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Qns County Dems back Iannece for Assembly

Qns County Dems back Iannece for Assembly
Photo by Christina Santucci
By Phil Corso

Jerry Iannece’s bid for the 25th state Assembly District received a thumbs-up from both local and boroughwide groups this week.

In an announcement Monday morning, the Queens County Democratic Committee said it unanimously endorsed Iannece in his run for the seat currently held by Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows).

“I’m very humbled and gratified by the committee’s decision,” Iannece said. “I hope I can make them proud.”

Iannece, who currently serves as chairman of Community Board 11, announced his plans to run for the 25th Assembly District seat early last month and has since started collecting endorsements for his bid.

The new lines, which run from Flushing to Douglaston, include most of Bayside Hills, where the CB 11 chairman lives with his wife and two children. Iannece, a former Bronx assistant district attorney, also works within the newly drawn lines as an attorney in Fresh Meadows.

Lancman, currently running for the 6th Congressional District seat, said he would not run for re-election and will endorse a candidate for his Assembly seat, but has not yet announced whom that might be.

Iannece said he recently officially filed with the city Board of Elections and is raising money for his Assembly bid.

In its monthly newsletter, the Bayside Hills Civic Association said it unanimously backed Iannece in his run for the Assembly. Iannece has a lengthy history with the civic association and served as the group’s president before being named chairman of the community board for Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston and parts of Auburndale.

“We could not sit on the sidelines and just watch while the best candidate for the job is right under our nose,” Bayside Hills Civic Association President Michael Feiner said in the newsletter. “Jerry simply deserves our support because he has earned it.”

Though he said he was happy to receive any endorsement in his current bid for the Assembly, Iannece said there was something special about being recognized by the local civic association.

“To be endorsed by your own community is the greatest compliment of all,” Iannece said. “These are your friends and neighbors. These are the people who have seen you in and out every day.”

Nily Rozic, chief of staff to Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan) and a resident of Fresh Meadows, is the only other contender to have publicly announced a run for the Lancman seat.

The newly drawn Assembly district lines include most of Bayside Hills, where Iannece lives with his wife and two children. The former Bronx assistant district attorney also works within the newly drawn lines as an attorney in Fresh Meadows.

In 2009, Kevin Kim defeated Iannece in a Democratic primary for City Council in the district now represented by Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone).

“It’s tough to put yourself out there,” Iannece said. “For people to embrace you along the way is a wonderful thing.”

Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.