Albert Baldeo Drops out of Senate Race
August 25, 2008
By JONATHAN P. HICKS
Published: August 22, 2008
Queens Democrats took a step on Friday toward unifying their party in an effort to unseat State Senator Serphin R. Maltese, a Republican, when a candidate withdrew from the Democratic primary, leaving one challenger to the longtime incumbent.
Albert J. Baldeo, a lawyer who ran against Mr. Maltese two years ago, announced at a news conference that he was taking himself out of the race and endorsing the remaining Democratic candidate, City Councilman Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
Mr. Maltese, who has represented the 15th District since 1988, has been deemed vulnerable by Senate Democratic leaders in their quest to regain control of the Senate, which the Republicans hold by a one-seat majority.
Two years ago, Mr. Baldeo was a little-known lawyer in Queens who came within 2 percentage points, about 900 votes, of defeating Mr. Maltese. And he achieved that with no support from the party organization in Queens and largely with his own money.
This year, too, Mr. Baldeo’s desire for a rematch never acquired much support from Queens Democratic officials. They preferred Mr. Addabbo, the son of a well-known congressman.
In an interview on Friday, Mr. Baldeo said he had become increasingly aware that the party would have a better chance to topple Mr. Maltese if a divisive Democratic primary could be avoided.
“It was a gut-wrenching, difficult decision,” Mr. Baldeo said. “But I decided to endorse him for the greater goal of Democratic Party unity. We want to put all of our resources behind one candidate, and that’s Councilman Addabbo. I’ll be actively campaigning for him.”
The two men appeared together at the news conference, at Mr. Baldeo’s office in Richmond Hill, Queens. The event even attracted a few of Mr. Maltese’s aides, who attended with video cameras.
Mr. Baldeo has had an arms-length relationship with Queens Democrats for some time. And he has been described by party leaders as something of an unpredictable candidate. Despite Mr. Baldeo’s strong showing in his previous contest with Senator Maltese, party leaders made their preference for Mr. Addabbo clear long before the councilman entered the race officially.
When asked whether he had been pressured to leave the race, either by Representative Joseph Crowley, the Queens Democratic leader, or Michael H. Reich, the organization’s executive secretary, Mr. Baldeo said only that he had been “in consultations with various party leaders,” and declined to be more specific.
“The important thing is that we are now united behind a candidate in the Democratic primary,” he said.
Despite the withdrawal, Mr. Baldeo’s name will remain on the ballot for the Sept. 9 primary. On Friday, Mr. Addabbo called Mr. Baldeo “a worthy opponent.”
He added: “I applaud his wholehearted embrace of the democratic process. The Democratic Party is the party of inclusion; it’s a big tent with room for everyone, and we are stronger for his efforts.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/nyregion/23maltese.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
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21 Responses to “Albert Baldeo Drops out of Senate Race”
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Baldeo did the right thing. He has shown leadership. That was not an easy decision for him, but he put our community first. The Democratic party leaders are indebted to our community. At the press conference, senator Malcolm Smith, Congressman Crowley, Joe Addabbo and Congressman Joe Crowley thanked our community and Baldeo for putting his community first above his personal ambitions. They all said that we will be given a far better deal where funding for our kids education, community centers, hospitals, subway and bus escalators and government services are brought to our community, because of Baldeo helping them to win this majority.
Thanks, Albert Baldeo, you will soon be elected to office-in some great way where you can continue to help our children and seniors. Keep on trying. Rome was not built in a day. You can work on the inside, because our people are our biggest failures. They do not fund or push their own, they do not become citizens, and worse of all, they do not vote.
Well said John,
I must say that Albert Baldeo is the only Guyanese candidate who ran for office and did not disappear after he lost. He continued to be active in the community.
I believe that he made this decision in the best interest of the community. Based on my discussions with many in the community since his decision, they all agreed it was a noble decision and does not in any way diminish his standing in the community. If anything it enhances his position as a leader in the community.
Baldeo showed a great deal of statesmanship here and really represented the community well.
I think years from now when Guyanese in NY are empowered politically, this event will be remembered as a watershed moment.
Here was a moment when we showed how we can behave responsibly within the Democratic Party when the stakes couldn’t be higher, control of the State Senate.
Kudos to Albert!
The next time I come down state I will go and congratulate him. The NYT said, “Despite the withdrawal, Mr. Baldeo’s name will remain on the ballot for the Sept. 9 primary. On Friday, Mr. Addabbo called Mr. Baldeo “a worthy opponent.”
He added: “I applaud his wholehearted embrace of the democratic process. The Democratic Party is the party of inclusion; it’s a big tent with room for everyone, and we are stronger for his efforts.”
We must take the blame for not raising money, getting signatures and actively campaigning for Baldeo. Empowerment is not a cheap or easy process. Our community let Baldeo down. But we will rise again.
I must say that Albert has done much for our family’s situation. When all is said and done, it shows how organized and strong the opposition to minorities is in this district. Addabbo has done nothing but bully his way on his family’s name,( I can say this because of my famiy’s current situation). Maltese is “Mr. invisible” . These are our choices.
The next generation West Indian/ Carribbeans/Minorities will not “give up” so easily. I’ve spoken to countless people on this matter. Addabbo takes our tax dollars generated from Richmond Hill/Ozone Park and ignores the minorities when it’s time to give back. I’m not a politician, this stuff is easy to figure out. My 20yrs as an aviation professional brings some merit to the table. Others feel the same way, should you even vote????????
All we have are armchair elders, who pontificate useless verbiage. When it is time to support a candidate like Baldeo, who has spent his own money to empower us, we prefer to give it to black politicians instead-in Brooklyn.
We get what we deserve. We have let our children down.
Our children are becoming smarter, when they begin to question the increase arrests, tickets, violations, etc- they will start to look at this political stuff in a different way . Our voices in the city-state-country remains dormant. Our tax dollars goes to others (I guess it’s why these guys fight so hard for a job that pays so little). They always say the same thing, “im a politician to help others”. When you look at they actually did , where their “discretionary funds- earmarks” gets spent - you really get an idea of how important it is for a community to have a voice.
look at williamsburg- even the NYC section8 (free) apartments are nice!
A COMMUNITY THAT IS ORGANIZED!
The Indo-Caribbean community needs to grow up-politically. Case in point-Baldeo’s energies going to waste. When will we become politically sensitive? When a few more Goundens are targeted? When summonses are issued to our basements? When police harass us as a community? A few dollars, and we feel we are libertated, and powerful. But our plantation mentality remains. Let the white man rule!
We are good servants, not leaders. Shame on us!
I was looking at those who gave money to Baldeo. Less than 1% of his funds. Mostly grassroots and community people. Hillary and Barack are getting millions. And we have these prosperous businessmen all over our community. You know who they are. Where are these people?
Im voting for Baldeo. Addabbo and Maltese are both raping our community ( how many minorities work in their offices? if any?? . I am a taxpayer/resident/citizen - Addabbo and Maltese both have done nothing but harm our community. Do the research or listen to the people that have. Im voting for Baldeo (he’s still on the ballot)!
So am i Kris..I will be voting for Baldeo
ME TOO. MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS VOTING FOR BALDEO!
Both Maltese and Addabbo are insider dealers, who will not expose corruption and mismanagement. Baldeo would. He is a hope and change candidate, a reformer by nature.
People want change, not the old politics as usual. Although Italian, I am voting for the best choice-Al Baldeo.
Albert is out of the race Tony
Baldeo’s name is still on the ballot. Never give up on making a point. Addabbo and Maltese have it easy. Baldeo never got the support from his own party. Addabbo and Maltese both have horrible records, status quo. As my friend George Carlin (whom I met many times and saw earlier this year) said, we’re screwed, the game is rigged, this country does’nt want critical thinkers. Vote for Baldeo, make a point !
If Baldeo never received the support he needed during his campaign chances are he won’t receive that support on the ballot also so I don’t know what point that makes.
Then step back in line and keep quiet!
Kali Charan (see #4 from top) says that we “prefer to give it to Black politicians instead in Brooklyn”.
If that is not a racist statement, then I don’t know what is. Is Kali teh same Kamla that despises all Black leaders and politicians? Is Kali the same Kamla that writes letters (printed) in the Caribbean New Yorker that advocates voting against Obama because he’s Black and Muslim (accoding to her)?
Vishnu Bisram is another columnist for the same newspaper that is very anti-Black. He also writes letters to same newspaper and conducts polling (fake) in all Craibbean countries.
Albert Baldeo is no different… self serving attorney that preys on the weak. Just ask his clients! His picture appears in almost every issue of the same paper. It is common knowledge that Baldeo wanted a promise of a Judgeship in order to pull out of the race. Did he get it? I thought that the Democrats squashed that idea, but you never know.
All tose who write in favor of Baldeo here are either family of his or have some to gain from Baldeo winning. And trust me, it’s not community service. What did Baldeo ever do in terms of Community Service?
He loves to quote Kennedy. Baldeo is no Kennedy!
He is more like slick and slime.
I’ve met alot of politicians over the past three years. They ALL lie (except Charles Barron) for their own gains. Vishnu Bisram has done several well written articles on my family’s story (you should read them sometime). Baldeo has been supporting us since the begining. And NO, I”m not related to Baldeo . If Baldeo becomes a judge - Do you really think he could possibly do any worse than the ones we currently have? The NYPD 106pct ONLY carries ANTI-MINORITY papers (FORUM, QUEENS CHRONICLE, QUEENS COURIER) in the world’s most famous west indian community. Go see for yourself. NO Carribbean Life- The West Indian - Caribbean New Yorker- ETC. Ever wonder why the NYPD look down on us?? These ANTI-MINORITY (Racist) papers print interesting things about us minorities (this week’s FORUM prints again how minorities are dumping goat heads and killing chickens along Howard Beach’s waterfront community).
People who read this stuff actually believe it! The NYPD 106pct has a history of hate (a fact-do your research!), Any surprise why we never got any help. And Yes I support OBAMA (not due to race/religion)
Kris, some people have to get out of their plantation mentality. That’s why the Indo Caribbean community will always have traitors and backstabbers. We always try to criticize those who are trying to uplift us.
Not Kali Charran, the penultimate poster, exemplifies this point. He has never endured the fights Baldeo has for our community, never walked a mile in Baldeo’s shoes, is ready to make misguided assumptions, and does not give the man his due. Baldeo created history for our community. Every newspaper and political leader has complimented him for putting his community first, over personal gain. Has the NY Times ever written of you, NKC.
He is the Cheddi Jagan and Mahatma Gandhi of New York. Which other person has put us on the political map like he has?
As to his professional record, he has championed cases others refuse. It’s easy to hide behind a screen name, and attack the very man whose shoes you would do well to walk a mile in (or shine for that matter), “not kali charran.”
Give the man his due. Don’t be a “coolie!” We must let go of our petty and nasty divisions. That’s why we have NO representation.
ON BALDEO’S DECISION TO BACK ADDABBO
Dr. Dhanpaul Narine, who actually ran against Baldeo, wrote a brilliant piece in this week’s The West Indian newspaper. This should be read by all, especially the poster hiding behind the alias “Not Kali Charran.” I am a community philanthropist, who has donated to respectable causes in m y community, and has supported Albert (no relation), in his pilgrimage to empower us.
Albert Baldeo made this decision in the best interest of the community. Based on my discussions with many in the community since his decision, they all agreed it was a noble decision and does not in any way diminish his standing in the community. If anything it enhances his position as a leader in the community.
Baldeo showed a great deal of statesmanship here and really represented the community well.
I am sure Albert will continue to be active in the community, and fight police harassment, racial discrimination, immigrants’ rights and civil liberties, education and health care. He has also helped many immigrants and new Americans to achieve the American dream in his law practice, overcoming many legal red tape and obstacles, many of whom go to my mandir.
I think years from now when Guyanese in NY are empowered politically, this event will be remembered as a watershed moment.
Here was a moment when we showed how we can behave responsibly within the Democratic Party when the stakes couldn’t be higher, control of the State Senate. Our community is now owed, and Baldeo has put us on the map. We have established credit with the Democratic leadership.
Kudos to Albert! I congratulate him. The NYT said, “Despite the withdrawal, Mr. Baldeo’s name will remain on the ballot for the Sept. 9 primary. On Friday, Mr. Addabbo called Mr. Baldeo “a worthy opponent.”
He added: “I applaud his wholehearted embrace of the democratic process. The Democratic Party is the party of inclusion; it’s a big tent with room for everyone, and we are stronger for his efforts.”
We must take the blame for not raising money, getting signatures and actively campaigning for Baldeo. Our business leaders prefer to give money to politicians who live outside our community, and who do not, and cannot help us. Shame on them! Empowerment is not a cheap or easy process. Our community let Baldeo down. But we will rise again.
Hello New Yorkers
Don’t forget to vote today. The people that want your vote are the one that get to use our tax money. They really want to get at that money. Politicians don’t even wnt to be called Politicians anymore, it sounds “DIRTY”- politician on NY1 news yesterday.
P.S.- Don’t be embarrassed to vote for Baldeo (He might not be in the race and not the best the Caribbean community has to offer ….)
ADDABBO or MALTESE - choose your poison!