It was a bumpy ride for former congressional candidate Jeff Gottlieb, a Board of Elections employee who quietly petitioned onto the ballot amid escalating accusations of a conspiracy to split the Jewish vote. One of his opponents, Assemblyman Rory Lancman, wasn’t especially subtle about his feelings towards Mr. Gottlieb and repeatedly referred to him as “the hackiest hack in all of hackdom.”
However, the New York Daily News reported Mr. Gottlieb has used his campaign’s committee to fill vacancies to substitute in a new candidate, attorney Stephen Green, in his stead.
Not a lot is immediately known about Mr. Green. He lives in Rosedale, which is outside of the 6th Congressional District he is now seeking to represent. He also gave $600 to the Queens County Democratic Party a few months ago as well as smaller amounts to other local officials, so he’s likely reasonably active in local Democratic politics.
Asked for a response, Mr. Lancman’s campaign spokesman provided a link to a clip in Zoolander where Jacobim Mugatu, played by Will Farrell, declared, “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”
Indeed, the race continues to get more and more peculiar. Another candidate who filed petitions, Doctor Robert Mittman, has not returned multiple phone calls seeking comment, which is an odd way to begin one’s congressional campaign.
Among the more serious candidates in the race, in addition to Mr. Lancman, are Assemblywoman Grace Meng and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.
Update: Also, Juan Sheng is another candidate aiming to get on the primary ballot.
