By Adam Kramer
The TimesLedger Newspapers and six northeast Queens civic associations will sponsor a debate for the Democratic candidates for Queens borough president and candidates for City Councilman Sheldon Leffler’s (D-Hollis) seat.
The debate will take place Tuesday, May 15, at the Bellerose Jewish Center at 254th Street and Union Turnpike in Floral Park. The debate will begin at 7:30 p.m. and end by 10 p.m.
TimesLedger Newspapers Publisher Steve Blank will co-moderate the program and pose questions to each of the candidates about their views on what needs to be accomplished in Queens and District 23 during the next few years.
The candidates for Queens borough president who are scheduled to appear are Leffler, Queens’ former Board of Education representative Carol Gresser, City Councilwoman Helen Marshall (D-East Elmhurst), state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway), City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) and Community activist Haydee Zambrana.
The three candidates hoping to succeed Leffler are Bernice Siegal, former legal counsel to Leffler; David Weprin, son of the late state Assembly Speaker Saul Weprin and brother of state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Bayside); and political newcomer Jairam D. Thakral.
The civic associations co-sponsoring the event are North Bellerose Civic Association, the Bellerose Commonwealth Civic Association, Creedmoor Civic Association, Bellerose Hillside Civic Association, Rocky Hill Civic Association and the Queens Colony Civic Association.
For more information about the debate, call the North Bellerose Civic Association at 343-6779.
