If you don't exercise a muscle, it atrophies. Similarly, if you don't exercise the right to vote, that right will also atrophy.

It was bad enough that the recent Democratic primary drew 11% turnout, and worse that the runoff had a turnout of about 7%. But worst of all is the number of Democratic "leaders" who didn't bother to vote in the runoff. According to the Daily News' Erin Einhorn, that list includes:

State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada
State Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson
State Senator Eric Adams
Assembly Member Felix Ortiz
Assembly Member William Scarborough
Council Member Kendall Stewart
Council Member Maria Baez
Representative Yvette Clarke
Representative (and Queens County Democratic Leader) Joseph Crowley

Espada's excuse was that he had morning meetings in Manhattan and then got called away on "private family matter out of state." And I have a bridge for sale.

Apparently, Sampson, Clarke and Crowley had absentee ballots, but mailed them in too late to be counted. Uh huh. Like they didn't know when the deadline was. And what politically active, politically aware person mails an absentee ballot in after the deadline? Puh-leeze!

City Hall News is reporting that the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) now considers the for-profit company Data and Field Services, Inc. (DFS) to be "an arm of the Working Families Party" (WFP). The CFB is now going to consider all spending by the WFP on behalf of any candidate to be a direct campaign expense, rather than an independent expenditure.

Whether this CFB "understanding" holds up or not, in the long run the WFP will be the big loser, because even if they manage to wriggle out of this mess it is certain that new rules will be written to stop them -- or anyone -- from trying to skirt around the edges of campaign finance law.

The fallout after the jump:  read more »

Today, the Campaign Finance Board releases its second round of matching funds, and Marc Leavitt is still the only candidate for Queens Borough President to qualify.

Once again, incumbent Helen Marshall has fallen well short of the $44,588 threshold of matchable donations required to obtain matching funds. Despite her campaign’s promise to ramp up fundraising efforts, and receiving more donations from large donors and PACs, Marshall failed to garner the necessary small donations from New York City residents.

“This has become an extraordinary and exciting campaign,” said Leavitt. “The level of grass roots support I have received as I meet people all around Queens is a testament to the desire we all share for strong leadership and new ideas to make our borough an even better place to live and work.”

As Borough President, Marc plans to promote the communities of Queens as the multi-cultural heart of the greatest city in the world, bringing positive attention and new jobs and opportunities, while featuring and preserving the distinctive character of each neighborhood.

www.marccrawfordleavitt.com

(Yes, I'm still the Campaign Coordinator.)

Once again, my disclaimer: I am the Campaign Coordinator for "Leavitt for our Communities"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Marc Leavitt, Democratic candidate for Queens Borough President, is the only candidate for that office who has qualified for public campaign matching funds, according to today’s Campaign Finance Board announcement. Notably, incumbent Helen Marshall, who is running for a third term since term limits were lifted, has raised less than half of the minimum required, as of her campaign’s most recent filing.

None of Marc’s three opponents who have filed nominating petitions has come close to raising the $44,588 threshold of matchable donations. As of his last filing, Marc received over 500 separate contributions, nearly twice as many as any other candidate.

“Being the only candidate to qualify for matching funds shows who has real grassroots support in Queens,” said Leavitt. “This is especially significant, since I am challenging an incumbent who has all the institutional support.”

As Borough President, Marc plans to promote the communities of Queens as the multi-cultural heart of the greatest city in the world, bringing positive attention and new jobs and opportunities, while featuring and preserving the distinctive character of each neighborhood.  read more »

First, the "full disclosure": I am the campaign coordinator for Leavitt for our Communities.

Last fall, when the City Council passed Mayor Bloomberg's term limit extension, one of the major arguments Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn used was that they were offering us "choice." Of course, our choices have become much more limited now, because the only "choice" Bloomberg, Quinn, et. al. want us to have is themselves.

In Queens, the Borough President was going to be term-limited out, and at least three people were set to vie for the position; all three have dropped out, leaving us with no "choice."

Until now.

Marc Leavitt, a Queens lawyer and long-time activist, is running for Queens Borough President. He has already demonstrated, in just one month, an ability to raise the kind of money needed to run a viable campaign, and the money is still flowing in.

We have a website up, at http://marccrawfordleavitt.com. It is very basic right now, but we're still gearing up.

This Monday, June 8, we are having a grand opening at our campaign headquarters at 50-11 Queens Blvd. in Woodside (take the #7 local train to 52nd St.), starting at 6:00. Feel free to stop in and meet the candidate.

Tuesday, of course, is when petitioning begins. We'd love to have anyone who is a registered Democrat in New York come out and get signatures. You can reach me about this at my e-mail address, at dan - at - danjacoby.com.

Remember, this campaign is not only about Marc's experience and ideas for making Queens a better place to be, it's also about choice -- having a real choice, that is.