Hack Attack

Gottlieb's entry sparks accusations of collusion.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 | 1:17 p.m.

"A fourth candidate has jumped in" the Dem primary – and the move is "already prompting questions about whether" the Queens Dems are attempting to siphon away Jewish votes from Assemb. Rory Lancman (D). Board of Elections employee Jeffrey Gottlieb (D) "began petitioning to get on the ballot" last week, according to consultant Jay Golub, who was hired to lead Gottlieb’s signature gathering efforts.

Golub: “He’s been involved in the community for 30 years. He may not be the sexiest candidate, but there’s no one more qualified to run for Congress than this guy.”

Gottlieb, "who is Jewish and is heavily involved in Jewish causes in Queens, would likely be able to siphon off votes from Lancman," who is also Jewish, and is relying on the CD's heavy Jewish electorate as a base for a primary win.

Gottlieb "has come out of nowhere to run for Congress: He has no federal campaign account, no campaign website and waited several weeks before beginning to gather petitions." In addition, Queens Dem sources "said that before Gottlieb entered the race," backers of Assemb. Grace Meng (D) "attempted to recruit" Dem state cmteman Matthew Silverstein (D), who is also Jewish, to run for the seat in order to split the Jewish vote (Bragg, "The Notebook," CityandState.com, 4/9).

According to JFK Dem club pres. Herb Ryan, Gottlieb "was previously gathering signatures" for Meng's campaign. But Ryan "said it was merely because" Gottlieb always heads the club's signature-gathering efforts on behalf of whatever candidate is endorsed by the Queens Dem establishment (Campbell, "Politicker," New York Observer, 4/9).

Lancman, during an appearance on "Inside City Hall" on April 9: "I think what happened is after the Queens County Democratic organization designated one of my opponents as their preferred candidate, they thought that I would go away. But, as I told you, we have been on quite a tear. ... About a week ago, I think that they went into full panic mode, and reached down to find one of the hackiest hacks in all of hackdom. A guy who is...a patronage employee at the Board of the Elections with no FEC filings, no money, no endorsements, and no campaign whatsoever to speak of, but he does have a Jewish surname” (Campbell, "Politicker," New York Observer, 4/9).

Lancman, in a statement: "The County organization is panicked by the strength of my candidacy, but cynically fleecing Jewish voters with a sham candidacy by a longtime party hack is particularly appalling. Voters will rightfully see through this charade, and the party insiders responsible for this hatchet job should be ashamed of their attempt to deny the Jewish community a fair and legitimate election.”

But Golub said Gottlieb's campaign was "as real as the signatures they were collecting." Golub: "He has the credentials and respect of people in politics to make a run like this" (Gendar, "The Daily Politics," New York Daily News, 4/9).

NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley (D) spokesperson Eric Yun "declined to opine on the legitimacy" of Gottlieb's candidacy. Crowley: "Anybody who wants to run for office should be allowed the opportunity under the democratic process."

NYC Councilman Dan Halloran (R) spokesperson Steven Stites: "If true, it's racial and ethnics politics at its ugliest. ... Jewish New Yorkers have another reason to be repulsed by the Democratic Party" (Campbell, "Politicker," New York Observer, 4/9).