Queens Special Election: Ober Gets Independence, Como and Ognibene Get Money

Democratic City Council candidate Charles Ober got the Independence Party endorsement for the June 3 special election that will determine who will finish Dennis Gallagher’s term.

“Charles Ober has a genuine affinity for, and practical track record on, the issues and processes of grassroots democracy that the Independence Party cares about," said the party’s Queens chairman, Gerald Everett, in a public statement.

In other news on that race, two of Ober’s opponents just got matching funds from the Campaign Finance Board: former Republican Councilman Tom Ognibene got $58,351 and Republican candidate Anthony Como got $75,192.

Democrat Elizabeth Crowley, who has the backing of the Queens County Democratic Organization, 1199 and others institutional support (she is related to Representative Joe Crowley), is not eligible for matching funds because of penalties she is paying off that are connected to a previous City Council race.

According to her latest filing, which was given in January, Crowley raised $70,770 and spent $20,660.

We’ll get more details about the candidates’ financial activities when they file disclosure reports with the C.F.B. tomorrow. Those reports will cover transactions between April 29 and May 19.

UPDATE: Crowley raised $101,993 and spent $66,591 according to a more recent filing.