Three Parks Democrats Elect Board Members

The Three Parks Independent Democrats voted in new club officers and board members at their meeting on Wednesday.

All of the candidates ran uncontested. The new president, Josh Pepper, will take the place of Theresa Canter, who will become the first vice president of the club. Judy Wood was voted second vice president.

The snowy weather and Valentine's Day kept the meeting room far from filled to capacity, but long-time member Steve Max said the club needed a quorum of just 20 percent to hold elections.

"I don't want you to think we're ignoring the holiday," Canter told members as they trickled in. "I did bake some heart-shaped red-sprinkled cookies."

Canter received a standing ovation after her short thank-you speech, in which she acknowledged club members for being "committed, progressive Democrats." Pepper said he hopes to continue Canter's lead on activist projects and hopes to bring in younger members.

Former Assemblyman Ed Sullivan stood in as Wednesday evening's guest speaker for Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell, D-Morningside Heights, who got stuck in Albany due to the snow. Sullivan explained why the Assembly decided to break from Governor Eliot Spitzer on its recent vote for state comptroller, and called Spitzer's involvement in the election "a big mistake."