While fierce rhetoric is flying across the country in the presidential race, the mud is being slung at point-blank range in a corner of Queens where two veteran lawmakers are engaged in an increasing ugly battle for a state Senate seat.
The 15th Senatorial District race between 20-year Republican incumbent Senator Serphin Maltese and his Democratic challenger, City Councilmember Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. is being watched around the state because of its potential to tip the state Senate in favor of the Democratic side of the aisle.
“They seem desperate,” Kate Battiato, a registered independent from Ozone Park who mailbox has been stuffed with increasingly nasty campaign literature from both candidates.
“Councilman Addabbo will do anything to win…even if it means violating the law,” declares one Maltese flyer that calls the councilmember “perverted” and depicts him thumbing his nose at voters. Maltese’s ads also attack Addabbo for “mud-slinging.”
‘Getting Nastier and Nastier’
Addabbo’s campaign literature includes unflattering images of the incumbent, with the headlines, “How could he?” and “He’s not voting for us.”
“It’s getting nastier and nastier on the other side,” said Addabbo. “These mailers are deceitful. This is well beneath the senator and I’m disappointed in him.”
Addabbo said Maltese’s mailers include doctored photos of the councilman and incorrectly characterized his voting record in the City Council. Maltese has accused Addabbo of being involved in the City Council slush fund scandal uncovered in July – a charge Addabbo refutes.
High Road Pledge
Maltese and his camp offered no comment, despite repeated interview attempts.
Addabbo insisted he’s taken high road by attacking only Maltese’s legislative voting history, and will continue to run what he calls a positive campaign.
“I use his negatives to promote my platform,” said Addabbo. “A campaign built around negative campaigning doesn’t work. I’m hopeful on November 4th that positive campaigning beats negative campaigning.”
