Koo challenges Stavisky for Senate

Democratic Senator Toby Ann Stavisky will likely face her most formidable challenge for her Senate seat as she faces off against Republican candidate, businessman Peter Koo, in the 16th Senate District that encompasses northern and central Queens.
Owner of a chain of pharmacies in Flushing and president of the Flushing Chinese Business Association, Koo said he would do a better job of addressing problems constituents face in areas like the economy, healthcare and education.
The reason, Koo said, is that although he lacks political experience, he has a stronger record of serving the community than Stavisky.
Koo noted he’s a founding member of the Flushing Business Improvement District and the LaGuardia Community College Foundation, to which he said he’s contributed more than $100,000 for a scholarship because as an immigrant who worked his way through college in the U.S. he understands the difficulties of affording education.
Koo added that he sits on the board and regularly donated funds to the American Cancer Society.
“My incumbent hasn’t done much,” Koo charged.
“He [Koo] ought to talk about himself and his qualities. People have to judge me on what I’ve done,” Stavisky responded, explaining that she’s sponsored many pieces of legislation benefiting her constituents.
Stavisky noted that she is the main co-sponsor of legislation that prevented the exploitation of college students by discouraging special deals between lenders and admissions offices. Stavisky serves on the Senate’s Education Committee and she’s the Ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Higher Education Committee.
Stavisky also noted that together with other Senate members she’s tried to prevent Medicaid waste and to increase health care access for uninsured people and seniors. “We’ve tried to increase the number of state programs to cover more people,” she explained.
Stavisky said she’s also trying to boost the local economy by working with the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to persuade the community and the City Council to support the Willets Point project. About a year ago, the EDC proposed a plan to develop the Willets Point site with shops, restaurants, housing units, office space and a convention center. This project would create many jobs and encourage development, Stavisky said.
She pointed out that together with Representative Carolyn Maloney she currently supports legislation before the Senate that would provide paid leave for workers caring for sick family members or bonding with a newly born or adopted child.
Stavisky’s longevity in office is not necessarily a positive thing, Koo said. “I don’t owe anybody favors. Incumbents owe a lot of favors to unions and interest groups.”
“The only people I owe an obligation to are my constituents,” Stavisky replied.