JR Nocerino drops out of race for Katz’s seat
Posted on June 5, 2009 by Anna Gustafson in City Council, District 29
Joseph “JR” Nocerino said Friday he has dropped out of the race for City Councilwoman Melinda Katz’s (D-Forest Hills) seat and thrown his support behind Democratic candidate Karen Koslowitz.
Koslowitz held the District 29 seat before Katz and is currently the director of community boards at Borough Hall.
Nocerino, of Forest Hills, cited health concerns and a desire to focus on work as to why he ended his bid for City Council.
Nocerino, who heads up the Forest Hills girls’ softball league, is currently battling prostate cancer. He added that he wants to focus his efforts on his job as a headhunter for Manhattan-based Access Staffing.
The former Democratic candidate is now helping Koslowitz and Katz with their campaigns. Katz is running for city Comptroller.
With Nocerino’s exit, the remaining candidates are Heidi Harrison Chain, Michael Cohen, Mel Gagarin, Koslowitz and Lynn Schulman, all Democrats.
“Looking at the slate of people running for our district, I had to support the person who most represented or acted within the community the way I do,” Nocerino said. “Karen is somebody who I feel has done so much for the community, whether it’s been her job or not. She’s gone above and beyond, and that’s what I felt I did.”
The 29th Council District includes Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Richmond Hill, Maspeth, and Elmhurst.
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July 23rd, 2009 at 6:09 pm
[...] Kuo cautioned against reading too much into Felder’s assistance to Koslowitz, saying it should not be seen as a full-blown endorsement. (The field in the 29th CD is fairly crowded). [...]