John Haggerty, Convicted of Stealing $750k from Bloomberg, Turns Up at the BOE

A source at the New York City Board of Elections tells us that none other than John Haggerty showed up this afternoon on behalf of Republican Queens Councilman Eric Ulrich's Senate campaign. According to the source, Haggerty, donning a baseball cap as he entered the BOE, showed up to submit petition signatures - though Ulrich's campaign said that Haggerty was actually there to access the BOE's Candidate Records Unit, while a campaign staffer named Mike Michel formally submitted petitions. Yet our BOE source also says only Haggerty signed in at the Board's front desk. Haggerty was [convicted last December of](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/nyregion/john-haggerty-gets-prison-for-stealing-bloomberg-election-funds.html) stealing $750,000 in campaign funds from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He is currently appealing the verdict, but faces up to four years in prison if he is unsuccessful. Ulrich's Senate campaign spokeswoman brushed off the fact that a convicted felon was seen taking a public role in the councilman's campaign. "We are really happy with our petitioning response," said Ulrich spokeswoman Jessica Proud. "Council Member Ulrich turned in nearly 3,000signaturesfrom every corner of the senate district today. That's what counts." John Haggerty has long been a political ally of Ulrich, whose former chief of staff is Haggerty's brother, Bart. The two brothers have unsuccessfully sought to overthrown Queens Republican Party chairman Phil Ragusa. Well-known for his election law skills, Haggerty has also long been a fixture during Board of Elections proceedings. Ulrich is running in a Republican Senate primary in eastern Queens against attorney Juan Reyes, who has the support of the Queens Republican Party. Ulrich, who is the favorite in the GOP primary and has the backing of the Senate Republicans, would face Democratic State Sen. Joe Addabbo in November. Update: An adviser to Ulrich's campaign wrote in to note that Michel may not have signed in at the Board of Elections because, "You don't need to sign in to submit petitions. You just need to clock them in at the desk. You need to sign in to go inside." To read more from City & State [click here. ](http://www.cityandstateny.com)