What to believe? Voters will have to figure it out for themselves since both candidates have denied all charges lobbed against them. Tuesday’s election will decide who will replace Councilman Tony Avella, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the September Democratic primary.
Halloran, 37, an attorney who lives in Whitestone and is proud of his family’s roots in the community for over 80 years, says Kim moved to Flushing two years ago from Manhattan. That is based on Kim’s 2007 voter registration form, which showed he had not voted since 2000.
Kim’s camp said he moved to Bayside after 2007 and grew up in the district. The Halloran campaign is not so sure, but was unable to prove it.
Kim also denies the allegations that he is responsible for stealing or destroying his opponent’s campaign signs. “We’ve had plenty of our own posters taken as well,” said Michael Tobman, his campaign director.
As to the developer charge, Kim says that less than 1 percent of his donations are from development or construction companies.
Regarding Kim’s contention that Halloran had a short career with the NYPD, the Republican said there were no disciplinary hearings, that he resigned in 1991 because he wanted to go to law school, which was always his goal.
On Monday, Kim held a press conference, supported by numerous Queens Democratic leaders, who lambasted Halloran for issuing a series of negative attack mailers against his opponent.
“Everyone who lives here cares about the same things. We all want good schools, safe and clean streets, convenient shopping and transportation and to live in nice neighborhoods that are not crowded and not overdeveloped,” Kim said. “My message to Dan Halloran is, ‘Stop the divisive attacks and lies, let’s talk about really matters to people and when this is over, let’s work together to accomplish these common goals we share.’”
Kim and his supporters depicted the Halloran fliers as trying to amplify racial tension in the diverse district by creating an “us versus them” mentality and claiming that if elected Kim will turn the leafy neighborhoods of northeast Queens into another downtown Flushing.
After the Queens Tribune piece appeared, Halloran acknowledged he belongs to a pagan group, but says religion has no place in a political campaign and that the story was printed in a biased way. In it, Halloran is described as the first atheling, or king of Normandy, a branch of the Theod faith, a pre-Christian heathen religion.
The candidate got involved with the group after the death of his father, when a relative suggested he might find some comfort from it. He was raised a Catholic.
Promoting his candidacy, Halloran believes he’s the best one for the job. “I’m offering solutions and bring the best package to City Hall: experience and an understanding of the community. That gives me an advantage,” he said.
“District residents need someone who knows what they’re going through and to lead us in these difficult economic times. We’ve seen what the status quo means for our neighborhoods,” Halloran added.“It means being overtaxed but underserved.It means big developers getting a free pass while small businesses suffer.It means more crime on our streets and more corruption in the halls of our government.”
He has been endorsed by the Republican, Independence, Libertarian and Conservative parties as well as state Sen. Frank Padavan, former Gov. George Pataki, the carpenters union and the Fire Marshals Benevolent Association.
The 19th District, which includes College Point, parts of Flushing, Bayside, Auburndale, Little Neck, Douglaston, Malba and Bay Terrace, voted Republican until Mike Abel was term-limited out of office and replaced by Avella in 2001. Abel served as councilman for 10 years.
But Tobman believes the electorate is smart and won’t vote a straight Republican party ticket headed by Mayor Mike Bloomberg. “Times change and people don’t vote the party line. They go with the best candidate,” he said.
Kim, 39, most recently worked for Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens, Nassau) as deputy director of community affairs. A lawyer, he says his work with Ackerman prepared him to become a councilman. If elected, he will become the first Korean American on the City Council.
Kim raised $436,848 while Halloran took in $46,927. The Democrat’s endorsements run two full pages, including all major Queens party leaders, the five candidates he beat in September’s primary, former Gov. Mario Cuomo and numerous unions, including the Patrolmens Benevolent Association, United Federation of Teachers, Uniformed Firefighters Association and Communications Workers of America.
He is running on a platform to improve schools and public safety and preserving the quiet residential character of the district.
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