Election Day Recap for Queens

The votes are in, and Queens has a new borough president to show for it: Melinda Katz. (Pictured above, that’s her voting yesterday.) On the city level Bill de Blasio is our new mayor, Tish James our public advocate, and Scott Stringer our comptroller. Back in Queens, Queens Courier has excellent coverage of the local City Council races.

In District 22 (Astoria, Long Island City, parts of Jackson Heights), Costa Constantinides will fill Peter Vallone Jr.’s City Council seat. According to the Courier, “Constantinides’ win marks the first time since 1992 that a member of the Vallone family does not hold the seat in District 22.” The Vallone family name carries on in District 19 (northeast Queens), however. Paul Vallone beat Republican Dennis Saffran by nearly 200 votes. This is the first time in four decades a Vallone will represent northeast Queens instead of Astoria. District 19 faced a dramatic primary race, where five Democrats were running to replace disgraced Republican City Councilman Dan Halloran.

In District 27 (St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Baisley Park, Addisleigh Park, Queens Village, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens), Democrat Daneek Miller won by a landslide. Democrat, and former Assemblymember, Rory Lancman won a City Council seat for District 24 (northeast and central Queens) in another landslide. He replaces Councilmember James Gennaro. It was a close race for City Council District 32, where Councilmember Eric Ulrich and his democrat opponent, Lew Simon, were neck and neck. Last night, both candidates claimed to have won, but it looks like the New York Times called the race for Eric Ulrich. And incumbent Elizabeth Crowley won her seat in District 30 (Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, parts of Woodhaven and Woodside) after a close race. All in all, all the Queens City Council incumbents remain in their seats after the election.

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