Special Election Candidates Make Their Own Parties: 'Experience Now,' 'No Tax,' 'Voice of the People'

Five City Council candidates filed petitions with the city Board of Elections to appear on the ballot for the special elections taking place on February 24.

Since special elections are nonpartisan, candidates also had to create a party name on which to run. Here they are so far:

In the 49th District on the North Shore of Staten Island, which was vacated by Mike McMahon:

Ken Mitchell, "Experience Now"

John Tabacco, "No Tax"

Donald R. Pagano, "Friends of Donald R. Pagano"

Tony Baker, "Prepared to Lead, Ready to Serve"

In the 32nd District in the Rockaways, which is being vacated by Joe Addabbo, only one candidate has filed petition signatures so far: Mike Ricatto, running on the"Voice of the People."

That situation is in flux, however, since Ricatto suspended his campaign after a Manhattan man driving a campaign van struck and killed a nine-year-old boy in Queens yesterday.

No candidate has filed petitions yet in the 21st District in Queens, which was vacated by Hiram Monserrate, who was just sworn in as a state senator.