Women go all out to knocknock off Hiram

A major women’s-rights group and domestic-violence victims came out firing Thursday against disgraced former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate, calling on voters to reject the girlfriend-slashing excon’s comeback bid for a City Council seat.

“What the Sept. 12 [Democratic primary] is about is holding elected officials accountable for their action,” said Sonia Ossorio, president of the National Organization for Women — New York.

“We must make it clear that voters reject role models who are violent [and] voters reject corruption,” added Ossorio, who was joined outside City Hall by roughly two dozen supporters — including domestic-violence victims and six council members — to oppose Monserrate’s bid to rejoin the City Council.

“Hiram Monserrate is both of those things, and if you want to drain the swamp, this is a good place to start.”

Monserrate, who was expelled from the state Senate in 2010 for slashing his girlfriend and did prison time for mail fraud, is seeking another stint representing the 21st Council District in Queens that includes Jackson Heights, Flushing, Elmhurst, Corona and College Point. He held the seat from 2002 to 2008.

Marlene Tapper, a Queens-based activist and domestic-violence victim, said voters instead should back Assemblyman Francisco Moya in the race to succeed Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland.

“My district deserves someone of principle, deserves . . . someone with class, someone who will stand with us,” said Tapper, who lost a council race against Monserrate in 2005. “Hiram Monserrate is not suitable.”

Monserrate issued a statement accusing NOW of making “false statements and many exaggerated claims about [his] past.”

Meanwhile, the race is too close for one group backing Moya.

In an informal phone poll of about 300 people conducted by the animal-rights group NYCLASS targeting Democrats who voted in the last two elections, Moya was ahead by 7 points, according to a NYCLASS source.

“While Assemblyman Moya is leading and clearly is the best candidate, we are not resting in the final days. His opponent has demonstrated a pattern of destructive behavior, and there is no evidence to believe he has changed. We urge voters to go the polls on Tuesday to elect Francisco Moya, a principled and proven leader for the district,” NYCLASS said in a statement.

The Democratic Party establishment has rallied around Moya while Monserrate has die-hard supporters in the district.

We must make it clear that voters reject role models who are violent [and] voters reject corruption. Sonia Ossorio, president of the National Organization for Women — New York, on Hiram Monserrate (left)