The endorsement,…
By Chris Fuchs
In a move that greatly improves his chances of being elected, the Queens Democratic Party Friday endorsed 34-year-old John Liu for City Council, one of five Democrats running for the seat in Flushing held by Julia Harrison since 1986.
The endorsement, on the steps of the Flushing Library on Main Street, came almost two weeks after Liu received the backing of U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) and state Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing). In explaining his decision, Thomas Manton, a former congressman and chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, said his endorsement was not a particularly difficult one to make.
“It really wasn’t a tough choice,” he said. “He’s got the youth, he’s got the vigor, he’s got the integrity, he’s got the intelligence, he’s been very active in civic affairs right here in Queens. And, as we said in the presentation, he represents the future of Queens and the Democratic Party.”
This is the second time that Liu, a senior consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, is running for the Flushing council seat. In 1997, he and another Democratic candidate, Pauline Chu, ran against Harrison, both of whom lost to her in the primary. But with Harrison unable to run again because of term limits, the possibility of Liu’s being elected has increased considerably, potentially propelling him as the first Asian American on the city council.
“This increases the possibility of getting elected an infinite number of times,” Liu said. In addition to Liu, there are nine other Asian-American council candidates in Queens, three of whom are running against Liu: Ethel Chen and Terence Park, both Democrats, and Evergreen Chou, who is running under the Green Party. The non-Asian candidates include Martha Flores-Vazquez, Richard Jannaccio, Adrian Joyce, Linda Mandell — all Democrats — Harjinder Duggal,whose party affiliation was not immediately available, and Paul Graziano, a Green Party candidate.
Harrison, a Democrat, did not return a telephone message seeking comment about Liu’s endorsement and about whether she would back any candidate. But, along with the Queens Democratic Party’s endorsement comes a host of niceties, including volunteers who canvas neighborhoods to collect signatures for candidates’ petitions, attorneys versed in the complexities of election law, and financial support, to name but a few.
Liu also received the backing of U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), a congressman since 1998 when Manton, his predecessor, left government and personally installed him.
“I think in this district we have chosen the best,” Crowley said. “John is someone who represents a new generation, someone who is full of energy who wants, for the right reasons, to represent his community.”
Reach reporter Chris Fuchs by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 156.
