Abou Diakhate Surges Toward Primary Showdown; Jozette Carter-Williams is Out
By Frankie Pressman and Rick LaRivière with Richard Luthmann
Kamillah Hanks, Staten Island’s embattled North Shore Councilwoman, tried to kick every challenger off the June 24 Democratic Primary ballot.
She was successful in targeting Jozette Carter-Williams, the widow of slain NYPD Hero Officer Gerard Carter.
Three other Democratic candidates remain to challenge Hanks: community advocate Abou Diakhate, Sarah Blas, and Neil Berry.
All are campaigning to end what they call the corruption and cronyism that have plagued Staten Island’s North Shore.
Carter-Williams submitted nearly 800 signatures from registered Democrats. She needed 450 valid ones to qualify.
But Hanks had her tossed – in what stinks of a back-room political deal – so that she wouldn’t have to face Staten Island voters in a Democratic primary with a pro-law enforcement candidate.
Staten Island Ballot Bombshell: Supreme Court Reveals Cracks in the Machine
“Kamillah Hanks is afraid,” said one Staten Island Democrat. “She knows she can’t win an election straight-up.”
And the Hanks machine just took a hit.
On Monday, Justice Wayne Ozzi ordered Diakhate on the ballot.
On Tuesday, Carter-Williams won a slight courtroom victory. At a hearing before Court Attorney Referee Peter Geis, famed election attorney John Ciampoli rehabilitated 23 signatures for Carter-Williams, putting her at 463 valid signatures. The win was short-lived.
On Wednesday, Hanks’ lawyer, Howard Graubar, knocked her off based on the testimonial inconsistencies of petition gatherers before Referee Geis. The Carter-Williams campaign withdrew its legal fight.
“There’s no legal path to the Democratic primary ballot,” said a campaign insider. “We’re securing an independent line.”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams and former NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo have announced they are seeking independent lines in the November mayoral race. Cuomo will also carry the Democratic Party label.
Hanks has endorsed Cuomo.
Neither Adams nor Cuomo has endorsed in the North Shore race.
Staten Island Ballot Bombshell: BOE Conflict Erupts
The scandal deepened Wednesday when it was revealed that Otis Grey, a Board of Elections employee, worked on the Carter-Williams petition review.
Otis is the husband of Selina Grey, Kamillah Hanks’ campaign treasurer, and the official objector trying to throw Carter-Williams off the ballot.
The Hanks Machine succeeded in having Carter-Williams removed. But they left a clear breadcrumb trail of corruption.
“Otis shouldn’t have even been in the building,” said one elections expert. “Let alone working on petitions for a race involving his wife’s candidate-employer.”
The conflict of interest was obvious.
Election manipulation appears to be baked into the very structure of Staten Island’s Board of Elections, where Kamillah Hanks’ allies are embedded at every level.
Michele Sileo, the Hanks-loyal Commissioner handpicked over the Democratic Committee’s preferred candidate, Debi Rose, is poised to rule on ballot matters directly impacting Hanks’ race.
Sileo previously served with Hanks on a nonprofit board tied to accused drug kingpin Ettore Mazzei, raising serious ethical concerns.
Making matters worse, Kevin Barry Love—Hanks’ millionaire real estate developer husband, has not one but two of his children on the Board’s payroll.
“This isn’t just favoritism—it’s a political firewall,” said one party insider.
Staten Island Ballot Bombshell: Team McMahon Pulls Back From Team Hanks
DA Michael McMahon, who is supposed to prosecute corruption—not back it—is helping Hanks. Sources say he dispatched political crony Carmen Cognetta to assist with the challenges.
Cognetta, a former judge who resigned under a scandal, was present at last week’s hearing. This week, he was gone, signaling to many that McMahon may be pulling his support for Hanks because of the political blowback.
“Kevin Barry Love’s been running his mouth all over Staten Island,” one Democratic insider said, referring to Hanks’ developer husband. “He’s bragging that McMahon sent in Carmen—and if that doesn’t work, he’ll send in Kenny Mitchell, K.J. Hunt, Georgie Caputo, and ‘The Captain.’”
The blowback has been severe, particularly with law enforcement. Hanks sponsored the “How Many Stops Act,” a measure law enforcement says “handcuffs good cops and protects criminals.”
NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) President Vincent Vallelong is irate with Hanks’ hypocrisy.
“She sold herself as pro-law enforcement for endorsements, but her vote exposes a lack of truthfulness and transparency. As Public Safety Committee Chair, her support of this idiotic bill demonstrates ignorance of police work and disregard for public safety,” Vallelong said.
Hanks funds groups like True2Life, which defends gang bangers and pushes for cop killer parole.
“She’s done more to hurt police in Staten Island than anyone in memory,” said one NYPD line of duty family member.
The way in which the previously politically savvy Michael McMahon got caught in this political crossfire is raising eyebrows.
“McMahon was outed playing kingmaker through the courts instead of letting voters decide, and against the NYPD on Staten Island,” said a Manhattan Democratic consultant. “Ten years ago, he’d never have done something this clumsy.”
“If She Gets on the Ballot, We Lose”
The cracks are showing. Kamillah Hanks’ campaign manager, Paul Casali, reportedly melted down in the hallway outside Tuesday’s hearing.
“If she [Carter-Williams] gets on the ballot, we lose,” Casali said in earshot of multiple attendees.
He was speaking to election attorney Howard Graubar. Witnesses described the moment as “full meltdown mode.”
Casali’s political math is correct.
Ranked-choice voting could be Hanks’ undoing. With several challengers on the ballot, the election won’t be a simple majority vote.
And Hanks, political insiders say, is “no one’s number two.”
“If Kamillah can’t get second-choice rankings, she’s done,” the Manhattan Democratic consultant said. “That’s how ranked choice works. And no one outside her fraction of supporters is ranking her very high, if at all. In 2021, she didn’t get to 50 percent until the ninth round of counting. She should be worried.”
Sources say that Diakhate, Blass, and Berry are in talks to reach an agreement on directing their supporters to rank each other 1-2-3 and leave the Hanks line blank.
If one wins, the others will get a seat at the table in the new administration. The alliance is strong and driven by a shared mission.
“The community wants change,” said a Staten Island Democratic Committee Executive Board member. “Many agree—Kamillah Hanks and her cronies are the biggest obstacle to progress.”
We asked Staten Island Democratic Party Chair Laura Sword for comment on these and other issues. As of press time, she has not responded. Here is what we asked:
From: Rick LaRivière <[email protected]>
Date: On Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Subject: Press Inquiry – NYC Council Democratic Primary – 49th District
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
CC: [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>Dear Party Chair Sword,
We are independent journalists seeking comment on the NYC Council Democratic Primary in the 49th District, covering Staten Island’s North Shore.
Our latest information is that Jozette Carter-Williams is off the Democratic Primary ballot. Abou Diakhate, Sara Blas, Neil Berry, and incumbent Kamillah Hanks are on.
We have also learned that Carter-Williams, the only NYC candidate endorsed by law enforcement, will seek an Independent Line.
We have questions about the election, the recent ballot access proceedings, and other issues:
BALLOT CHALLENGE AND ETHICS
1. Do you believe Kamillah Hanks’ challenges to every Democratic primary opponent reflect the values of the Democratic Party?
2. Was the Staten Island Democratic Committee aware that Selina Gray, Hanks’ campaign treasurer, was the objector in the Carter-Williams petition challenge while her husband worked on the review at the Board of Elections?
3. What is your response to allegations that this constitutes a blatant conflict of interest?
4. Do you support a full investigation into the role Otis Gray played in handling petitions connected to his wife’s campaign?BOARD OF ELECTIONS CONFLICTS
5. How do you respond to criticism that the Staten Island Board of Elections is compromised by political patronage connected to the Hanks campaign?
6. Does the Democratic Committee currently support Michele Sileo’s appointment to the Board of Elections, despite her prior ties to Hanks, known ethical red flags, and the Committee’s previous selection of Debi Rose, who Hanks “vetoed”?
7. Should Sileo recuse herself from any election decisions involving Kamillah Hanks, given her relationship and past nonprofit ties?CANDIDATE ACCESS AND PARTY INTEGRITY
8. Was it appropriate for Kamillah Hanks to try to remove all of her challengers from the primary ballot?What message does it send when a sitting councilmember attempts to suppress primary competition rather than campaign on merit?
9. Is the Democratic Party doing enough to protect access to the ballot for grassroots candidates?LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PARTY ALIGNMENT
10. Carter-Williams had endorsements from every major law enforcement union. Do you believe the Party failed by not protecting her candidacy?
11. Has the Party received pressure from DA Michael McMahon or his allies in connection with supporting Hanks?
12. Do you consider McMahon’s alleged involvement in petition challenges a misuse of his office or influence?MOVING FORWARD
13. Given the public backlash, what reforms would you support to ensure greater transparency in candidate petition review and ballot access?
14. Do you believe the Democratic Party should formally distance itself from Kamillah Hanks if further ethical concerns emerge?We intend on going to press shortly. We would love answers and additional comment to give the readership a balanced perspective. If we publish before you respond, we will incorporate them into a follow-up.
Thanks,
Rick LaRivière
Independent Journalist
“This could be very bad for historically reliable Democratic Party constituencies,” said the Manhattan Democratic consultant. “There is already a push to pull disaffected Democrats to become Independents. And with groups like Be American PAC and others lining up support for Eric Adams-type candidates, there will be money and a competitive general election. Carter-Williams could win on the Independent line if Hanks is the [Democrat] nominee.”
Law enforcement may be forever lost to Democrats on Staten Island.
“It’s hard to imagine how any law enforcement is still voting Democrat,” said an NYPD retiree from Staten Island. “This one should do the job for any stragglers.”
Luthmann’s Back For Blood
Grassroots campaigns are now spreading like wildfire: “DON’T RANK HANKS.”
Richard Luthmann, a journalist and contributor to this outlet, is up to his old tricks. A former Staten Island attorney and political gadfly, Luthmann was arrested in 2017 and spent four years in federal prison, in part for creating Fake Facebook pages.
Luthmann is now claiming responsibility for a Facebook Page called DON’T RANK HANKS. It appears to be a recycled page formerly used for political mischief against Michael McMahon. But this time, Luthmann says everything is 100% legal.
“The page is clearly labeled FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES,” Luthmann said. “I am not trying to sway voters or manipulate elections. I’m trying to promote my litigation, Luthmann v. Hanks et al. Everyone already knows Kevin and Kamillah are deadbeats and frauds.”
Luthmann is suing Hanks, Love, and her political campaign for $87,000 plus interest on unpaid legal bills since 2017. He’s also suing on various tortious interference claims and asking for millions.
He says Mike McMahon and his political machine are “lurking in the background.”
“I mentioned the McMahons and their bag boys like Dennis Quirk and Bruce Baron in my lawsuit. The McMahons are totally f–ing around with OCA and pulling strings. Justice Nock said that I would receive the full measure of American Due Process from the bench. Since then, the case was taken from him and ping ponged to three judges. If Judge Judy wasn’t involved, I’ve got a bridge to sell you,” Luthmann said.
Luthmann says his goal is to get Kamillah Hanks and Kevin Barry Love under oath at depositions and “let nature take its course.”
“The last thing they want is to be put under oath. They are liars and crooks. I’ll be asking the questions, and it ain’t no fun when the rabbit’s got the gun. Now, my speech is protected by Litigation Privilege. This shows the Hanks-Love modus operandi, and I’m not going to stop talking,” Luthmann said. “I bet they wished they had just f– ing paid me, Mike Cox, and everyone else they’ve stiffed over the years.”
According to New York law, including Gottwald v. Sebert, the litigation privilege provides that statements pertinent to pending litigation are privileged.
It appears Luthmann is correct that he can run his mouth because Hanks, Love, and the Hanks campaign didn’t pay him for political work when he was an election lawyer, and the case is in suit.
Luthmann claims Hanks and Love have already “legally admitted” their wrongdoing and “it’s only a matter of time before the CFB [Campaign Finance Board] has to get involved.”
“DON’T RANK HANKS” Takes Off
Aside from Luthmann, voters are urged to rank all challengers—and leave Hanks off their ballots entirely—some plan to go further.
“With Jozette off, I’m going to vote for Abou, Sarah, and Neil, and then write in Debi Rose,” said one community member. “We know where we came from, and we know where we’re going—and that ain’t with Kamillah Hanks.”
Even seasoned Democrats see trouble.
“She challenged every candidate,” one operative noted. “That tells you everything. She’s trying to win through lawfare, not leadership.”
DA McMahon is facing his own reckoning. He turbocharged the Hanks campaign. But now, insiders say he may have “lost his fastball.”
“The political price for this stunt will be steep,” one consultant said. “He picked the wrong candidate, and getting on the wrong side of the cops on Staten Island is an easy way to end your political career.”
Diakhate, Blas, and Berry are all on the ballot, and a movement is forming to reject Hanks outright. The stage is set for a voter uprising.
With Carter-Williams on an Independent line and aligned with strong City-Wide candidates and backers with a Safe Streets message, the General Election may be in play.
This time, Kamillah Hanks won’t be able to hide behind the courts.
The people of Staten Island are ready to speak—loud and clear—on Primary and General Election Day – to send Kamillah Hanks and her cronies packing.
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