Bolstered by $7,100 in union money, Working Families Party Candidate Diana Richardson is safely ahead of her three rivals in cash on hand to spend on the vacant 43rd Assembly District seat in the May 5 special election.
According to the most recent state campaign finance reports, Richardson has $27,606 in cash on hand compared to her next nearest rival, Independence Party candidate Shirley Patterson, who has $10,539. However, a source maintains that Patterson just recently raised another $10,000, which brings her total to above $20,000.
Richardson and Patterson are also butting horns on the endorsement front. Among those endorsing Richardson are State Sen Kevin Parker, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte, DC 37, Local 373, and the 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. She also received a hefty $3,000 from the transit workers union and $4,100 from the CSA (Council of School Supervisors and Administrators) – both of which will likely support her.
Patterson’s endorsements include City Councilman Steve Levin, Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon, Caribbean American Weekly Newspaper, Haitian American International Chamber of Commerce, Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Bridge and Tunnel Officers Benevolent Association, Grand Council of Guardians and the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)
While Richardson and Patterson appear to be battling it out for the same block of votes, Republican candidate Menachem Raitport ($1,600) and Male District Leader Geoffrey Davis ($1,215) both remain in a good position to pull off an upset victory.
Possible scenarios include Raitport winning if Patterson, Richardson and Davis split the black vote evenly, or Davis winning on his name and longtime activist work in the community.
In the most recent Democratic district leadership election, Davis garnered the most votes of any candidate while Patterson bested Richardson to get re-elected to the female 43rd Assembly district leadership position.
