Melanie D’Arrigo Schemes to Knock Weinstock Off Ballot

Great Neck, New York (April 1, 2020) - An article in the Daily Kos reports that Melanie D’Arrigo is not only challenging the validity of Michael Weinstock’s petitions, she is also challenging her own petitions. This is a ham-handed attempt to present herself as a victim who is being unfairly targeted during the coronavirus pandemic. (See: Petition Challenge in NY-03 Has a Wrinkle)

Both Weinstock and D’Arrigo are running against Tom Suozzi in the upcoming Democratic primary in New York’s Third Congressional District, which includes sections of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The primary election is scheduled for June 23.
When candidates run for office, they occasionally challenge the validity of a rival candidate’s petitions. This year, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order dramatically lowering the number of signatures that candidates are required to submit in order to appear on the ballot. The Governor took this extraordinary action, in large part, because he wanted to ensure that there would be fewer petition challenges.

It is physically impossible for candidates to engage in a petition fight without violating social distancing guidelines. Candidates who wish to stay on the ballot are required to travel up to Albany and defend themselves in court. This not only jeopardizes the health of the candidates, but it also jeopardizes the health of the judges, the court officers, the court clerks, and the Board of Elections staff.

It was expected that almost no candidates would risk the health and safety of so many people during the coronavirus epidemic for the purpose of knocking a challenger off the ballot. In addition to putting people’s lives at risk, all savvy candidates understood that the voters would be justifiably appalled if they learned that candidates were filing frivolous legal challenges and deliberately jeopardizing the health and safety of their opponents.

Nonetheless, an article that appears in the Daily Kos reports that Melanie D’Arrigo has launched a bizarre scheme to challenge the validity of Weinstock’s petitions while allowing her the opportunity to appear innocent and stay above the fray.

Weinstock’s petitions are now being challenged by two D’Arrigo loyalists simultaneously. Weinstock’s petitions are being challenged by Josh Sauberman, a political gadfly and strident Bernie supporter. And Weinstock’s petitions are also being challenged by a man named Peter Johnson, who is the husband of D’Arrigos campaign manager.

Johnson not only filed an objection to knock Weinstock off the ballot - he also filed an identical objection, to knock his wife’s candidate off the ballot.

According to the Daily Kos, the motive behind Johnson’s chicanery is clear. Because D’Arrigo’s campaign manager and her husband have different last names, D’Arrigo is hoping that everyone will simply assume that the Suozzi campaign is trying to knock the two challengers off the ballot at the same time. “The Weinstock objection won’t look like it’s the D’Arrigo campaign trying to kick candidates off the ballot. She can be shocked and appalled.” Adding that “D’Arrigo wants Weinstock gone while playing innocent.”

Weinstock was furious when he learned of the dual legal challenges. “What the hell is wrong with these people!? I’m doing everything humanly possible to flatten the curve and stop the spread of this virus. I haven’t left my house in ten days, except for delivering groceries to senior citizens. And ‪this afternoon I was forced to leave my house and stand around in a crowded post office so I could collect legal documents and deal with this madness.”

There is little doubt that Weinstock has enough signatures to withstand a legitimate challenge. New York State requires 375 valid signatures for congressional candidates and Weinstock submitted nearly twice that amount. Even if half the signatures are deemed invalid, the court has the authority to consider the pandemic and the hugely important public health considerations.

On March 13th, Weinstock sent a letter to Jay Jacobs, the Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party. Weinstock informed Jacobs that he had directed his team of volunteers to halt collecting signatures. “One of my volunteers is an extraordinary young man who happens to be a rabbinical student. He was planning on spending the afternoon introducing himself to senior citizens outside of North Shore Towers and asking them to sign my petitions. I just called him on the phone and told him that we are no longer petitioning. I’m not going to put his health at risk – or the kindly seniors who stop on the street and speak with us.”

Should Weinstock win the election, he will become the first 9/11 firefighter elected to Congress. He will also become the first openly-gay person to represent New York City, or Long Island, in Congress.

“Melanie should be ashamed of herself for pulling a stunt like this during a serious health crisis” explained Weinstock. “This sort of behavior is dangerous and disgusting. She should call off her attack dogs and withdraw her legal challenges. She should also consider withdrawing from the race.”