By Nathan Duke
Republican Dan Halloran won a seat on the City Council Tuesday after defeating Republican Dan Halloran 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 community affairs for U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside), by 53 percent to 47 percent following the hard-fought race to replace Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who ran in the mayoral race.
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.
In addition, state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Little Neck) beat Republican Bob Friedrich by 67 percent to 30 percent in the race to replace his brother, Councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis), who opted to run in the September primary for the city comptroller’s race rather than seek a third Council term.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
