20 The Queens Courier • november 10, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com ELECTION 2016 After stunning win in primary, Woodside’s Brian Barnwell is on his way to state Assembly By Angela Matua [email protected] @AngelaMatua Brian Barnwell won the seat for the 30th Assembly District seat the night of Nov. 8, with 67.8 percent (22.657) of votes cast. “It feels good. It’s rewarding,” Barnwell said. “We’ve put a lot of hard work in since day one so it’s always obviously a great feeling when you put in hard work and it pays off.” Barnwell beat nineterm incumbent Margaret Markey during the primaries in a shocking upset. Barnwell received 63.8 percent of the vote (1,622) to Markey’s 36.2 percent (921). Assembly District 30 encompasses Woodside, Maspeth parts of Sunnyside, Long Island City and Astoria. The tide turned against Markey in August amid the ongoing debate over a proposed homeless shelter in Maspeth, in the heart of her district. Markey took flack from residents for failing to show up at a public meeting and a protest over the shelter, although she expressed opposition to the plan in statements that her office issued. The Woodside resident beat republican Tony Nunziato, who he shared a close relationship with throughout the campaign season. Nunziato received 32.2 percent (10,782) votes cast. “Congratulations to Brian Barnwell,” Nunziato said. “I look forward to working with you to make our communities better.” Barnwell said he will focus on issues that affect the middle class and senior citizens. “We’re going to focus on the middle class, those fighting to get into the middle class and seniors,” Barnwell said. “I feel like they’re the ones that are being ignored by the politicians we have now. They’re taken for granted.” He added that the rising prices of generic medications hurts senior citizens and he would like to see more union jobs in the city, especially in terms of affordable housing. “That’s what built this country, the city and the state — union jobs,” he said. “To the volunteers and to the community, I really appreciate the fact that they honored me with their Photo by Angela Matua/QNS vote and I will not let them down,” Barnwell added. “I will not let them regret that.” Brian Barnwell won the Assembly District 30 seat. Avella wins re-election for state Senate District 11 seat By Suzanne Monteverdi for the same state Senate seat in 2010. [email protected]/@smont76 Incumbent candidate Tony Avella has officially been declared the winner in the race for the 11th state Senate District seat. Avella served in the New York City Council before he was elected to the 11th state Senate District for the first time in 2010. This will be his fourth term in the seat. Challenger Mark Cipolla, who ran under the Republican, Conservative and Reform parties, is a former prosecutor. Cipolla was endorsed by former state Senator Frank Padavan, whom Avella defeated The 11th Senate District represents areas of Bayside, Flushing, Whitestone, Douglaston and Little Neck. “I am honored to have received overwhelming landslide support from the district once again and to continue working on behalf of the community to improve the quality of life in Queens,” Avella told The Courier. “I thank the tens of thousands of people of our district who trusted me with their vote and my family and friends, old and new, who have worked tirelessly throughout the campaign,” Cipolla told The Courier. “I am proud to have run a hard and honest campaign. While our efforts did not result in victory, they did cause Sen. Avella THE COURIER/File photo Tony Avella to have to work to secure his office.”
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