Vallone Gets Nod from Queens Dems in Race for Halloran's Seat

Flushing attorney Paul Vallone picked up the endorsement of the Queens County Democratic Party on Monday in his bid for Councilman Dan Halloran’s seat.  

The county organization also threw its weight behind Christine Quinn, rather than Queens’ own John Liu, for mayor. The party gave the nod to Melinda Katz as opposed to Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., Paul’s brother, in the Queens borough president race.  
Vallone was also recently endorsed by the Detectives Endowment Association.   

“Now, more than ever, is the time to restore integrity and trust to the 19th City Council seat,” Vallone said. “I am humbled and privileged to have the district-wide support of our elected officials, district leaders as well as our community and civic leaders. As president of the Clinton Democratic Club, past president and founder of the Bayside Whitestone Lions Club and numerous other local organizations, this recognition proves that northeast Queens wants and needs leadership that is active and committed to our community.”  

Vallone will face off against Austin Shafran, the former vice president of Empire State Development, as well as long-time community activist and urban planner Paul Graziano, former Assemblyman John Duane and Crissy Voskerichian, who is Halloran’s former chief of staff.  

Douglaston attorney Dennis Saffran is the race’s sole Republican, but Rudy S. Giuliani, a cousin of the former mayor, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.  

Shafran currently leads fundraising efforts in the race.  

Halloran announced last month that he would not run for reelection following his arrest in an alleged bribery scheme to get state Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Jamaica, on the mayoral ballot as a Republican.