Debi Rose (right) with some of her supporters
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — August 1, 2009. On Saturday, the Staten Island Democratic Association (SIDA) held a fundraiser for Debi Rose. Rose is a candidate for the New York City Council, District 49. She is challenging machine Democrat Ken Mitchell in a September 15th primary election. In the special election to fill the council seat vacated by Congressman Michael McMahon (D-NY), held last February, Mitchell beat Rose by a couple of hundred votes. Mitchell was McMahon’s chief of staff prior to the former councilman being elected to the Congress and was widely perceived as the front-runner. Rose’s good showing has supporters believing she can unseat the incumbent in the upcoming primary.

(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

With 28 years experience as a community organizer and as a member of Community Board 1, Rose is popular with Island progressives. She has picked up the endorsements of the Staten Island Democratic Association – Staten Island’s most progressive Democratic club, Naral New York, CSEA Local 1000, UAW Region 9A, DC37 and DC37 Local 1701, and the New York Working Families Party.

(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

Mitchell’s mentor, Mike McMahon, has been in the local news recently too. On Saturday, August 15, MoveOn supporters will gather outside Congressman McMahon’s Staten Island Office at 265 New Dorp Lane at 1 p.m. Their demands? McMahon is undecided about supporting President Barack Obama’s health care plan. MoveOn is demanding that he “Support a REAL Public Option in the Healthcare Reform Bill.”

For more information about the MoveOn protest visit:
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=94737

For more information about the Debi Rose campaign visit:
http://votedebirose2009.com/

(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)