By Steve Mosco
A familiar face is set to step back into the Queens political arena.
According to a report in the New York Post, former state Assemblywoman and City Councilwoman Melinda Katz announced she would run for borough president next year in a crowded field that could potentially include Councilmen Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst).
Katz, 49, is a Forest Hills Democrat and recently told the Post she is currently putting together a team and “knows the job well.” She also said she has hired a political consultant and plans to begin fund-raising within a few weeks.
She served as councilwoman in the 29th Council District and as a state assemblywoman in the 28th Assembly District. She ran for Congress in 1998, losing to Anthony Weiner in a close race, and was the only female candidate in a 2009 primary for city comptroller, finishing third in a four-way race.
Katz left politics in 2009 to work at Greenberg Traurig, a Manhattan law firm where she specializes in several fields, including government affairs and zoning. The former Queens lawmaker has been linked to radio personality and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, with whom she has two children via in-vitro fertilization.
Whichever candidate wins an election will succeed incumbent Helen Marshall, who has served as borough president for three terms but will leave in 2013 due to term limits.
Reach reporter Steve Mosco by e-mail at smosco@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
