Crowley Feud Thickens In Queens

How upset is the Congressman Joe Crowley with his cousin, Liz?

Apparently upset enough to try and kick her off the ballot as Liz Crowley runs for re-election as a Queens Democratic district leader – even though no one is running against her.

Joe Crowley, who heads the Queens Democratic Party, was not happy that Liz Crowley decided to run in the NY-6 Democratic congressional primary against the Queens Democrats’ pick for the seat, Assemblywoman Grace Meng. Crowley ended up finishing third in the four-way race, which Meng won on June 26.

In retaliation for her decision, the Queens Democratic Party declined to help Liz Crowley petition onto the ballot for a party district leader spot – and now is escalating things a step further. On Monday night, Frank Bolz, the go-to election lawyer for the Queens Democratic Party, submitted a slew of objections against candidates at the New York City Board of Elections. Most of them were insurgents running against candidates backed by the Queens Democratic Party. The exception was Liz Crowley, who is not running against anyone.

On the paperwork pictured here, Bolz is listed as the “Objector’s Contact Person” for an objector named Daniel K. O’Malley. Specific objections have since been filed against Crowley’s petitions – so Crowley is definitely facing a real challenge to her petitions.

Bolz is one of the partners in the law firm Sweeney, Gallo, Reich and Bolz. Another one of the partners, Michael Reich, runs the day-to-day operations of the Queens Democratic Party. Reich previously has called Crowley’s decision to run in the NY-6 race “foolish.”

Bolz did not return a request for comment. In a statement, a spokesman for Crowley, Eric Yun, expressed optimism that Crowley would make the ballot.

“Elizabeth Crowley has enough signatures to be on the ballot, and as District Leader, she is looking forward to advancing Democratic ideals and helping to elect Democrats as she has always done,” Yun said.

Crowley’s feuding with her cousin stands in contrast with the recent actions of Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who also ran against Meng in the NY-6 race. In an effort to mend ties with the Queens Democrats, Lancman recently withdrew his candidacy for district leader, giving up a position he’d held since 2002.

If Crowley is knocked off the ballot (leaving no one on the ballot for the district leader spot), election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder told me that a write-in “opportunity to ballot” campaign could ensue for the position.

“If and when Liz Crowley gets knocked off the ballot, the Democratic Party rules provide for filling that vacancy,” Goldfeder added.  “It is not that unusual.”