Monserrate Out, PEF Choice In
CONGRATULATIONS! — PEF activist Marion Fox and Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Hanson show support for Democrat Jose Peralta at a rally in Jackson Heights March 13.

He won the election March 16 to fill the mid-term vacancy in state Senate District 13 which represents a portion of Queens.

PEF endorsed Peralta and Region 11 members worked to help get him elected to the seat formerly held by Hiram Monserrate, who was expelled by the Senate after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault on his girlfriend. Peralta’s election to the Senate leaves his Assembly seat vacant in the 39th district.

That district includes the Jackson Heights section of Queens. Although Monserrate ran as an independent to regain his seat in this election, he was overwhelmingly rejected by the voters who gave Peralta 65 percent of the vote. Republican Robert Beltrani received 7 percent of the votes. — Photo by Alan Schulkin