John Quaglione, a top aide to state Sen. Marty Golden who has been eyeing a City Council seat, took the first step toward running for public office when he filed paperwork with the New York City Campaign Finance Board last week.
Quaglione, who would seek the Republican Party nomination, said he isn’t ready to officially declare his candidacy for the council’s 43rd District (Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst). But he added that he is edging closer to a final decision.
The Campaign Finance Board filing would allow Quaglione to begin raising funds for a race. He confirmed that he is talking to potential donors and is setting up a website. “The feedback I’m getting is very positive. I’m excited,” he told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
It would be Quaglione’s first time running for public office.
“I’m moving ahead. It should be an interesting year,” Quaglione said.
If he decides to take the plunge, Quaglione would be facing a formidable opponent. Democratic incumbent Vincent Gentile has enormous name recognition in the district and has been in the City Council for 10 years.
Still, Quaglione contended that he would be a great candidate. “I can relate to the constituents because I go through what they go through. I’m a new homeowner, so I understand what people go through with water bills and property taxes,” he said. “My wife and I are parents, so we understand about buying food, clothing, putting gas in the car and taking the baby to the pediatrician,” he said.
Quaglione and his wife Kerry, the assistant principal of P.S. 127 in Bay Ridge, recently purchased their first home. The couple has a daughter, Natalie Grace.
“If I run, I will run because I believe in this community,” Quaglione said.
The election will take place in November.
With term limits setting in for many of the top elected officials in the city, there is likely to be a whole host of new faces at City Hall. “There’s a lot of movement in the city. I want to be part of the new wave,” Quaglione said.
City Council members are limited to two terms, but Gentile is able to run for another term despite the fact that he has been in the council for 10 years. He originally won his seat in the special election in February of 2003.
Quaglione has worked for Golden since the days in the late 1990s when Golden was in the City Council. When Golden was elected to the state senate in 2002, Quaglione moved over with him. He serves as Golden’s deputy chief of staff. He is also the senator’s press secretary.
