By Courtney Dentch
State Assemblywoman Michele Titus (D-Far Rockaway) beat out five candidates by capturing nearly half of the votes in Tuesday’s primary to earn the Democratic nomination in November’s general election.
Two other southeast Queens incumbents, Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-South Ozone Park) and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans) also overcame Democratic challengers, according to unofficial election results from NY1.
Titus received 43 percent of the vote in the district, which covers South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway and Laurelton.
Among her opponents, Richmond Hill activist Taj Rajkumar, who raised more money than any of the other candidates in the race, was the runner-up with 19 percent, according to unofficial results reported by NY1.
Former Bronx assistant district attorney Charles Pringle Jr. received 11 percent, the Rev. Henrietta Fullard got 10 percent, former state Senate staffer Bryan Block attracted 10 percent, and Rockaways real estate agent Michael Duvalle drew 8 percent of the votes, according to NY1.
Titus will go on to face Republican candidate Marina Rejas in the general election. Block has already been endorsed by the Conservative Party, but he had not decided whether he would pursue the race in November, he said Tuesday night.
Neither Titus nor the other candidates could be reached for comment.
Elsewhere in southeast Queens Meeks handily beat challenger Rey Clarke, a 26-year Far Rockaway resident and businessman. Meeks received nearly 22,000 votes, or 79 percent, while Clarke got 5,867, or 21 percent of the votes. Meeks’s congressional district covers Jamaica, Laurelton, Queens Village and Richmond Hill.
“I am somewhat disappointed with the numbers, considering he didn’t campaign or anything,” Clarke said of Meeks.
Cook, whose Assembly district includes Jamaica, South Jamaica, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens and Rochdale Village, beat Rachel Gordon, who runs Business Leaders of Tomorrow, a non-profit youth organization. Cook got 5,308 votes, or 78 percent, and Gordon received 1,508 votes, or 22 percent.
Neither Meeks nor Cook has opponents for November’s general election. Clarke has considered challenging Meeks on the Independent ticket in the general election, but he will not try to change parties, he said Tuesday night.
“The numbers speak loud and clear,” Clarke said. “I don’t think it would be wise of me to change parties.”
At PS 223 in South Jamaica, voter turnout was good, but that school usually reports high activity, a poll worker there said.
Despite the turnout, one campaign worker for Pringle was worried that some people may have abstained from voting because of the counting mishaps in the 2000 presidential election.
“Some people may have been turned away by the Bush election,” said Sean McGee, “but the people who want their voice heard, those are the people who are actively coming out to vote.”
At PS 124 in South Ozone Park, the polls were quieter, and turnout was low Tuesday afternoon, but traffic was expected to pick up as people returned home from work, a poll worker said.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 138.
