NEW YORK.- A fierce electoral battle is escalating in Queens County Senatorial District 13, pitting Dominican-American assemblyman Jose Peralta, who has moved there from Brooklyn, in an attempt to dislodge the unwavering Hiram Monserrate, who was recently ousted from Albany’s legislature on a domestic violence conviction.

Peralta faces activists and organizations who demand a probe for his alleged embezzlement of money from a presumably ghost organization which he created and managed by his mother and other close political associates. Monserrate, who no longer has the democrats’ blessings, and was expelled from his senate seat together with the republicans, defied his former party’s well-greased “machinery” to try to recover his legislative seat, warning that only his constituents can remove him from the post.

Some surveys including the network Univisión place voter’ intention at 50-50, whereas The New York Times says the results may be the squeakiest in District 13’s history.

The elections are dated for the March 16 this month  by executive decision  governor David Paterson, who according to the law, had to summon them to necessarily fill the lazy vacancy by the Puerto Rican/American.

Peralta could’ve easily won the post but Monserrate didn’t sit still and launched the challenge to return, by creating an independent movement “The town decides.”