Contact:  Daniel Egers- 718-690-3737
For Immediate Release      June 30, 2009

(Queens, NY) With the recent revelation that Assembly Member Ann Margaret Carrozza moved last year to a sprawling mansion in tony Glen Head, Long Island and has turned her district residence into a rental property, violating state residency laws for elected officials, Queens GOP officials have begun to call for an investigation by the District Attorney,  Attorney General and NYS Board of Ethics to protect the residents of the 26th Assembly District from being defrauded from having a full-time Assembly Representative.

According to Party Chairman Phil Ragusa, “In this time when Albany dysfunction is at an all-time high and government spending is out of control at every level of government, spurring tea parties from coast to coast, we need to be extremely diligent in demanding real reform from our elected officials. And the most basic reform we should demand is that officials truly live in the districts they are elected to represent, as required by law. There have been too many of these allegations over the years and we must now get serious about protecting the public from this type of fraud. The integrity of our entire democratic system is at risk here.”

While courts have historically been rather flexible in their interpretation of what constitutes a primary resident when office holders own or rent multiple residences, GOP officials note that by Carrozza’s own public statements she no longer maintains a residence by legal standards.

“It is clear that the Election Law does not preclude a person from having two residences and choosing one for election purposes provided he or she has 'legitimate, significant and continuing attachments' to that residence, as per  Isabella v Hotaling,” stated Queens GOP Executive Vice Chairman and election law expert Vince Tabone . "The crucial determination of whether a particular residence complies with the requirements of the Election Law is that the individual must manifest an intent, coupled with physical presence 'without any aura of sham" as per People v O'Hara.”

The media to its credit has shed light on the fact that by turning her district residence into a rental property, essentially converting it from a residence into an investment property, Assembly Member Carrozza is likely to have violated state law and for some time.

Also noteworthy is if as reported Carrozza moved into the Glen Head home in June of 2008 and filed nominating petitions for reelection that year with an address she no longer resided at she could be found guilty of filing fraudulent instruments with the government.  Whether District Attorney Brown will opt to take action on this as his Bronx counterpart has in a similar situation with a less popular State lawmaker in the Bronx remains to be seen. Obviously Carrozza now has legal problems , but she also has a political one. She has either tried to fool the voters who elected her, or alternatively, she is guilty of filing false business instruments to secure a favorable tax benefit for her Long Island home Either way, she has a lot of explaining to do.

“The people of Northeast Queens deserve a full time Assembly representative who actually lives in the district as required by both law and common sense,” according to Daniel Egers, Executive Director for the Queens GOP. “When one looks at Ms. Carrozza's extensive absentee record from votes in Albany, having missed 681 out of 1093 floor votes, a 62% absentee rate, and having missed two-thirds of her committee meetings, it makes one wonder. If she is not in the district and she is not in Albany, what is she doing on the taxpayers’ time?  Authorities should investigate forthwith and Ms. Carrozza should belatedly do the honest and honorable thing and tender her resignation. Perhaps she should run in Long Island.”