Coaltion of Female Leaders Backs Jenifer Rajkumar for Sheldon Silver’s Vacated Assembly Seat
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District Leader Jenifer Rajkumar
The conviction of Sheldon Silver has left a vacuum in the State Assembly. His corrupt activity – guilty on all seven counts – came with the punishment of immediate expulsion and potential for 130 years behind bars.
So, yes, there is now an open seat in the 65th Assembly District. Governor Cuomo also announced a “special election” to fill the spot come April. One of the potential candidates with a groundswell of grassroots momentum is District Leader Jenifer Rajkumar.
A broad, national coalition of female leaders just emerged to support Rajkumar in any future bid for the position. “Women for Jenifer Committee” includes Ninfa Segarra, former NYC Deputy Mayor and Latina Leader; Kristy Pagan, Michigan State Representative; Siobhan “Sam” Bennett, former President/CEO of the Women’s Campaign Fund & She Should Run; Demie Kurz, Professor and Co-Director of Women’s Studies at the University of Pennsylvania; Jodi L. Ochstein of Hillary for America; and Monica F. Guerra, Co-Founder of WIN.NYC.
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Sheldon Silver’s puppet show, Photo: Art Y.R. Minor
As for Rajkumar, she hasn’t officially made the decision to jump in the ring. “I am seriously considering running,” the potential candidate tells us in an email. If so, she would be up against the political machine: Truman Democratic Club (allegience to Silver/Rapfogel), United Democratic Organization (Margaret Chin/Silver), and the Lower East Side Democrats (John Quinn).
UDO is pushing for Yuh-Line Niou, a 32-year-old Taiwanese newcomer, which has the old guard of politicos shaking in their boots. Fear that Chinatown power would infringe on Grand Street.
Meanwhile, onetime favorite for the spot, CB3 Chair Gigi Li flamed out in spectacular fashion last summer after the illegal petition signatures debacle. That incident of alleged election fraud linked Li with Margaret Chin staffer Yume Kitasei, who acted as witness to endorsements while not actually on site.
The plot doth thicken.
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