By Peter Sorkin
Democratic incumbents swept every race in Queens Tuesday for the state Assembly.
In the 24th Assembly District contest, Mark Weprin (D-Bayside) defeated Republican Philip Sica by a better than 2-to-one margin to serve his third term in Albany. His district covers northeastern Queens. Early returns showed Weprin with 18,608 votes to Sica's 7,264, according to unofficial returns from the Board of Elections.
Michael Cohen (D-Forest Hills) will serve his second term in the Assembly after defeating Republican challenger Michael Roemmelt 9,674 to 3,748 in the early count for the 28th Assembly District seat, which extends through parts of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Rego Park and Middle Village.
Incumbent William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) retained his seat for the 29th District after trouncing Independence Party candidate William Smith by a margin of 15,675 to 266. Scarborough's district covers southeastern Queens.
Another incumbent, Pauline Rhodd-Cummings (D-Far Rockaway) of the 31st Assembly District seat, which covers southeastern Queens, was victorious over Michael Duvalle, who ran on the Independence Party line. She had 11,951 votes to 413 for Duvalle in the early returns, the Board of Elections said.
Democratic district leader Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), who has served in the Assembly since 1987, defeated Robert Hutchinson, who ran on the Republican and Independence Party platforms by 13,470 to 2,124 in the first stage of ballot counting. Clark's district covers Queens Village.
Ivan Lafayette, whose district includes Corona, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst, defeated Republican and Conservative candidate Rafael Merino by 9,766 to 1,623. Lafayette will serve the 34th Assembly District for his 22nd term.
Democrat Michael Gianaris will be the first Greek-American to serve in the Assembly after beating back Vince Tabone, who ran on the Republican, Conservative and Right To Life lines. Less than two hours after the polls closed Gianaris had 12,953 votes to 4,976 for Tabone. His district covers Long Island City and Astoria. The seat was vacated after Denis Butler announced his retirement from the after serving 24 years in the Assembly.
Cathy Nolan (D-Ridgewood), who has been in the Assembly since 1985, defeated Republican challenger Alice Lemos, who also ran on the Conservative and Right-to-Life Party platforms. Nolan's margin of victory was 9,772 to 1,581 for Lemos. Her district covers Ridgewood, Woodside, Sunnyside and parts of Long Island City and Astoria.
Incumbent Anthony Seminario (D-Richmond Hill), whose district covers Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Woodhaven, prevailed over Republican Party candidate William Johnert for his sixth consecutive term in the Assembly by a margin of 13,256 to 4,072.
Of the 15 Queens races for assembly seats covered by the Times-Ledger, five candidates ran unopposed and will serve another two years, including Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing) from the 25th District, Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) from the 26th District Nettie Mayersohn (D-Fresh Meadows) from the 27th District.
Western Queens will see Margaret Markey (D-Elmhurst) from the 30th District returning to Albany as will Vivian Cook (D-South Ozone Park) from the 32nd District in southeastern Queens.
