Schumer: ‘An American citizen has won’ the marathon.

‘And another great American citizen is going to win this race.’

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Democratic City Comptroller Nominee John Liu and just about every other elected official in Northeast Queens led a large, boisterous rally for Democratic City Council candidate Kevin Kim at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center on the last Sunday before Election Day.

The event was held in memory of Al Cahn, a longtime community and Democratic activist who passed away this week at the age of 96. The tireless Cahn has inspired countless fellow Democrats in the area, collecting as many as 1,500 petition signatures himself just last year. A moment of silence preceded the rally.

The rally, which drew about 100 Kim supporters, also attracted a small band of extreme right-wing protestors supporting Republican opponent Dan Halloran, with signs reading “Don’t Tread on Me” and “You Lie,” the latter quoting the recent incident in which South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson triggered bipartisan outrage across the country by shouting the phrase at President Obama. The protestors also shouted at the Kim supporters, one calling them “Communists” and “Socialists” like “Barack Hussein Obama” and another screaming “Don’t take away our freedom.”

The rally speakers dismissed the protestors as coming from the same fringe circles that have fueled the national anti-government “tea party” movement.

Besides Senator Schumer and Councilman Liu, attending the rally were: Assembly Members Rory Lancman, Mark Weprin, Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Grace Meng and Michael Gianaris; City Council Members David Weprin and Jim Gennaro; former Council District 19 candidate Steve Behar; District Leader and Queens County Young Democrats President Costa Constantinides; District Leaders John and Mary Ann Dorsa; members of CWA Local 1180, St. John’s College Democrats, the Michel Regular Democratic Club of College Point, the Jefferson Democratic Club and the Saul Weprin Democratic Club; representatives from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s office; community leaders Pauline Chu, Yonghwa Ha, Barbara Leonardi, Dilip Chauhan, Michael Tkach and David Fischer; and many local volunteers and supporters.

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The New York League of Humane Voters, the state’s largest and most influential animal rights group with an active membership in Northeast Queens, has endorsed City Council District 19 candidate Kevin Kim for tomorrow’s election.

“The New York League of Humane Voters is proud to support Kevin Kim for his candidacy for City Council,” said NYLHV Executive Director John Phillips. “While his opponent has troubling associations with the mistreatment of animals, Kevin has given us the confidence that he will do everything he can to defend animal rights. We wholeheartedly support him.”

“The League of Humane Voters’ tradition of compassionate, principled advocacy is one that I’m proud to have behind me,” Kim said.

Kim is currently the Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) and is running on a platform of improving education and preserving the low-density, clean and quiet residential character of Northeast Queens neighborhoods.

Kim is also endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, United Firefighters Association, the Citizens Union good government group and the Jewish Press newspaper.

Unlike his opponent, Kim has also been endorsed by many elected officials that he’d have to work with as a Council Member, like Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Helen Marshall, Congressman Gary Ackerman, Comptroller Nominee John Liu, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Senate President Malcolm Smith, and Assemblymembers Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Rory Lancman, Grace Meng, Nettie Mayersohn and Michael Gianaris. With those who haven’t endorsed Kim, the Democrat has pledged to work cooperatively in order to get the goals of the community achieved.

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Women’s organizations NARAL Pro-Choice NY and Planned Parenthood of NYC Action Fund, along with female elected officials and voters from Northeast Queens’ Council District 19, endorsed Kevin Kim in that heated race on Oct. 29. They also challenged Kim’s opponent, Dan Halloran, to disclose and be open about his positions on women’s reproductive rights before Election Day.

Halloran, running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines, has not responded to multiple requests by NARAL and Planned Parenthood to fill out their candidate questionnaires for this election, giving female voters no indication of his positions on reproductive rights and sending them the message that women’s health care rights don’t matter to him.

Kim, who just had a baby girl in August, fully supports age-appropriate and medically accurate access to health information in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of disease; the protection of health clinic patients and workers from violence; the strictest penalties for domestic violence; and a woman’s right to make decisions about her body without government intervention.

“It’s unfortunate that my opponent wouldn’t give the women of Council District 19 the respect of responding to questionnaires from two organizations respected nationally for their unequivocal advocacy on behalf of women,” Kim said. “At the very least, this is a matter of general transparency and respect. I’m proud to be endorsed by the local committees of NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and am happy to be an unapologetic defender of women’s rights in public.”

Kelli Conlin, President of NARAL Pro-Choice NY said:

“The women of New York City deserve to know where their leaders stand. The women of New York City deserve leaders committed to protecting and enhancing their fundamental reproductive rights. The women of New York City deserve leaders who stand proudly pro-choice and are dedicating to the issues we care about — access to birth control and family planning regardless of economic status, comprehensive sexuality education in our schools, and the ability to make private and personal decisions without government interference.

“The women of New York City need Kevin Kim in the New York City Council.

“Kevin Kim is a 100% pro-choice leader who will be a critical and enthusiastic voice for the district he represents and the women he serves. NARAL Pro-Choice New York is proud to endorse Kevin Kim for New York City Council.”

Joan Malin, President and CEO of the Planned Parenthood of NYC Action Fund said:

“Planned Parenthood of New York City Action Fund is proud to endorse Kevin Kim for Council District 19. Kevin will be a strong ally in our work to protect and promote reproductive health in New York City. We want to make sure voters know exactly what they’re facing when they get to the ballot box, and Kevin is the 100 percent pro-choice candidate in the 19th District.”

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said:

“It is of the utmost importance to me that all of New York’s women are represented by leaders who are vocal about their beliefs on women’s issues. We all deserve elected officials who support a woman’s right to choose. Kevin Kim is that leader in the 19th District and I am proud to support him for New York City Council.”

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Women for Kevin Kim Committee, said:

“I’m voting for Kevin Kim because he cares about the things I care about: good schools, public safety, affordable health care. We know where Kevin stands on the issues. As a husband and the new father of a baby girl, Kevin is in a unique position to understand women’s rights. Voting for Kevin’s opponent is like buying a pig in a poke. You just don’t know where he stands.”

Borough President Helen Marshall said:

“I support women’s rights, I support NARAL’s position — women have a right to know where their leaders stand — and I support Kevin Kim for City Council.”

Assemblywoman Grace Meng said:

“As a woman, a wife, a mom and a daughter, it is important to me to know that Kevin will be a strong voice for women throughout New York City. I support Kevin because he is pro-women and pro-respect.”

District Leader Martha Taylor said:

“In a democracy, we have a right to our opinions and a responsibility to share them, especially if you’re a candidate for office. Apparently Mr. Halloran doesn’t want to let us know what his opinions are on women’s rights, rights that are crucial to us. How can anyone vote for him when we don’t know what his opinions are? What does Mr. Halloran have to hide?”

Former candidate for Council District 19 Debra Markell said:

“All candidates should fully disclose their positions on women’s issues. After discussions with Kevin Kim, I know he represents the true ideals of women’s values and will fight to preserve quality health care for all. He will work to protect women’s rights in the City Council.”

Kim is currently the Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) and is running on a platform of improving education and preserving the low-density, clean and quiet residential character of Northeast Queens neighborhoods.

Council District 19 includes the Northeast Queens neighborhoods of Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Flushing North, Malba, Robinwood, Whitestone and parts of Douglaston and Little Neck.

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