Grimm bids farewell to constituents

January 6, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Former congress member Michael Grimm thanked his constituents in a farewell message on Monday. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

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Former Congressman Michael Grimm left office Monday, but on his way out the door, he bade his constituents a fond farewell.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Grimm sought to assure residents that although he is out of office, his staff will still be working at district offices in Dyker Heights and on Staten Island to assist them. He resigned from office after pleading guilty to income tax fraud.

“I would like to thank all of my constituents on Staten Island and Brooklyn from the bottom of my heart for the overwhelming love and support over the past four years. Please know that my staff will be staying in place and will be available to assist you with any casework or constituent service issues you may need help with — so please do not hesitate to continue to contact my offices for assistance or to inquire into the status of your request,” Grimm wrote.

The Staten Island Advance reported that in cases where a Congress member leaves office before the end of their term, staff members at district offices stay on the job until a special election takes place to replace the Congress member. The staffers are now working under the supervision of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Advance reported.

The Brooklyn district office is located 7308 13th Ave. The phone number is 718-630-5277.

In another development, Councilmember Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bensonhurst) is the latest elected official to express interest in running for the now-vacant seat in the 11th Congressional District.

“Councilman Gentile has been truly humbled by the outpouring of support he has received over the past few days and people urging him to run to fill the vacancy in the 11th Congressional District,” his spokesman, Justin Brannan, wrote in an email to the Brooklyn Eagle on Monday.

Brannan touted Gentile’s credentials as a former assistant district attorney in Queens. Gentile also served as a state senator from 1996 to 2002, representing a district that included neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Gentile joins a long list of potential candidates that includes Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan, assembly members Nicole Malliotakis, Michael Cusick, and Bill Colton, state Sen. Andrew Lanza, former congress member Michael McMahon, and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carlo Scissura.