Washington – Democratic State Representative from New York Carmen Arroyo – who was the first state legislator of Puerto Rican origin in her state – was prevented from running for reelection, as a court concluded that her endorsement requests were “steeped” in fraud.
The New York State Court of Appeals upheld the original complaint filed by her opponent, Amanda Seventh, 29, a former official with Congressman JosĂ© Serrano’s district office.
Seventh is now the only Democratic candidate for the post ahead of the primaries on June 23.
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According to the New York Daily News, Arroyo collected the sheets to request endorsements from voters in his district on February 27, but 512 of the 944 signatures submitted have prior dates.
Because the Court of Appeals is the state’s highest state court, Arroyo can only request a review of the decision from the United States Supreme Court.
Arroyo, 84, represents a district in the South Bronx that includes Mott Haven, Hunts Point and the environs of Yankee Stadium.
According to the New York newspaper, the New York Electoral Board has sued the Puerto Rican legislator “dozens of times” for failing to present her financial reports.
