State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky

A Queens man named Jesus Palomino recently swore in an affidavit that his mother could not have signed a petition form for two dozen candidates, including State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, on June 14th. The reason? The woman, Ana Rita Palomino, had been dead since February 5th, 2011.

The affidavit was produced by Stavisky’s opponent John Messer’s campaign and is posted below.

Queens Democratic party-backed candidates frequently petition in tandem and list each other on shared petitions. Stavisky is included with at least two dozen other candidates on this petition, according to her campaign, who said they were not familiar with the witness, Ashoka Bhattacharjee, who signed the petition form that includes the dead woman’s signature.

Messer campaign staff scrolled through the nominating petitions and knocked on signatories’ doors to verify the names. The campaign provided the affidavit to City and State, in which Palomino’s son Jesus wrote:

“I the undersigned do hereby swear and say that Ana Rita Palomino was my mother and she formally resided at 159-09 Goethals Ave in Jamaica, NY. The petition signature shown to me that desigantes Toby Stavisky for the office of State Senator and submitted to the Board of Election can not be that of my mother. My mother passed away in February 5th of 2011.”

A source close to the Messer campaign said the campaign intends to produce at least 51 sworn affidavits from people who claim their petition signatures are not valid, including ”two people who are being treated for Alzheimer’s at facilities out of state,” the source said.

To read the full article at City & State click here.

Stavisky has “consistently fought to protect women’s health and safety,” Gillibrand is quoted as saying in the release. “She has worked tirelessly to improve city schools and expand access to health care.  I am proud to support her for re-election.”

Stavisky was also endorsed in early May by Sen. Charles Schumer, who cited her record helping small businesses in his endorsement.

Stavisky is facing off in the primary elections in September against John Messer, an attorney who also ran against her as a Democrat in 2010 and finished third in the race behind Stavisky and lottery winner Isaac Sasson. A Korean-American real estate agent named J.D. Kim is running against Stavisky on the Republican Party line.

Stavisky is running in the newly-created majority Asian-American district, which she moved into to avoid a primary against fellow Democratic State Sen. Tony Avella.

To read more from City & State click here.

Andrew Cuomo reportedly is open to endorsing Ray Kelly’s possible candidacy, but would wait to see the outcome of the Democratic primary.

Malcolm Smith joked that he might throw his hat into the mayoral field.

Brooklyn

Who else may be eying a Brooklyn BP run, now that Carlo Scissura is out of the race?

The David Storobin campaign staffer accused of petition fraud will appear in court on Tuesday.

Queens

State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky said her new district is much like her old one.

The Queens Chronicle slammed Grace Meng for her consultant’s ties to a newspaper that runs prostitution ads.

Meng said in an email that the consultant, Michael Nussbaum, has a very limited role in her campaign, though he’s been described as Meng’s main consultant.

More labor endorsements were rolled out in NY-6.

State Senate

The Department of Justice gave initial clearance to the Senate redistricting lines.

To read more from City & State visit www.cityandstateny.com.