Ex-Addabbo Staffer Leads Bid To Recruit A Primary Opponent

FOREST HILLS, NY — A former campaign manager for State Sen. Joseph Addabbo is recruiting candidates to primary his former boss, a political scion who hasn't faced a Democratic opponent since he was first elected to the senate in 2008.

Jeff Griffin, who managed the Democratic lawmaker's 2016 and 2018 campaigns, and members of grassroots advocacy group Rockaway Revolution launched their campaign "Joe's Gotta Go!" earlier this week.

Addabbo, the coalition wrote in a press release, "obfuscates and dissembles on issues of importance to his constituents, while working to maintain a status quo that works for fewer and fewer [Senate District 15] residents."

"He seems to carry the water of a certain type of constituent and ignore the rest," Griffin, a Brooklyn resident, said in a phone interview. "Older constituents, more conservative constituents, homeowners."

The coalition has already met with one strong potential candidate since its launch Monday, according to Griffin.

Reached by phone, Addabbo called the recruitment bid a poor political strategy by someone with an axe to grind. "Really what it did is it woke up my supporters," he said.

Addabbo represents the 15th Senate district, an oddly-shaped swath of central Queens that includes Broad Channel, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Glendale, Howard Beach, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ozone Park, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven and most of the Rockaways.

He will be up for reelection in 2020.

Rockaway Revolution's Marva Kerwin named Addabbo's vote earlier this year against the Reproductive Health Act, which deleted abortion language from the penal code and enshrined the right to abortion in public health law, as a major reason why she's helping recruit an opponent.

Asked about that vote, Addabbo told Patch he never apologizes for any of his votes. He also pushed back on the coalition's accusation that he favors some constituents over others.

"There's not an elected official on this earth that pleases everybody they represent," he said. "I treat my district fairly, very fairly."

Kerwin, an Arverne resident, said she wants a representative who's more genuine and proactive, someone who will prioritize building affordable housing and support the Green New Deal.

"Every elected official should have a primary challenger if you don't feel they are doing the very very best for their constituents," Kerwin said.