’s not easy hustling five percent certified signatures of the Democratic registration citywide to wage a primary. The good news is the Registrar’s Office recently cleaned up the list of inactive voters such as those not voting in the past two presidential elections so the Dem registration dipped from 42,500 a year ago to 33,515. See below
This means citywide Dem candidates must bank roughly 1,700 verifiable signatures for primary qualification.
On the City Council front so far the action will be in the 138th District where incumbent Maria Pereira and Keyla Medina are challenging party endorsed City Councilor Samia Suliman and District Leader Kevin Monks. Two years ago, Pereira lost the walk-in vote but prevailed via absentee ballots that attracted interest of state authorities charging her criminally with election violations she denies.
Pereira has a long history of political divorces so we’ll see how long this alliance, or perhaps distant alliance, with Medina lasts.
Both Suliman and Medina are residents of Success Village that avail them close proximity to a crop of voters in the JFK voting precinct.
The sweet spot for Monks and Pereira is the Hooker precinct. Based on the latest registration numbers the Upper East Side 138th District is the largest among the 10 city districts.
The 136th District is the domain of incumbent councilman Alfredo Castillo who is also challenging state election charges. Christopher Rodriguez has pulled the paperwork to try to challenge him.
The 137th District could also see a council primary where council president Aidee Nieves and Maria Valle have been popular for years. Ishmael Sanchez and Isaac Dickerson are trying to wage a primary, as well as Orlando Strong.
Opponents to endorsed candidates have about two weeks to submit signature petitions.
