More than a few Democratic candidates — many with 30 years or more experience working for local politician or grassroots organizations — are vying to replace City Councilwoman Juanita Watkins (D-Laurelton), who is barred from…
By Betsy Scheinbart
First of a two-part report
More than a few Democratic candidates — many with 30 years or more experience working for local politician or grassroots organizations — are vying to replace City Councilwoman Juanita Watkins (D-Laurelton), who is barred from re-election this year due to term limits.
The district covers a huge swath of southeast Queens and the Rockaways, including Laurelton, Rosedale, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Edgemere, Bayswater, parts of Springfield Gardens, Cambria Heights and South Ozone Park.
Democrats James Blake, Amanda Clarke, Sikiru Fadairo, the Rev. Henrietta Fullard, David Hooks, Carol Howell, Charlotte Jefferson, Edward Lewis, Rosalind O’Neal and James Sanders Jr. are competing to succeed Watkins, who was first elected in 1992.
Two other candidates, Everly Brown and Janey Moran, have registered with the city’s Campaign Finance Board but could not be reached by press time.
“There are a lot of good candidates,” said Watkins, who is supporting Blake.
Blake, who teaches at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, said his top priorities for the district include improving education, community and economic development, senior citizens’ programming and youth development.
“It is projected that 50 percent of (city) students will not pass their Regents exams,” Blake said. “We are in the midst of an education crisis.”
Blake, a longtime Laurelton resident and Queens native, is the founder and president of the Varied Internship Program, which places high school students with local employers.
Amanda Clarke is a Democratic district leader and Laurelton resident who has worked with several southeast Queens politicians, including U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans).
Clarke, a public high school teacher, said young people are her top priority. She is also concerned about profanity in public.
“I want to find a way that if people are using all sorts of profanity … they would be given a summons,” Clarke said. “I find it very offensive.” Clarke would also like public noises reduced, particularly airport noise, and more action taken to contain flooding.
Sikiru Fadairo is a professor at the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and has worked on the campaigns of several city candidates, including City Councilwoman Una Clarke (D-L-Brooklyn).
Fadairo was born in Nigeria and now lives in Springfield Gardens. His top priorities for the district are improving education, senior services and health care.
“Ever since I came here about 25 years ago, I have looked at our quality-of-life decline,” Fadairo said. “Rather than sit on the sidelines, I feel it is important to get involved.”
The Rev. Henrietta Fullard is pastor of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Arverne, where she lives. She said her work helping members of her congregation recently drew her into politics.
“They needed a strong voice that could express their issues and concerns,” Fullard said.
As the former principal of the Campus Magnet Schools of Math and Science in Cambria Heights, education reform is particularly important to Fullard. Also high on her list are job training for teens and adults as well as affordable housing.
David Hooks is a Far Rockaway resident who works for the State University of New York’s Queens Educational Opportunities Building in Jamaica. He has also worked on the campaigns of U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans) and several other southeast Queens legislators.
He said his key priorities are reducing crime, improving education and taking a serious look at capital spending. He thinks parents should be more involved in their children’s schools.
“We need to take the schools back and give them to the people that use them on a day-to-day basis,” Hooks said.
Carol Howell is a school paraprofessional who lives in Laurelton. She ran for state Assembly last fall against incumbent Pauline Rhodd-Cummings (D-Far Rockaway) and fought to stop a multiplex from being constructed in Springfield Gardens.
She said she wants to improve education and transportation and help prevent flooding.
“The transportation in this area is not what it should be,” Howell said. “The only thing that is focused on is getting to Manhattan, but if you want to get from one end of Queens to the other, you need a car.”
The remaining candidates for the 31st Council District seat will be featured next week in Part II.
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call (718) 229-0300, Ext. 138.
