A non-debate for the 23rd Assembly District provides strong impressions of the candidates

Halfway through her opening statements, Jane Deacy decided to stop and start over. She was off to a rough start making her case for the 23rd Assembly District in Queens, stumbling over her sentences, and, as she put it, rambling a bit. She recovered, going on to discuss her qualifications: former police officer and teacher, long-time resident, who will help rein in the excesses of Albany.

She finished. The host, Queens Courier publisher Vickie Schnapps, thanked her. “Thank you,” Deacy responded a little too loudly.

She and her Democratic opponent Phil Goldfeder sat in a Queens Public Television studio in Flushing. Six or so people were in the audience, mostly members of the candidates’ campaigns. A large screen behind the set displayed an American flag-homage graphic and the words “23rd Assembly District,” the seat the candidates are running for.

The debate—if you can call it that—was being taped for broadcast soon, and might be the one and only time voters get to measure the candidates up, side-by-side. Special elections are usually snoozefests, but this year’s batch of races for the Assembly have produced a few surprising contests. The race in the 23rd is one.

The main reason for that is Deacy. Coming off Councilman Eric Ulrich’s special election win in 2009, the Rockaway Republicans are developing into a special election machine. Now, Deacy, a Rockaway party leader, is challenging the Queens Democratic Party pick for the seat vacated by Audrey Pheffer, who had held it since 1987.

That pick is Phil Goldfeder, a Far Rockaway native, and, most recently, an aide to US Senator Charles Schumer. Goldfeder is the sort of candidate special elections are made for. He’s dutifully worked his way up the political ladder, first as a community liaison to Councilman James Sanders Jr. Then as a community liaison to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s reelection efforts. Then as an aide Schumer. His deep political pedigree and connection to the district’s large Jewish community were good enough for Joe Crowley, congressman and Queens County party leader, to give Goldfeder the Democratic line.

The shine of political grooming coming off Goldfeder was blinding. He spoke in perfect platitudes throughout the taping. He mentioned the beloved and retired Pheffer at least five times. He talked about things as being basically non-partisan; about needing to invest in our workforce, reduce taxes for small businesses and the need to stand with the community. His political poise was impressive; the depth of answers was kiddie-pool shallow and the clarity of views on pressing issues brilliant in their opacity.

Both candidates supported the expansion of the Aquaduct Racino project and the jobs it’ll bring. Deacy went beyond the job benefits neither worked to get to talk about quality of life issues, as well as the role the project could play for the broader state economy.

The closing of Peninsula Hospital was opposed by both candidates. Goldfeder talked about the standing with the community as it sits and waits for the hospital’s fate to be determined. Deacy discussed the current situation with the hospital board and warned that closing the hospital was “serving a death sentence” to the emergency cases on the peninsula.

Deacy continued to be specific and forthright, even when she was wrong. “It doesn’t seem to me they’re using their money wisely,” she said of the MTA, calling for a “forensic audit” of their finances. This ignores the fiscal control and responsibility the legislature has over the agency. She and Goldfeder agreed on local sticking points like the A train’s pokiness and the burdensome Cross Bay Bridge toll, even as they recycled the hollow arguments of Albany legislatures they hope to join.

As we reported yesterday, Deacy is far behind Goldfeder in the funraising department. Her party, too, is at a serious disadvantage to the Democrats in the district. But in the QPTV studios earlier today, the voters at least were given a take on the issues that wasn’t couched in the un-ness of politispeak.