A total of 37 designating petitions — including documents from the 15…
By Courtney Dentch
Twenty-two challengers filed petitions with the city Board of Elections to get on the ballot for September’s primary elections in bids to unseat each of the 15 Queens council members.
A total of 37 designating petitions — including documents from the 15 incumbents — were submitted for the borough’s seats by last Thursday’s midnight deadline, according to Board of Elections records.
All 15 city council members of the Queens delegation are up for re-election this year due to the redistricting process that altered the political boundaries. Among the most dramatic change was the shift that brought Ridgewood under the representation of Councilwoman Diana Renya (D-Brooklyn).
The designating petitions required candidates to collect 900 signatures to get their name on the ballot for the September primary elections. Candidates vying for nomination from the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Independent and Working Families parties had to file by last Thursday.
Challengers running on other lines, such as the Green or Liberal parties, must collect 2,700 signatures by the Aug. 19 deadline.
Councilman Allan Jennings (D-Jamaica) has the most opposition, with five challengers lining up to take his seat. Three political hopefuls have signed on to face Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), while Council members John Liu (D-Flushing), Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside), Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton) and Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) have two opponents each.
Kim Ohanian, a Democrat who planned to run against Liu, bowed out of the race.
Although others may still enter the race next month, petition records show four council members apparently are unopposed.
The following candidates filed designating petitions by the midnight deadline last Thursday, Board of Elections records state.
District 19: Councilman Tony Avella (D/WF-Bayside)
Philip Ragusa (R/I/C)
District 20: Councilman John Liu (D/I/WF -Flushing)
Jay Liu (D)
Issac Sasson (D)
District 21: Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D/I/WF-Corona)
Luis Jimenez (D)
District 22: Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria)
District 23: Councilman David Weprin (D/WF-Hollis)
William Horowitz (R/C)
District 24: Councilman James Gennaro (D/WF-Fresh Meadows)
Florence Fisher (D)
Walter Lamp (C)
David Reich (D)
District 25: Councilwoman Helen Sears (D-Jackson Heights)
District 26: Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside)
Patrick Hurley (R/C)
Walter Iwachiu (R/D)
District 27: Councilman Leroy Comrie (D/I/WF-St. Albans)
Helen Cooper-Gregory (D)
Stephen Jackson (D)
District 28: Councilman Allan Jennings (D/C-Jamaica)
Stephen Jones (D)
Garth Marchant (D)
Yvonne Reddick (D)
Inderjit Singh (D/I)
Carolyn Younger-Nolan (R)
District 29: Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D/WF-Forest Hills)
Jon Branning (D)
District 30: Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R/C-Middle Village)
District 31: Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D/I-Laurelton)
James Blake (D)
Everly Brown (R/D/C)
District 32: Councilman Joe Addabbo Jr. (D/WF-Howard Beach)
Richard Iritano (R)
Michael Mossa (R/C)
District 34: Councilwoman Diana Reyna (D-Ridgewood)
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
