Avella denounces Vallone mailer

Statement from State Senator Tony Avella:

“I would like to set the record straight on the mailer that states Tony Avella is no longer running for Borough President, so now the choice is clear: Peter Vallone Jr. The mailer emphasizes that I have endorsed Vallone. In fact I have not endorsed Peter Vallone nor Melinda Katz and I will not be endorsing either candidate.”

From DNA Info:

Avella isn't laughing about the latest fliers, and said they mislead voters into thinking Vallone has picked up Avella's endorsement.

“He had no permission to do that, and I would not have OK'd it,” Avella told DNAinfo New York.

“It's disingenuous, and it misleads the public into thinking I've endorsed him, which I haven’t,” he said. “And never will. Ever.”

Vallone and Avella had sparred at forums throughout the campaign, including one where Avella accused the city councilman of using text messages to cheat on questions during a forum in July.

Avella, who dropped out after the filings were due, will still be on the ballot on Primary Day — and hasn't endorsed either Vallone or his opponent, Melinda Katz, a former member of the City Council and state Assembly.

Vallone, though, said he didn’t intend to confuse voters — only inform them.

The fliers are intended to inform voters that Tony Avella is no longer running, Vallone said.

“It was not my intent to make it look like an endorsement,” he said. “It told people he was off the ballot, and highlighted the views we both share.”

The campaign wanted to make sure voters didn’t “waste” their vote on someone who is no longer running, Vallone said.