By Nathan Duke
Republican Dan Halloran won a seat on the City Council Tuesday after defeating Democrat Kevin Kim in an acrimonious race during which the candidates’ camps traded accusations of religious and racial discrimination.
Halloran, an Auburndale attorney, bested Kim, formerly deputy director of communications for U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside), following the hard-fought race to replace Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who ran in September’s Democratic primary for mayor.
The contest became especially heated in its final weeks amid allegations of racial divisiveness, religious discrimination, the harassment of campaign workers and the destruction of campaign signs.
Next door in Flushing, Democrat Yen Chou defeated Republican Peter Koo in the race to replace Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), who won the city comptroller’s race.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
