Van Nest Democratic Debate for the 13th Council District

  Last night the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance held a Democratic debate for the 13th city council district. It seems that the Van Nest neighborhood is split on one side by the 15th council district, and on the other side by the 13th council district. There can be advantages in having two council members representing your district, but there are also disadvantages in that the elected officials have to take care of where the most votes may come from first. Sometime after the primary the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance will be having another debate, that one between all candidates on the ballot for the November general election. 

  As you will see in the photos below that this debate featured five Democratic candidates only, but there was never more than four candidates in the room at any time, with only three candidates for most of the debate. Candidates Egidio Sementilli, John Doyle, and Victor Ortiz were up front through the entire Democratic debate. Candidate Mark Gjonaj said that he would be leaving early to attend a previously scheduled fund raiser, and candidate Marjorie Velazquez arrived shortly before the Democratic debate was over.

Above - The four candidates who were up front at the beginning are (l - r) Egidio Sementelli, John Doyle, Victor Ortiz, and Mark Gjonaj

Below - The empty chair next to Egidio Sementilli is for Marjorie Velazquez who showed up with just two questions left, and the closing statements.

Above - Candidate Victor Ortiz tells of him and another hispanic candidate being thrown off the ballot by the third hispanic candidate Marjorie Velazquez, which he called fraud. He added that during the time he fought and won to be reinstated to the ballot that he exposed challenger Rebecca Chant as an agent of candidate Velazquez. Ortiz said that Chant was a college student from OHIO who had registered in June to gather signatures for Velazquez and Ms. Chant admitted under oath that she had no intention of staying in the 13th council district to vote and was leaving to go back to Ohio where she was registered to vote.

Below - Candidate John Doyle giving his opening statement.

Above - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj tells why he is seeking to become the councilman building on his work and five year experience as a state legislator. 

Below - Ms. Bernadette Ferrara President of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance models the organizations T-Shirt which was on sale to guests. The two police officers from the 49th Precinct were not on hand to protect the two moderators, but to give a community report.

Above - You can see as candidate Ortiz answers a question midway Assemblyman Gjonaj has left.

Below - Candidate Egidio Sememtilli gets comfortable knowing that Assemblyman Gjonaj has left, and does not expect candidate Marjorie Velazquez to attend.

Above - However candidate Velazquez was to arrive with just two questions left to answer, and closing statements by the candidates.

Below Candidate Velazquez giving her closing statement. 

Above - Candidate Egidio Sementilli giving his closing statement shows his campaign material he has, only a small palm card which candidate Velazquez seems to be very interested in reading.

Below - Now that candidate Velazquez is seated at the table, candidate Victor Ortiz has no problem pointing to her and calling her a fraud for the way she was exposed in challenging him and fellow hispanic Alex Gomez.