By Rich Bockmann
Two southeast Queens parent groups will host an education debate Monday featuring five of the candidates vying to replace City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), who must leave his post in City Hall next year because of term limits.
“Leroy Comrie gave a lot of money to the schools, especially through his [capital] funding, but we’re still finding the schools in District 29 are not what they should be,” said Alicia Hyndman, of the Community Education Council for District 29, which will host the forum along with District 28’s CEC.
“We want to have a chance to find out about the candidates and see what they have to say about how will they improve the schools,” she added. “Do they even know what networks are? Some parents don’t even know. We want to see if they have any real, concrete plans to turn the district around.”
Networks are teams of educators that provide operational and instructional support to schools, and have been a controversial hallmark of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s educational policies.
TimesLedger Newspapers is sponsoring the debate, which will start at 7 p.m. at the Campus Magnet Complex in Cambria Heights, at 207-01 116th Ave. The district covers St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Baisley Park, Addisleigh Park and parts of Queens Village, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens.
As of Wednesday, five out of seven Democratic candidates had confirmed they would attend the meeting, Hyndman said.
Manny Caughman, a staffer in state Assemblyman William Scarborough’s (D-Jamaica) office and Community Board 12 member, recently picked up the endorsement of the Queens Democratic Party.
Joan Flowers is an attorney and Democratic operative who has worked with U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) and state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis).
Greg Mays is chairman of CB 12’s Parks Committee and the founder of the A Better Jamaica nonprofit.
I. Daneek Miller is president of the Amalgamated Transportation Union’s Local 1056, which represents Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus drivers and mechanics working in Queens. He has built a long list of labor endorsements.
Sondra Peeden worked for late Council members Juanita Watkins and Tom White Jr. as well as former Councilman David Weprin. She started her own management consulting firm and works part-time in Councilman Ruben Wills’ (D-Jamaica) office.
Bryan Block, chairman of CB 13, had still not confirmed his attendance and Hyndman said she had not heard from accountant Joseph Marthone, who last ran against Meeks for Congress.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
