FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 19
Williams makes run for governor offi cial
BY STEPHEN WITT
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
New York City Public Advocate
Jumaane D. Williams made it offi cial last
week: He’s running for governor.
Th e announcement came aft er a sevenweek
exploratory phase, during which
Williams visited and spoke with areas
throughout the Empire State to drum up
support, including Long Island, the Mid-
Hudson, Rochester and Buff alo.
“In this moment, I believe we need
bold, principled progressive leadership
in Albany to move our state forward with
justice and equity, no matter the political
winds,” Williams said. “I’m honored
to announce my candidacy to be the next
governor of New York, humbled by this
opportunity to empower the people and
renew New York, and excited to share my
vision of structural change with communities
all across the state I love.”
Having been re-elected public advocate
earlier this month, Williams has built
a reputation as one of New York
City’s most progressive elected
offi cials. Now, the candidate
says he wants to take that
leadership statewide.
“Th ere is a movement
building in New York. A courageous progressive
movement that challenges the
powerful — and helps restore that power
to the people. A movement I’m proud
to be a part of. Because without courageous
progressive leadership, the
way things have always been
will stand in the way of
what they can be,” he
added.
In a video
released with
his announcement,
Williams
spoke about his
time growing up
in Brooklyn with
Tourette syndrome
and ADHD; his time
as an organizer; and how
he has incorporated
that work into
a decade of
service as an elected offi cial.
Williams, 45, and a graduate of Brooklyn
Tech High School and Brooklyn College,
started his elected political career as a
councilman from 2010-2019.
Since becoming public advocate in
2019, Williams said he has passed
more legislation than any of his
predecessors throughout their
tenure, ranging from protecting
aff ordable housing and
promoting racial equity in
development to codifying
the right to record police
activity.
In 2018, while still
in the City Council, he
mounted a progressive
insurgent primary
campaign for lieut
enant
g o v -
ernor against now Governor Kathy
Hochul, and nearly beat her with 47% of
the vote — most of it within New York
City.
In announcing his run, Williams immediately
claimed the mantle of the progressive
left in an increasingly crowded
Democratic Primary fi eld that includes
Hochul and Attorney General Letitia
James.
Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio and
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island/
Queens) are also believed to be eyeing a
run for governor.
A spokesperson for James’ campaign
welcomed Williams in the race.
“Throughout his career, Public
Advocate Jumaane Williams has been an
important leader on issues from police
reform to housing and we welcome him
to the race. Attorney General James is
running a change-making campaign for
governor and as we’ve seen in just a short
time there has been a groundswell of support
from New Yorkers, labor unions,
elected offi cials and others around her
historic candidacy for governor,”
said the spokesperson.
Th e primary is slated for
June 28, 2022. Th e winner
advances to the general election
on Nov. 8.
Paladino declares victory as Avella concedes
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Republican Vickie Paladino declared
victory over Democrat Tony Avella in
the northeast Queens race to represent
City Council District 19, two weeks
after Election Day when she held the
lead.
The Whitestone community activist
and small business owner for more than
three decades saw enough on Tuesday,
Nov. 16, after the Board of Elections
began counting mail-in ballots the day
before.
“After two long days at the Board of
Elections overseeing the absentee ballot
tally, we can confirm that our election
night victory will stand, and Vickie
Paladino will be the next council member
to represent the people of District
19 on the city council,” a Paladino campaign
spokesman said.
“We would again like to thank all our
staff and volunteers who made this possible,
as well as the voters who put their
faith in our platform. We cannot overstate
the magnitude of this accomplishment;
this was the toughest and bestrun
campaign in the city this year,”
Paladino’s campaign spokesperson said.
“We now look forward to the transition
and beginning the hard work of delivering
on our agenda to the community.”
District 19 includes Bayside, College
Point, Whitestone, Malba, Douglaston,
Little Neck, North Flushing and
Auburndale.
Paladino ran against Avella, a career
politician who represented District 19
in the City Council from 2002 to 2009
before serving eight years in the New
York State Senate.
Avella had hoped to regain his seat,
and replace term-limited Councilman
Paul Vallone, but conceded the race to
Paladino in a statement on Wednesday,
Nov. 17.
“My wife and I want to thank all of my
supporters and volunteers who worked
tirelessly on our campaign,” Avella said.
“Although we lost, I am proud of the
positive and issued-based campaign we
waged. A mere 387 votes was the difference
in the outcome despite my opponent
conducting negative ads and a
Trump-like disinformation campaign.
In the near future, I will review the
election results and what this means
for our community. I wish everyone a
happy and family Thanksgiving.”
The Board of Elections will certify the
results on Nov. 30.
Photo courtesy of Paladino campaign/QNS file photo
Republican Vickie Paladino (l.) declares victory over Democrat Tony Avella (r.) after two days
of mail-in ballot counting at the Board of Elections.
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