4 The QUENS Courier • NOVEMBER 7, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶election results ▶ THE COURIER/Photo by Terence M. Cullen Melinda Katz won the election to be the next Queens borough president. KATZ CONQUERS Health care, rebuilding on agenda BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] Former legislator Melinda Katz will be the next Queens borough president. “We sent a message from the moment I announced my candidacy that we are a borough of diversity, and that is an asset,” Katz said. “It is not a flaw in the borough of Queens and the City of New York.” The Democrat and heavy favorite in the race trounced her two challengers on Tuesday, November 5 with 80.3 percent, Boro ugh President according to unofficial results, as 99 percent of precincts were reporting. Republican Tony Arcabascio netted 17.1 percent and third-party candidate Everly Brown, who came in last in the Democratic primary, took in 2.6 percent on the Jobs & Education line, early tallies showed. The seat was held by Helen Marshall since 2001. The longtime incumbent and borough’s first black borough president is term-limited this year. She endorsed Katz, who served in the Assembly and City Council and was the director of community boards for former Borough President Claire Schulman. Katz will be the 19th Queens borough president. “Every borough president has their own way about them,” Katz said. “I’m excited about the future. Helen Marshall has served this borough for over 30 years as a public official, 20 years before that as a civil rights advocate and an educator. I will continue her work, but I also have my own priorities and I look forward to working for those.” As results trickled in on election night, the Forest Hills mom of two was surrounded by supporters at her victory party held at the Queens Democratic Party’s headquarters on Austin Street. “We have had a whole gamut of support,” she said, attributing her victory in major part to the County organization. “I am extremely excited to be the next borough president. I’m glad the people of Queens put faith into my candidacy, and I will be very grateful to them.” The strong finish was anticipated this time, unlike the grueling September primary election Katz faced against Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. In the contentious race, Katz beat the longtime Astoria lawmaker by about 13,000 votes, according to official Board of Elections results. Katz said her Borough Hall plans include making the Rockaway ferry permanent and creating a hotline for storm victims to get up-to-date information on the rebuilding process. She also said she will push for more primary and urgent care facilities, expand tax incentives for new or expanding businesses that hire locally and fund the growth of 1,000 more trees. Katz said it her job to “make sure that we not only get equal assets here in Queens, but we bring more money back to the borough of Queens because that is what we deserve here.” With additional reporting by Terence M. Cullen JAMES, STRINGER SLIDE INTO OFFICE BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] The city has elected its new public advocate and comptroller— Letitia James and Scott Stringer. James’ win makes New York City history. As the next public advocate, she is the first woman of color to hold citywide office. “Yes, this is indeed historic because our government must be representative of all New Yorkers,” James said in her victory speech. “Although history is important and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, what I’m really proud of is of the fact that we ran a campaign centered on progressive ideals and a commitment to New York’s working families,” she added. James, who faced no Republican in the November 5 general election, won with 84 percent of the vote, with 99 percent of the precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Tuesday’s election was the third time voters could cast their ballots for James in the public advocate race. James placed first in the September Democratic primary with 36 percent of the vote, but it wasn’t enough to reach the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. In the October 1 runoff, James, who represents City Council District 35, faced off against fellow Brooklyn politician Public Advocate Comptroller State Senator Daniel Squadron. She won with 59.4 percent of the vote. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer did have a Republican opponent in the comptroller race, John Burnett, a former Wall Street executive, but easily won with 81 percent of the vote, with 99 percent of the precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. “I want everyone in this city to know that I will be a comptroller who serves our city with honesty and integrity. A comptroller who listens to the voices of New Yorkers in all five boroughs so that we can work together in shaping the future of this great city,” Stringer said in his victory speech. Like James, his biggest challenge came in the primary. Stringer was looking at a guaranteed Democratic nomination until former governor Eliot Spitzer decided to enter the race in July. Though Spitzer had the stigma of a prostitution scandal that forced him to resign as governor in 2008, initial polls showed him ahead. But in the days before the election, they rightfully predicted a close race. Stringer defeated Spitzer with 52.1 percent of the vote. File photos Councilmember Letitia James (left) has been elected as the city’s public advocate and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has won the comptroller’s race. H FOUR FACED NO OPPOSITION Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras, Daniel Dromm, Jimmy Van Bramer and Ruben Wills are ran unopposed during the General Election on Tuesday, November 5. Ferreras, who was elected to represent District 21 in 2009, currently serves Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights. Dromm, who was elected to represent District 25 in 2010, currently serves Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, LeFrak City, Corona, Rego Park and Woodside. Van Bramer, who was elected to represent District 26 in 2009, currently serves Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City, Astoria and Maspeth. Ruben Wills, who was elected to represent District 28 in 2010, currently serves Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Rochdale.
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