By Adam Kramer
As the hectic 2001 election season moved into the final stretch, the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Temple Sholom held a political breakfast to familiarize its members with candidates running for seats held by Councilman Sheldon Leffler (D-Hollis) and Councilwoman Julia Harrison (D-Flushing).
Philip Sica, the Republican vying for Leffler’s seat, told the crowd of more than 60 he decided to run because campaign matching funds made it possible. He said as a retiree he could devote all his time to the district unlike his opponent who will continue to practice law.
“Also I believe that there should be in the Council someone from the opposition,” he said. “I think it is important in our City Council — 51 members — that you should have people of the opposition. After all the Republican party has a Republican president, a Republican governor and a Republican state Senate, which could help our city and community.”
Turning to housing, a contentious issue in the 23rd Council District, which stretches from Glen Oaks to Queens Village and from Fresh Meadows to Little Neck, Sica said he is not in favor of adding more two- and three-family homes to the area. He said he would try to prevent the rezoning of the area for multiple-family dwellings.
Speaking after Sica had left the forum for another engagement, Democratic candidate David Weprin said even though he plans to continue work at his law firm, he can practice as much or as little law as he wants. He said his first concern would be to the district and his constituency.
“I think my financial background will be particularly helpful in light of the tragic events on Sept. 11,” Weprin said when asked about what he would bring to the Council. “My background — in particular — in underwriting bonds and examining the New York City budget — will help with the fiscal implications.”
He said if elected one of his priorities besides the budget would be to hire more police and firemen. Weprin said he also wants to figure out a way to give the police and fire departments as well as teachers a raise.
Graziano was the only candidate out of four hopefuls who showed up in the race for the Harrison seat that covers Flushing, Whitestone and Auburndale. Democrat John Liu and Republican Ryan Walsh never appeared at the Floral Park temple at 263-10 Union Turnpike even though they had told the event organizer, Ellen Plotkin, they would attend. It was not clear why Independence Party candidate Martha Flores-Vazquez was absent.
In the contest to replace Harrison there could be a number of firsts. Flores-Vazquez is vying to be the first Hispanic woman to be elected in the district, Graziano is trying to be the first Green party candidate elected to the Council, Liu could be the first Asian American elected to the body and Walsh might be the first Republican elected in the district in 50 years.
Graziano explained who the Greens were by saying they started more than 30 years ago and were a worldwide party with members in 80 countries.
When someone in the audience screamed that the Greens were all “environmentalist,” Graziano said the party does care about the environment but was also concerned with local issues such as zoning, construction and cleaning up Flushing Bay.
“I want to change zoning in certain parts of Flushing,” he said. “There are 150 blocks with 3,000 homes that I want to be rezoned to keep the one-family homes from getting torn down.”
City Councilwoman Helen Marshall (D-East Elmhurst) and Councilman Alfonse Stabile (R-Ozone Park), who are running for borough president, also turned out for the event in Floral Park.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
