Although City Council Member Helen Sears of Queens is no longer term-limited, City Council candidate Alfonso Quiroz is proceeding  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/council-candidate-fund-raises-against-old-guard#comments Politics Alfonso Quiroz Daniel Dromm Helen Sears Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:42:36 -0400 Azi Paybarah 77712 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2007/danny-dromms-friends

Jackson Heights City Council candidate Danny Dromm hosted a number of influential local politicians at a fund-raiser this weekend, most notably city Comptroller Bill Thompson, who will be a special guest at a fund-raiser for Dromm’s opponent in the Democratic primary, Alfonso Quiroz [time clarified]. Quiroz's boyfriend and treasurer is Thompson's director of communications.

More after the jump.  read more »

Here’s an invitation for a birthday party-fund-raiser for Jackson Heights, Queens, City Council candidate Alfonso Quiroz.

Quiroz is likely to face district leader Danny Dromm in the Democratic primary.

Which makes the special guest status at the event of City Comptroller and likely mayoral candidate Bill Thompson somewhat notable: it's one of the first times I’ve seen a prospective citywide Democratic candidate back a candidate who is expected to have a contested Democratic primary.

UPDATE: A reader reminded me of what is probably a motivating factor in Thompson's role here. His director of communications is Quiroz's treasurer (and boyfriend).

Also, one of Thompson's likely opponents in 2009, Christine Quinn, has known Quiroz's opponent for a number of years, since they were both community activists, according to a knowledgeable source. That may lead Quinn to actively support Danny Dromm.