Mayor de Blasio has set Tuesday, March 24 as the date of a special election for the post of Queens borough president.
Melinda
Katz, who would have been term-limited out of the post in 2021, vacated
the office on Wednesday when she was sworn in as Queens District
Attorney. Katz’s deputy, Sharon Lee, is serving as acting borough
president.
De Blasio made the announcement in a statement issued by his office just after 6 p.m. on Thursday.
“I encourage all eligible Queens
residents to vote in the upcoming special election, and I thank outgoing
Borough President Melinda Katz for her leadership and increasing the
World’s Borough’s diversity and dynamism, and wish her all the best in
her new role,” the mayor said.
The Queens County Democratic Committee
this past Monday endorsed City Councilman Donovan Richards
(D-Laurelton) for the post. The timing and manner in which the meeting
was conducted — it was scheduled at the party’s Forest Hills
headquarters at 8:30 a.m. on less than two days’ notice — drew criticism
from Councilmen Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and Costa Constantinides
(D-Astoria), who also are candidates along with former Councilwoman
Elizabeth Crowley and former police officer Anthony Miranda.
The candidates now have 12 days to gather the 2,000 signatures the need to get on the ballot.
Donnie's got this locked. de Blasio's decision shows that he's just as obeisant to the Queens Machine as he is to his real estate developer overlords
