Brooks-Powers wins District 31 special election
BY BILL PARRY AND JACOB KAYE
Selvena Brooks-Powers is the winner
of the special election for the 31st
District City Council seat vacated by
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards last year. The special election
marks the first time a rankedchoice
voting count was used to determine
the winner of an election in New
York City.
After leading the nine-candidate
field with 38 percent of the vote on
Election Day on Feb. 23, Brooks-Powers
added to her lead during the absentee
process and crossed the 50 percent
threshold Thursday during the reallocation
of votes under the ranked-choice
voting system.
“I am honored to be elected by the
residents of the 31st City Council District
in southeast Queens,” Brooks-
Powers said. “I stand on the shoulders
of the leaders that have come before
me, but especially that of Juanita Watkins,
the first woman of color to serve
a NYC Council district and the only
woman to have ever served the 31st
District, almost 20 years ago.”
The district encompasses the neighborhoods
of Arverne, Brookville,
Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton,
Rosedale and Springfield Gardens.
This is the first time the ranked-choice
voting system has been used to determine
the winner of a council race since
the program was approved by voters in
2019.
“Running for office takes commitment
and drive, and I wish the best for
the other candidates,” Brooks-Powers
said. “I remain thankful to everyone
who supported me during the campaign
– my family, friends, mentors,
faith-based leaders, community leaders,
and brothers and sisters in labor.”
Brooks-Powers captured 51.6 percent
with 3,841 votes. Pesach Osina finished
second with 2,674 votes, according
to the city’s Board of Election. The
candidates were the last two standing,
after the remaining seven were eliminated
during the counting process,
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.26 COM | MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2021
which began on Tuesday.
Osina, who finished second, behind
Richards, in the 2014 special election
for the same seat, congratulated
Brooks-Powers after the count was
completed.
“We ran a great campaign, but the
voters of Queens’ 31st Council District
have exercised their right, and have
used the power of their votes, their
ranked-choice votes … and they have
spoken,” Osina said. “I congratulate
Selvena Brooks-Powers on her victory
as the next person to represent
our community in the New York City
Council. I wish her the best as we need
to come together as a community given
the many challenges ahead.”
Osina did not commit to running
again in the June Democratic primary
for the seat, but he didn’t rule it out either.
“I will meet with my advisors as we
map out the next steps defining what
the future holds as we continue our
mission to build bridges throughout
all communities,” he said.
Brooks-Powers looked at the challenging
road ahead Thursday, vowing
to fight for resources during the ongoing
crisis that has hit both the district,
and the city hard.
“We are in the midst of a tremendously
challenging time, and the 31st
District has been hardest hit,” Brooks-
Powers said. “I understand the gravity
of the next few months and am ready
to hit the ground running to begin immediately
delivering for the district. In
the last 20 years, we faced 9/11, Flight
587, Superstorm Sandy, the 2008 economic
crisis and now the COVID-19
pandemic. Our community is resilient
and we will recover from this pandemic
and come back stronger. I will
work tirelessly to ensure we get our
fair share of support, resources and
respect from City Hall.”
Powers-Brooks will finish Richards’
term on the City Council and will
have to run again in the June primary
and November general election to
serve a full term.
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