Democrat Elizabeth Crowley was reelected to Queens City Council District 30.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Crowley defeated Republican challenger Tom Ognibene 59 percent to 41 percent. Crowley credited the stark contrasts between hers and Ognibene’s priorities for her victory.
“If you ask the community, healthcare and education are the top priorities,” said Crowley in a previous interview with The Queens Courier. “My opponent has been completely out of touch with that.”
The election featured two candidates familiar with each other’s work and campaign tactics with each candidate accusing the other of running negative campaigns.
“My opponent has made some personal attacks,” said Ognibene. “I don’t know why it has to dissolve into that kind of debate.”
However, Crowley maintained that Ognibene did not have the pulse of the community and didn’t understand their priorities.
“I feel he’s just totally out of touch,” she said.
After his Election Night defeat, Ognibene said he’s happy with the campaign he ran, and that he understood and recognized the decision of the people.
“The people saw no rationale for change,” Ognibene told The Queens Courier. “They have her, and I hope she lives up to the commitment she made to the community.”
Ognibene also said he believed the age difference between him and his opponent might have played a crucial role and that this will probably be his last stab at public office.
“People want someone younger with more energy,” he said. “I will not run again for public office.”
Both candidates were out earlier in the day monitoring voter turnout and engaging in some last minute stumping. Crowley credited the balmy November weather for what she perceived as a decent voter turnout.
“We’re lucky the weather is so nice,” said Crowley. “The people of the community are coming out to vote.”
Both candidates based their campaigns on the strength their respective records, with Ognibene serving as District 30’s City Councilmember from 1992 to 2001, and Crowley representing District 30 since January of this year.
“My record as Councilmember shows that we work around the clock,” said Crowley. “In a short amount of time, I’ve been able to get real results.”
