20 FEBRUARY 4, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
EDUCATION
UFT endorses Holden for City Council
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Councilman Robert Holden has
secured the endorsement of the
United Federation of Teachers
(UFT), the infl uential teachers union
announced on Jan. 26.
Holden, who currently represents
City Council District 30, is up for reelection.
“Robert Holden’s dedication to his
community has been proven throughout
his career. He is a staunch advocate
for children and has earned our
endorsement because of his commitment
to public education,” said Michael
Mulgrew, UFT’s president.
Holden said he’s “honored” to receive
the endorsement from UFT.
“Our city’s educators have the most
vital responsibility for New York’s
most precious resource: our young
people. We have always asked so much
from our educators, but this pandemic
has been especially trying. Despite
these new challenges, they have never
given up on our students,” Holden said.
“I appreciate the hard work of educators
more than ever, including the many
teachers who live in this district.”
The former professor is an advocate
of education issues in the district and
the whole city. He’s a supporter of the
Specialized High School Admissions
Test (SHSAT) as well as the city’s Gift ed
and Talented program. Holden has also
positioned himself as a vocal critic of
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor
Richard Carranza’s education
policies.
“As a retired educator, I know the
importance of quality education in a
young person’s life and have always
made it a point to regularly visit all
the schools in my district,” Holden said.
“In my second term, I will continue to
provide funding to enhance education
and work with the UFT to ensure that
our schools are places where both
our educators and our students can
succeed.”
Holden has represented District
30 since 2018, aft er he beat former
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley in
the general election where he ran in
various GOP party lines. Holden is
a registered Democrat and will run
in this year’s Democratic primary in
June.
There is one other Democrat vying
for Holden’s seat: Juan Ardila, a Maspeth
native who’s received endorsements
from the Working Families
Party, state Senators Jessica Ramos and
Michael Gianaris, Brooklyn City Councilman
Brad Lander, among others.
City Council District 30 encompasses
the Queens neighborhoods of
Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle
Village, Woodhaven and Woodside.
UFT also endorsed a slate of candidates
for some other 2021 primary
elections in Queens, including Queens
Borough President Donovan Richards,
Sandra Ung for City Council District
20, Councilman Francisco Moya for
City Council District 21, Shekar Krishnan
for City Council District 25 and
Adrienne Adams for City Council
District 28.
Councilman Robert Holden Courtesy of Holden’s offi ce
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