Embattled Republican City Councilman Daniel Halloran, under indictment in a federal corruption case, said Wednesday he won't run for re-election in November.
Halloran, 42, who represents an area around Whitestone, Queens, and whose term is up at the end of December, said in a statement that he had his hands full working to restore his reputation and defending himself against the charges.
"After much thought, I have concluded that it is impossible for me to properly do these things and take on the enormous demands of a political campaign, so I will not pursue another term in the Council," said Halloran in his statement.
The one-term councilman was elected in 2009 and has been a pro-police voice on the council, where he had been serving on the public safety and land use committees, as well as a few others. But since he was indicted last month along with state Sen. Malcolm Smith and four others, Halloran has been stripped of his committee duties, said a spokesman.
Halloran was indicted on charges he and Smith plotted to pay off two city Republican Party officials to get Smith, a Democrat, a spot on the Republican party mayoral primary. Halloran was also accused of accepting bribes in exchange for steering up to $80,000 in council discretionary funds to what turned out to be an undercover FBI company. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last week.
Since he will be out of city government at the end of year, Halloran gave a nod to his various staffers and acknowledged their service.
"We owe them a great debt," Halloran said of this staff. "They continue to work diligently in the people's interest, and it saddens me that these dedicated public servants have suffered along with me."
A source in Halloran's office said several staffers had resigned and more were expected to as the term winds down.
One of the possible Republican candidates taking aim at Halloran's seat is reported to be the second cousin of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, also with the same name. Dennis Saffran, a community activist, is also seen as a possible Republican candidate.
A number of Democrats are also in the wind as possible candidates. Among them are Paul Vallone, brother of Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria); former Cuomo administration official Austin Shafran; and urban planner Paul Graziano, said Queens officials. ___
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