Michael Den Dekker

Newly minted Democratic State Assembly candidate Michael Den Dekker is personally challenging the petitions of his opponent, Marlene Tapper, according to the city Board of Elections.

Most petition challenges come from supporters of a rival candidate, not the rival candidate himself. 

If successful, he could prevent her from getting on the ballot, which would make him the de facto assemblyman in the heavily Democratic Jackson Heights district.

Den Dekker, whose wife works for Representative Joe Crowley, the Democratic county leader, got the party’s backing after Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette abruptly declined to run for re-election.

Den Dekker did not immediately return a message left on his voice mail.

Democrats in Queens this morning picked district leader Michael Den Dekker to replace Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette on the ballot in September.

“I am honored to be asked to replace such an esteemed member of the assembly,” Den Dekker told me in a brief interview. “I was amazed that this process even happened, and I was lucky enough to even be asked.”

“No one thought he would step down,” he went on, adding, “We just follow the rules on how to fill a vacancy.”

The vacancy was created when Lafayette submitted petitions to get on the ballot for reelection this fall and then declined the nomination to instead take a job with the governor.  read more »