By Tony Farina

Robert Quintana, labeled the comeback kid by many of his supporters, has scored three consecutive courtroom decisions affirming his petitions in the 149th Assembly District primary set for June 23.

First, it was the Erie County Board of Elections that ruled Quintana had more than enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

But his main opponent in the Democratic primary, Jon Rivera, ponied up big dollars to try and knock Quintana off the ballot, but he lost at every level, beginning in State Supreme Court.

After the Supreme Court decision in Quintana’s favor, Rivera went to the state Appellate Court where he lost 5 – 0 and then he lost a bid to have the state’s highest court take up his challenge and the Court of Appeals would not hear the case.

Despite spending big dollars in legal challenges, Rivera must now face Quintana in the primary, something he fought hard and spent heavy to avoid.

“We won every step of the way,” said Quintana, “and despite his wild spending, we are on the ballot and are focusing on the issues that are important to all New Yorkers. Our mission: come out of this pandemic and take care of the needs of our constituents.”

Quintana, a retired. Buffalo police officer, is a former Niagara District councilman who has decided he has more to do to help improve lives of his fellow citizens and is working extremely hard to win the 149th District seat.