By Rich Bockmann
City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) all but assured himself his first full term in office after easily winning Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary.
Richards, who has held the seat since wining a special election in February, earned 51.6 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press with 99 percent of the precincts reporting.
Michael Duncan, who had previously worked alongside Richards in then-Councilman James Sanders’ office, followed Richards with 36.4 percent of the vote, according to the AP.
Duncan pulled in fewer than half the votes Richards received in the special election earlier this year, when he bested Pesach Osina, a leader in the Rockaway’s Orthodox Jewish community, by just 79 votes. Osina has since gone to work in Richards’ office and did not run this time around.
Public accountant Ricardo Brown received 11.9 percent of the vote, the AP reported.
Richards will face Republican Sherie Murray in the Nov. 5 general election. Registered Democrats in the 31st Council District, which covers Rosedale, Laurelton and parts of Springfield Gardens and the Rockaways, outnumber Republicans 15 to 1.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
