Thursday, May 8, 2008

Meet the man that Serf stabbed in the back

Read the story of district 30 special election council candidate Joseph Suraci, "a Queens Republican shut out by his own party"...

The Man Who Couldn't Be Judge

When a rare vacancy arose this year (2003) for a Civil Court judgeship representing a mostly middle-class, conservative swath of Queens, Suraci, a 52-year-old attorney, figured that if he could get on the ballot he had a shot. His résumé already read like a Queens jurist: Raised in Sunnyside, he attended Archbishop Molloy High School, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Manhattan College, and received his law degree from St. John's. He spent 20 years as a trial lawyer for Legal Aid defending low-income people in Queens criminal courts, where he had achieved a reputation among county prosecutors as a formidable opponent. He then moved on to private practice, handling disability cases and also serving as an administrative law judge adjudicating disputes at the city's parking violations bureau.

He was active in his community as well, serving as secretary of the Friends of Middle Village Library, vice president of Woodside Senior Assistance Center, and pro bono legal counsel to the Middle Village Property Owners Association. He helped found several nonprofit organizations including the Sunnyside Drum Corps and the Gateway Community Restoration Corp. The son of a former Republican district leader, Suraci had also paid his political dues, carrying his party's banner four times, coming closest to winning in 1993, when he was a candidate for the Supreme Court on the Republican and Conservative lines. The New York Times called him "clearly the best choice" in the race and he took in nearly 165,000 votes—just a handful shy of his Democratic-Liberal opponent, Luther Dye (recently forced off the bench for inappropriate courtroom behavior).

Despite his many partisan campaigns, Suraci, who appears thoughtful and self-effacing in person, has picked up admirers in the opposing party. "If there were more people like Joe in politics, it would be a better place," said a Democrat who once defeated him.


But he wasn't supported by the Republican Party. Why not? Serf Maltese made a deal with the Democrats in order to protect his own ass. And the rest is history.

Good luck battling the Queens Machine, Joe. And thank you for doing so. Now is the time to flush the Queens political chamberpot, which is overflowing with more crap than ever.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a Republican but will be more than happy to see control of the State Senate handed over to the Dems if it means Serf Maltese gets tossed out on his corrupt ass.

Anonymous said...

I am a Democrat and in reading the bio of this gentleman there is a good chance he could have earned my vote.

Anonymous said...

"Now is the time to flush the Queens political chamberpot, which is overflowing with more crap than ever."

Unfortunately the queens political chamberpot keeps getting filled with more crap. Your use of metaphor is fitting since it is what queens residents have come to expect from their politicians and the entire political system.

A ceaseless crap-stream.

Queens Crapper said...

"I am a Democrat and in reading the bio of this gentleman there is a good chance he could have earned my vote."

The election is June 3rd and Mr. Suraci is on the ballot.

Anonymous said...

1 - Seminero's daughter would have beaten him anyway

2 - Ognibene could have had that judgeship sport but turned it down

3 - Why didn't Suraci just petition anyway? You don't need the parties support to petition?

Anonymous said...

Could have, should have, would have. Ognibene would not have had that judgeship because he was caught on wiretaps taking bribes from a building consultant. As for whether or not Seminerio would have won, we'll never know.

Anonymous said...

. Your use of metaphor is fitting since it is what queens residents have come to expect from their politicians and the entire political system.

--------------
The people in Brooklyn or Manhattan would never put up with half the bullshit that Queens does. The word doormat goes to a new level when discribing what is left of the body politic in this boro. I guess that is what happens when the old leadership dies off, frustrated residents have been moving out for a generation, and their replacemetns, both yuppie and immigrant dont give a shit.

But that is only half the problem.

Across the board, on too many occasions, those that could effect reform at 2nd stringers themselves, drunk with petty power, pompous and self-absorbed, giddy with low level access, and frankly ain't that bright.

Queens suffers from a lack of red meat and brains in its leadership on both sides of the clubhouse door.

Anonymous said...

"Ognibene would not have had that judgeship because he was caught on wiretaps taking bribes from a building consultant. "

maybe, i'm not privy to that info - if you were then then you should have brought it to the DA -

my point is that both Suraci and Ognibene whined incessantly about not getting that judgeship - and neither did anything about it!

Anonymous said...

It was Gov. Patacki, another crook, who was pushing Ognibene for judge.

Anonymous said...

"maybe, i'm not privy to that info - if you were then then you should have brought it to the DA"

The whole world knew that because it was in the NY Times and Village Voice

Anonymous said...

The Queens DA has never did a case against an elected official for corruption. No even Brian McLaughlin who pleaded guilty to 40 counts was noticed by "Brown"

and he had tapes of Ognibene!!!

No wonder why pols think they can get away with stealing our money!!!

Anonymous said...

Voters and taxpayers in Queens don't care if slimy politicians laugh at them while cutting secret deals to screw Queens residents.

Why are so many politicians in Queens holding an elective office but never faced any competition since starting out?

How does that happen?

Are we here to pay taxes that can be frittered away by very stupid but scheming politicians?

Are we so helpless that we can do nothing to change how elections are run? Or, are we just stupid laughingstocks?

Anonymous said...

Are we so helpless that we can do nothing to change how elections are run? Or, are we just stupid laughingstocks?
-------

That is easy. Just look how the media portrays Queens.

If you are not an immigrant that is providing 'vitality!' and 'excitement!' (read noise and dirt) into the community, then the latter, buster, the latter.

Anonymous said...

DA Brown gets reelected so easily, he doesn't need to hold elected officials accountable. Toss out his a$$, too!

Anonymous said...

Since we are all immigrants, unless you are American Indian, you must be attacking yourself.

Anonymous said...

American Indians were also immigrants.

Anonymous said...

Actually you are not an immigrant unless you were born in another country and have not achieved citizenship yet. I was born here.

Anonymous said...

suraci didnt even make the ballot because he couldnt get enough signatures, plus he misspelled his party name on his petitions. gee, i wonder why he didnt get the judgeship.

Anonymous said...

how old is Brown anyway? I know Morgenthau is about 95yo, Brown has been around about as long.

Also, how old is that wig he wears? I would be happy to go to Canal St. and buy him a new one, just to not have to look at it anymore.

Anonymous said...

"American Indians were also Immigrants".

Right on. I meant to add that, but I hit the Post button too fast.

Anonymous said...

Joseph Suraci is truly an outstanding lawyer and is held in high esteem by his colleagues. He has won many jury trials in serious cases over the years, and, in so doing, has saved many lives. He is an extremely zealous advocate for his clients, and has provided pro bono legal services to the community on a number of occasions. There is no question that he is head and shoulders above all the other candidates for the City Council in the 30th District, in terms of ability and integrity. Prior comments by an idiot regarding misspelling the party name on a petition, and not acquiring enough signatures for access to the ballot, as equating to an inability to handle the duties of a judge, are incredibly ignorant, inconsistent with the opinions of major bar associations and the New York Times, insulting to this Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Manhattan College, and an indication that the writer is probably aligned with one of Mr. Suraci's opponents.