Thomas Ognibene

Earlier this week, one of the Republican candidates for the June 3 special election to fill a City Council seat in Queens, Tom Ognibene, accused the Board of Elections of giving the other Republican candidate, Anthony Como, preferential ballot placement. (Como is the former Queens Board of Elections commissioner).

In a letter dated May 7, the B.O.E. responds, saying that Como got to the office to hand in his petitions before Ognibene, which determined his placement on the ballot:

“A review of the official records of the Board shows that the first documents relating to the candidacy of Mr. Como were clocked in at 9:00 AM on Monday, April 21, 2008, notwithstanding the fact that he signed into the visitor’s log at 8:25 AM. A similar review of the petition documents relating to your candidacy shows the first documents relating to your candidacy were clocked in at 9:14 AM on April 21, 2008 and that your authorized representative signed the visitor’s log at 9:15 AM on that date."

Here is the full letter:  read more »

Here's a story that broke too late for the dailies: The police have raided the district office of Councilman Dennis Gallagher of Queens.

According to NY1 News, the NYPD would only say that it was part of an ongoing investigation. Gallagher's lawyer said he was unaware of what the police may be investigating. Gallagher had no comment, according to the station.

Gallagher is one of only three Republicans on the City Council, and was a former chief of staff to Queens Republican Tom Ognibene (who later ran a primary against Michael Bloomberg).