By Phil Corso
A former state Assembly insider has rolled out her own efforts for Assemblyman Rory Lancman’s (D-Fresh Meadows) seat.
Nily Rozic, former chief of staff for Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan), said she had launched an exploratory committee to run for Lancman’s 25th District seat against fellow Democrat and Community Board 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece for the Democratic spot on the ticket. One of the two will go on to face Republican Abe Fuchs, of Kew Gardens, or Republican Party-backed William Garifal Jr. for the Assembly seat.
Rozic, 26, said she filed with the Board of Elections soon after she took a leave of absence from Kavanagh’s offices to focus on her campaign. The first-generation immigrant from Fresh Meadows was born in Jerusalem and served on CB 8 throughout the last year, working on the Education, Transportation and Land Use committees.
“The only thing that matters in this race is the people living and working in our community,” Rozic said. “I am focused on addressing the serious issues our neighbors from Fresh Meadows to Queensboro Hill face on a daily basis.”
Rozic formally announced her candidacy in the race for Assembly June 5 alongside family and friends in front of Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, where she graduated and still remains active in the alumni association.
Some of the most important issues that Rozic said would be her priority if elected to the Assembly are education, job creation, improving access to vital services for women and immigrants and protecting senior services from devastating cuts. She also said she hoped to influence the gender ratio in Albany.
“I have always believed in public service,” Rozic said. “I also very much believe in bringing more women into government. We can use more women in Albany to advocate for women’s issues.”
Rozic has not run for public office before. In 2009, Kevin Kim defeated Iannece in a Democratic primary for City Council in the district now represented by Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone).
Lancman, currently running for the 6th Congressional District, said he would endorse a candidate for his seat but has not yet made a decision. He also said he would not run for re-election in the Assembly if he is not elected to Congress.
The newly drawn Assembly district lines run from Flushing to Douglaston and also include most of Bayside Hills.
“It is my goal to enhance our quality of life to ensure a bright and prosperous future for our neighborhood,” Rozic said.
Rozic, who studied politics at New York University, said her nearly six years of experience working for an assemblyman were rewarding in providing her with hands-on experience. While working as Kavanagh’s chief of staff, Rozic said she focused on a range of issues from housing to the environment and helped pass more than a dozen bills through both houses of the state Legislature.
