FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 15
Longtime Queens assemblywoman set to retire
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
She was one of the youngest women
ever elected in New York when she was
fi rst sent to Albany in 1984 at age 26.
Now, 38 years later, Assemblywoman
Cathy Nolan has decided that she will
not seek re-election to represent western
Queens when her current term ends at
the end of this year.
Nolan was diagnosed with cancer last
February and has been working remotely,
or from her district offi ce in Long
Island City, since last year.
“I’m doing well, I’m back in the district
offi ce quite a bit, but I just can’t do it the
way I did with all the events,” Nolan told
Newsday. “I can’t run for reelection like I
used to and be with the voters. I’m a little
sad, but 38 years…I always gave it fullout,
and won’t be able to do that. I pretty
much loved every minute. I never minded
a fi ght for the right thing.”
Nolan represents the 37th Assembly
District which encompasses Sunnyside,
Long Island City, parts of Astoria,
Maspeth and Ridgewood where she lives.
She was appointed Deputy Speaker of
the Assembly in the winter of 2018 by
Speaker Carl Heastie. Nolan served as
chair of the powerful education committee
from 2006 to 2018 spearheading
eff orts to achieve class size reduction,
universal pre-K, middle school initiatives,
improved high school graduation
rates and other measures that meant
immediate success for the more than
three million school children in New
York State.
QNS reached out to Nolan and is
awaiting a response. Meanwhile, former
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer praised
Nolan’s tenure in Albany.
“Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan will
forever be known as a woman who
blazed trails for many other women
to serve in elected offi ce,” Van Bramer
said. “She fought for decades on behalf
of the people of the 37th AD and we
should thank her for her service. I wish
Assemblywoman Nolan good health,
time with her family and all the best in
retirement.”
Van Bramer had been mentioned as
a potential successor if Nolan decided
to step aside, but he would not comment
on whether he was considering a
run. Danielle Brecker ran against Nolan
in 2020 and thanked the longtime leader
for her service.
“Assemblymember Catherine Nolan
set the example and blazed the trail for
me and many other women to engage
Longtime Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan has decided she will not seek re-election after 38 years in offi ce representing western Queens.
I’m a little sad, but 38 years…I always gave it
full-out, and won’t be able to do that. I pretty
much loved every minute. I never minded a
fi ght for the right thing.
and lead in our communities and run for
offi ce,” Brecker said on Twitter. “I would
not have been able to challenge AM
Nolan in 2020 if she had not been doing
the work before me.”
She added that she expects a scramble
to replace Nolan, much like the 26 candidates
who ran last year to replace Van
Bramer. Hunters Point Civic Association
President Brent O’Leary, who was among
that fi eld of 26, said that he is seriously
considering a run for Nolan’s seat, and
off ered his appreciation for her 38 years
representing western Queens.
“Th e entire community owes sincere
gratitude for Assembly Member Nolan’s
QNS fi le photo
hard work and dedication in fi ghting for
the families of our community for over
38 years,” O’Leary said. “We thank her
for her public service and dedication”
Community leader Mary Jobaida
and Huge “Turbo Vax” Ma announced
last year they would run in District 37
recently ended their campaigns. Neither
could be reached for comment.
Governor Kathy Hochul took to
Twitter to thank Nolan for her nearly 40
years of public service.
“For decades, Assemblymember Cathy
Nolan has been a steadfast advocate for
the people of Queens,” Hochul said. “We
are grateful for her service, from her tenure
as education and labor chair, to the
farmworkers bill, and more, and wish her
best in retirement.”
— Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
