Goldfeder Has Inside Track to Fill Pheffer's Vacant Seat by Howard Koplowitz -YourNabe.com

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Y. Philip Goldfeder, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) director of intergovernmental affairs, is expected to run for the seat vacated by former state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) and has the inside track to become the Democratic nominee in the yet-to-be announced race, a source close to Goldfeder told TimesLedger Newspapers.

Goldfeder, who declined to comment, has been Schumer’s director of intergovernmental affairs for 2 1/2 years and previously worked as the Queens director of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Community Assistance Unit.

Pheffer’s seat became vacant after she accepted the position of Queens county clerk last month.

Political insiders say Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants the special election to replace Pheffer to take place on Primary Day, Sept. 13, which means he is expected to announce the contest June 24 at the earliest.

Under previous law, special elections had to be held within 30 to 40 days of the governor’s announcement, but the law was tweaked to 70 to 80 days in order to accommodate ballots from overseas.

Before his position with Bloomberg, Goldfeder, a Rockaway resident, worked for City Councilmen James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows).

Democratic district leaders in the Assembly district decide who makes it on the ballot as a Democrat, with two of the leaders — Lew Simon and Geraldine Chapey — expected to run in the race.

But the source close to Goldfeder said he is expected to be supported by the other two district leaders — Jo Ann Shapiro and Frank Gulluscio — which would be enough backing for Goldfeder to make the ballot on the Democratic line.

Jo Ann Shapiro, who was Pheffer’s chief of staff, declined to run and Gulluscio is also not expected to be a candidate.

The source said Goldfeder is close to Shapiro and noted he worked on Gulluscio’s failed Council campaigns and the two district leaders are said to be backing him.

On the Republican side, district leader Jane Deacy is a candidate for the seat and she has the backing of Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park).

The source said Ulrich’s criticism of Goldfeder — he said Goldfeder is virtually unknown outside of Rockaway — was a “silly statement,” pointing to Goldfeder’s career working for two councilmen, Bloomberg and Schumer.

“Phil has spent his entire career working from within the diverse borough of Queens,” the source said.

Audrey Pheffer Aide's Out Of Assembly Race by Lisa L. Colangelo -| New York Daily News

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The scramble to fill the seat of former Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer has taken another turn, with her longtime aide announcing she will not run for the post.

Our Lisa L. Colangelo reports:

That clears the deck for Phillip Goldfeder, an aide to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer. Goldfeder is being touted as the Queens Democratic Party's pick to replace Pheffer, who recently stepped down from her legislative post to become the Queens County Clerk.

The district includes parts of Ozone Park, Howard Beach and the Rockaways.

"I've been very blessed being able to work with Audrey for all those years," said Joann Shapiro. "It allowed me to serve at a certain level, and I think I did it well."

Shapiro said she made the decision not to run after having discussions with her family. "I don't plan on leaving the community," she said. "I will continue to serve in a different capacity and am looking forward to it."

Goldfeder, a Far Rockaway native, has worked for both Republicans and Democrats, including a stint on Mayor Bloomberg's 2005 campaign and City Councilman Simcha Felder's unsuccessful campaign for state Senate. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The seat will be filled by a special election, possibly on Primary Day in September.

The four Democratic district leaders - Shapiro, Frank Gulluscio, Lew Simon and Geraldine Chapey - will decide who runs on the party line for that race.

Former Police Officer Jane Deacy is the likely candidate on the Republican ballot.

Supporters said Goldfeder's connections in Far Rockaway could help bring out the important Jewish vote.

Others said he has few community ties outside of Far Rockaway and only recently started attending local civic and political club meetings.

"I think Jane's chances have gotten better," said City Councilman Eric Ulrich, a Republican who is touting Deacy as a candidate. "Outside of Far Rockaway, Phil is virtually unknown."

And he pointed out that political connections can only go so far during an election.

"At the end of the day, political capital is not transferrable," Ulrich said. "They don't care who you work for and who you know. They will vote for the candidate who will do the best job."