H H H H H H PRIMARY VOTERS’ GUIDE 2021 H H H H H H
Visit PoliticsNY.com to Watch Debates & Learn More About Each Candidate
District 19
Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Beechhurst,
College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck,
Malba and Whitestone.
Current Council Member: Paul Vallone (term-limited)
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Adriana Aviles
Aviles was born to a Columbian
immigrant family and served
as an NYPD officer for 20
years. The mother of three
young children is currently the
president of the District 26 Community Education
Council and a member of Community Board 11.
(aviles4nyc.com)
Austin Shafran
Shafran got his start in public
service as the community
liaison for former U.S.
Congressman Gary Ackerman
and communications director
for then-NYC Council Finance Chair David
Weprin. The political consultant is the president
of Metropolitan Public Strategies. (austinshafran.
com)
Francis E.
Spangenberg
The lifelong District 19 resident
was introduced to the world of
politics back in college when he
interned for former State Senator Frank Padavan.
He worked as a teacher after graduating from
college and then entered the Police Academy
in 1986, eventually becoming a police officer.
(frankspangenberg.org)
Nabaraj KC
KC moved from Nepal in
2002 and spent the last
two decades dedicating his
life to community service.
Professionally, KC is an
entrepreneur and realtor. The College Point
resident is the assistant governor for Rotary
District 7255. (nabaraj2021.com)
Richard J. Lee
Lee grew up in a Korean-
American immigrant family
in Douglaston. He began in
public service by working
as an organizer with the
community-based organization Asian Americans
for Equality. He has fought for tenant protections,
affordable housing, small businesses, seniors and
immigration, among other causes. (richardlee.nyc)
Tony Avella
The former state senator is
making his return to politics
with his campaign for his
former City Council seat,
which he occupied from 2002
to 2009. Prior to his campaign, he served as the
state senator for District 11 from 2010 to 2018.
(tonyavellafornyc.com)
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
John-Alexander
Sakelos
Sakelos grew up in District 19
and is the owner of Flowers by
Peter. After college he became
a professional stage actor, primarily working on
Shakespeare productions and education theater.
He previously ran for State Assembly in District 26
and is running as a Republican and Conservative
for City Council. (john4ny.com)
Vickie Paladino
The lifelong Whitestone
resident is one of two
Republican candidates
running in the District 19
race. Previously, she ran as a
Republican in the State Senate race for District
26 on a platform of “law and order and fiscal
responsibility.” (vickiefornyc.com)
CONSERVATIVE PRIMARY
Dawn A. Anatra
Antara could not be reached
before press time. Little
public information about her
candidacy is available, as she
does not have a website or
social media presence. She currently resides in
Douglaston.
District 20
Downtown Flushing, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill
Current Council Member: Peter Koo (term-limited)
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Anthony Miranda
Miranda, a resident of Fresh
Meadows, has been a civil rights
and community advocate for
more than 25 years. Miranda
is a former NYPD sergeant and
helped establish the National Latino Officers
Association in 1996. (www.miranda4queens.com)
Dao Yin
Yin was born and raised in
China, and 25 years ago chose
Queens as his home where he
lives with his wife, two children
and their dog. Yin, the secretary
general of the Shanghai Association of America,
has been a community and business advocate ever
since. (www.daoyin.nyc)
Ellen Young
A former New York State
Assemblywoman, and the
first Asian-American woman
elected to office in the
state Legislature, Young is a
Taiwanese immigrant who’s called Queens home
for more than four decades. Young has worked
in politics for many years, including for various
law firms and current elected officials. (www.
ellenforny.com)
Hailing Chen
Chen immigrated from the
Fujian province of China at the
age of 14, and has since attended
East West International for
Studies in Flushing and worked
as an Uber driver to work his way through St.
John’s University. Chen has become an immigrant
rights advocate and has helped with COVID-19
relief efforts. (www.hailingchen.nyc)
John Choe
Choe, who was born in South
Korea and later immigrated
to New York as a teenager, is
a long-time community and
business advocate. Choe, an
adjunct professor at Queens College, has worked
in politics before as state Senator John Liu’s
former chief of staff. (www.johnchoe.nyc)
Ming-Kang Lao
Lao could not be reached
before press time. Little
public information about his
candidacy is available, as he
does not have a website or social
media presence.
Neng Wang
A Taiwan native, Wang came
to Queens in 1984 to study
at St. John’s University, and
then Hunter College where
he graduated in 1995 with
a master’s degree. Wang served as director of
the Chinese-American Planning Council before
retiring in 2019, and is a community business
advocate. (www.wangforflushing.com)
City Council races
/(nabaraj2021.com
/www.daoyin.nyc
/www.ellenforny.com
/www.ellenforny.com
/www.hailingchen.nyc
/www.johnchoe.nyc
/www.wangforflushing.com
/PoliticsNY.com
/(aviles4nyc.com
/(frankspangenberg.org
/www.miranda4queens.com
/(tonyavellafornyc.com
/(john4ny.com
/(vickiefornyc.com
/(www.miranda4queens.com)
/(www.daoyin.nyc)
/ellenforny.com
/(www.hailingchen.nyc)
/(www.johnchoe.nyc)
/(www.wangforflushing.com)
