Avella: Vallone Trying to Push Me Out of BP Race

State Sen. Tony Avella thinks City Councilman Peter Vallone is intimidated by his presence in the Borough President race, according to Politicker, and says he's been bullied to buzz off.

The Observer wrote this week that Avella has fielded phone calls from Vallone staffers recently, who have told him he should drop out of the race or face legal and petition challenges.

Vallone and Avella are two of the three democrats remaining in the race — both trying to take out Melinda Katz, who has the backing of the Queens Democratic Party in the race for the Borough President's office in Kew Gardens. 

While Vallone has outraised both Avella and Katz, he still faces an uphill battle without the support of the local party's mega-efficient vote turnout machine. 

Avella called Vallone a "bully and a coward" for trying to force him off the ballot, saying Vallone is afraid of the supporters he's amassed for himself, in particular in northeast Queens. 

The state Senator said he wasn't planning on going anywhere for now.

"I don’t make deals. I’m surprised he doesn’t know that about me," he told Politicker.