QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 19, 2017 Page 18
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Katz, Lancman are top Qns. fundraisers Borough president and councilman have biggest war chests for 2017 by Ryan Brady Associate Editor
Raising money, it is known, is central to a successful election. Which puts Borough President Melinda Katz and Cou ncilman Ror y Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) — who, in that order, lead Queens lawmakers in fundraising for the 2017 elections with respective estimated balances of $559,628 and $420,284 on the Campaign Finance Board website — in comfortable spots. Both have smaller war chests than some other officials, especially citywide ones: Comptroller Scott Stringer — an estimated $1,718,366 — and Mayor de Blasio, whose $2,221,044 makes him the top fundraiser running for city office. Tuesday at midnight was the deadline of the sixth period for 2017 candidates to file contributions with the Campaign Finance Board. Katz is listed as running for the seat she now holds, while Lancman is an officially undeclared candidate. “I don’t know what 2017 is gonna bring in terms of what’s going on in the races above me,” the councilman said. “If there’s an opportunity to have more leadership in city government, I want to be ready.” The councilman added that if he runs for his own seat again, “I’d be very happy doing that. I love the work that I’m doing.” Lancman will be challenged by Montell Moseley, who has a meager estimated balance of $110. Nobody is listed as a challenger to Katz on the Campaign Finance Board website.
Borough President Melinda Katz and Councilman Rory Lancman are, respectively, the first and second leading fundraisers out of Queens’ elected officials, sans the citywide ones. FILE PHOTOS The borough president’s top donors include labor union political action committees, a Rubenstein Communications executive and Steve Chon, who owns the controversial Spa Castle resort, where a 6-year-old girl almost drowned last year and was hospitalized. The biggest contributions to Lancman’s campaign are from former Councilman Morton Povman, individuals in the real estate industry and unions, among others. State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), a longshot candidate in the nascent primary race against Mayor de Blasio, has a tiny estimated balance of just $724. He has another account with the state Board of Elections that has $23,729. The state senator did not immediately return a request for comment about transferring the funds to his Campaign Finance Board account.
Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who is considering entering the Republican primary race for mayor, has an estimated balance of $33,369 — a much smaller number than others who are mentioned as contenders for de Blasio’s seat. Paul Massey Jr., a Republican running for mayor, has racked up an estimated balance of $937,017 and has already spent $1,960,646. “Running in an expensive New York City media market, money is critical,” St. John’s University Assistant Vice President for Government Relations Brian Browne, who is also a political science professor, said. Ulrich, he added, will need to raise an amount closer to those of the top contenders to be a viable candidate. “He’s starting at a disadvantage,” Browne said. “He’s gotta compare with de Blasio
and Stringer.” Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), who has racked up $301,912 to run for an unspecified seat, is the secondbiggest fundraiser in the body’s Queens delegation. Behind him is Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Glendale) with $240,966. The estimated Campaign Finance Board balance of Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing), who might run for city comptroller if Stringer primaries de Blasio and if he thinks it’s financially feasible, is $79,945. If he makes the decision to run, Kim plans on transferring money from an account with the state Board of Elections with $76,180 in funds that has not been transferred to the Campaign Finance Board. “If this election moves forward, of course I plan on consolidating all my funds to launch and be ready for the campaign,” he said. The money cannot directly be added to his Campaign Finance Board balance —corporate contributions are not accepted in the city’s matching funds system — although the assemblyman expects that “at least 80 to 90 percent” would be eligible for transfer. If Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) runs against Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D-East Elmhurst), he is at a fundraising disadvantage. His $15,773 estimated balance is less han half of her $34,199. Going forward, fundraising could be a crucial factor in the elections’ outcomes. “Money dictates the success of a campaign, especially at this point in the process where money is really a barometer of political Q support,” Browne added.
FoHi Ambulance Corps co-founder dies at 93 Josephine Bebirian was the ‘voice of reason’ for many in the organization by Christopher Barca
For the latest news visit qchron.com
Associate Editor
The Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps is in mourning this week after group co-founder Josephine Bebirian died of natural causes last Friday. She was 93. “She was a very kind woman who very much cared about the community,” FHVAC President Alan Wolfe said in a Tuesday interview. “She always had the community in mind whenever we did anything.” Bebirian co-founded the group in 1971 after a Forest Hills man suffered a heart attack and waited two hours for an ambulance, according to Wolfe. That man died during the wait. Bebirian, of Forest Hills, was one of the FHVAC’s more active members until recently, when her health started to decline. But Wolfe said she was always seen as a “voice of reason” to countless members, past and present. “She was looked upon as an elder. People always looked to her for advice,” he said. “Whenever anyone had a question, they would go to her.” Wolfe said she always enjoyed hosting blood drives the most, as she saw those as the best way to help as many people as possible.
But one of his most vivid memories of Bebirian would be sending an emergency response vehicle to her house in her later years to take her to various FHVAC events. Even in her advanced age, she always tried as best she could to attend group engagements, blood drives and award ceremonies. “I remember bringing out an old stepladder to help her into the truck,” he said. “She had such a good heart.” She received a proclamation from the City Council — and a cake with her face on it — at a 2012 ceremony honoring her four decades of service to the community. Viewing for Bebirian will be held at the Fox Funeral Home at 98-07 Ascan Ave. in Forest Hills today, Jan. 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Her funeral Mass will be held Friday at Our Lady of Mercy Church at 70-01 Kessel St. in Forest Hills at 9:45 a.m. She will be laid to rest alongside her late husband, Walter, a World War II veteran, at Calverton National Cemetery in Suffolk County after the Mass. In lieu of f lowers, contributions can be made in Bebirian’s memory to the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps. She is survived by her three sons, Walter, Richard and Q John.
Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps co-founder Josephine Bebirian, left, died at the age of 93 last Friday. PHOTO COURTESY FOREST HILLS VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS