Anthony Miranda (seated next to the U.S. flag) was kicked off the ballot by the BOE Tuesday. Candidates Costa Constantinides (far left), Elizabeth Crowley, Jim Quinn and Donovan Richards all qualified– along with Dao Yin (not in photo). Jimmy Van Bramer (far right) withdrew from the race.
Jan. 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Four candidates were disqualified Tuesday from appearing on the Queens Borough President ballot for the March 24 special election, including retired NYPD sergeant Anthony Miranda.
Board of Elections (BOE) commissioners disqualified Miranda as well as Danniel Maio, Everly Brown and Justina Jaggassar-Ernul at a public meeting on Jan. 28.
Candidates who hoped to appear on the special election ballot had to file 2,000 signatures from registered voters and hand in meticulous paperwork following the BOE’s strict rules.
Miranda, who said he submitted about 9,000 signatures, was kicked off the ballot for a technical error pertaining to his paperwork.
His cover sheet — which summarizes the candidate’s complete documents and signatures — didn’t include the statement “This is to certify that I am authorized to file this amended cover sheet,” as required by the BOE’s petition rules.
BOE commissioners voted unanimously to invalidate his petition to appear on the ballot as result of the cover sheet defect.
“The Queens Machine removed an Asian American, African American & are attempting to remove the only Latino to run for QBP in the past 126 years,” Miranda tweeted following the decision. “Queens should be alarmed & ready to fight against discrimination & the suppression of their opportunities to vote.”
At the meeting Tuesday, the commissioners said Miranda could challenge the disqualification in court, which he intends to do, according to his tweets.
Jaggassar-Ernul, Mao and Brown were each canned from the ballot for lacking the necessary 2,000 signatures. The latter two didn’t meet the quota after the Board found large amounts of their signatures invalid.
Council Members Costa Constantinides and Donovan Richards, former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, former Queens prosecutor Jim Quinn and Flushing businessman Dao Yin all qualified to appear on the March 24 ballot.
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