UES Assembly Candidate Knocks Rival Over Community Board Service

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Weeks after jumping into the race for the Upper East Side's open State Assembly seat, May Malik is making an unusual request: for her rival to step down from his position as community board chair.

May Malik issued the demand in a statement shared with Patch, calling on fellow Democratic candidate Russell Squire to resign from Community Board 8 — the Upper East Side panel on which both candidates had served until recently.

Malik, a former deputy commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, had served until recently on the 48-member community board, but stepped down last month before declaring her candidacy for the 73rd Assembly District.

"I take my responsibilities as a member of Community Board 8 seriously and thus I’ve resigned to maintain the apolitical nature that community boards are meant to have," Malik said in a statement.

"I’m calling on the other candidates in this race to join me so the Community Board can continue doing it’s important work without allowing politics to get in the way."

But Squire's campaign pushed back strongly, saying he has no intention to leave the volunteer position and pointing out that the city's Conflicts of Interest Board had signed off on his campaign. Indeed, it would hardly be unusual to run for office while serving on a community board: four candidates in last year's District 5 City Council race were active CB8 members.

"It’s typical of candidates with no meaningful service to the community to distract from their shortcomings by desperately attacking the frontrunner," said Aaron Siegel, a spokesperson for Squire's campaign.

"The rules unequivocally state that Community Board members are allowed to run for office, as have many before. Russell has always put community service first, which is why everyone agrees he’s the frontrunner and the best choice to be our next Assembly Member," Siegel added.

Squire, an attorney, was elected CB8 chair in 2020 and re-elected in November.

Malik and Squire are among three declared candidates in the race to succeed outgoing Assemblymember Dan Quart. Kellie Leeson, a humanitarian advocate, also jumped into the race in late January.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on former City Councilmember Ben Kallos, who has expressed interest in running for the seat but has not made a final decision.

The June primary will happen in a newly-redrawn 73rd District, whose boundaries mostly match the old one.

Related coverage:

• 2 More Candidates Join Upper East Side Assembly Race
• Dan Quart Retiring From UES Assembly Seat; Kallos, Squire May Run