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New York City Council blocks former pol Debi Rose from Board of Elections post at council member’s request

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The city council is blocking one of its own from serving as board of elections commissioner amid a bitter row among Staten Island Democrats, The Post has learned.

Council Democrats rejected former councilwoman Debi Rose — Staten Island’s first black person elected to public office — from serving on the board of elections at the request of her successor, councilwoman Kamillah Hanks.

Staten Island Democratic Party Chairwoman Laura Sword compared Hanks’ action to then-GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s refusal to vote on the U.S. Supreme Court nominee of former President Barack Obama, Merrick Garland.

The local party nominated Rose, 71, who previously worked at the College of Staten Island before her election to the Council in 2009 and who had long been active in community affairs.

But they had to win the support of Hanks — the only Staten Island Democrat on the Council, who is also black.

In 2017, Hanks challenged then-incumbent Rose to a heated primary for the borough’s North Shore council seat.

Rose prevailed, then humiliated Hanks by putting his private concession appeal on loudspeaker during his victory party – published on Spectrum News.

Council Democrats rejected former Councilman Debi Rose from serving on the Elections Board at the request of her successor, Councilman Kamillah Hanks.
Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Rose was time-limited and Hanks won the race to succeed her in 2021.

When the Council refused to accept Rose’s nomination for a vote, the Staten Island Democratic Party, led by Laura Sword, sued to force a vote.

The party initially nominated Priscilla Marco for the post, but withdrew her name due to lack of support before recommending Rose to the elections board.

Staten Island Democratic Party attorney Jerry Goldfeder asserted that election law and court rulings “do not permit the Council to refuse to act in deference to a single Council member, as apparently occurs here.” “.

“The Council cannot simply sit idly by and force (the Staten Island Democratic Party) to make another choice for its commissioner-designate, who would be its third nominee.

The law does not contemplate this kind of gambling,” Goldfeder said in court documents.

Hanks defended the Council’s rejection of Rose.

“There were conversations prior to the submission of Ms. Rose’s name,” Hanks said Sunday. “Against the advice of my colleagues in the government and the party leadership, President Sword has proceeded with the appointment of Ms. Rose. I expressed my interest in having a lawyer as an election commissioner.


Board member of Kamillah Hanks
Kamillah Hanks challenged then-incumbent Rose in the 2017 primary for the borough’s North Shore council seat, which she lost.
Board member of Kamillah Hanks-D49/Facebook

Council leadership has defended its action to block Rose.

Council Counsel Kendra Elise Riddelberger said in response to the complaint, “The judiciary should not interfere with the discretion of the legislature in the exercise of its constitutional and statutory functions.”

A judge sided with the Council.

“The tribunal finds that the respondent (Council) has the power to appoint the candidate, but
no obligation to nominate this particular candidate. Additionally, the defendant has the power not to nominate the nominee, which it chose to do in this case by not voting for the nominee,” said the Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice, Erika Edwards, in her decision of July 27.


PINK DEBI
Rose was Staten Island’s first black person elected to public office.
Getty Images/Spencer Platt

Sword, the chairwoman of the Staten Island Democratic Party, said she would respect the decision and submit another nominee to the electoral board — but not before tearing Hanks apart.

“This decision means that, just as when Mitch McConnell denied President Obama’s selection of Merrick Garland and the Senate could not be compelled to hold a confirmation hearing, the Board can continue to block the legitimate selection of our party,” Short said in a note. to members of the Democratic Party committee.

“We have to appoint someone else. We are extremely grateful to former Board member Debi Rose for her willingness to serve and we are very disappointed that her nomination – a nomination by vote of this committee – was blocked by one person. She would have made an ideal commissioner and after years of service to Staten Island, she deserved better treatment than just having her appointment simply ignored.

Rose declined to comment.

Rose’s 2009 campaign was investigated for services provided by the Working Families Party.

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