By Phil Corso
Certain words and phrases were thrown around endlessly throughout the campaign as five Democratic contenders for the northeast City Council seat vied to win the primary: quality of life, over-development and integrity, to name a few.
The same themes were deeply rooted in questions posed to candidates throughout countless public forums and debates, leaving a clear picture of what is at stake for Queens voters in the beleaguered district come Election Day.
Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) was elected in 2009 to represent neighborhoods including Little Neck, Bayside, Douglaston, North Flushing, Whitestone, Auburndale and College Point.
But after being named in a federal corruption indictment accusing him of trying to help Democratic state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis) get into the mayoral race as a Republican, the embattled councilman announced he would not seek re-election so he can focus on clearing his name.
The early April legal drama made headlines just as the field of Democrats hoping to challenge Halloran for the seat was growing. That number capped out at five candidates: Little Neck attorney John Duane, Flushing urban planning consultant Paul Graziano, former Empire State Development spokesman Austin Shafran, Flushing attorney and Queens Democratic Party-backed Paul Vallone and former Halloran chief of staff Chrissy Voskerichian.
The five clashed at several formal debates in the weeks leading up to the Sept. 10 primary, but the questions became more predictable with every passing forum.
The words “quality of life” became staples of each candidates’ pitch to voters, underscoring the value northeast Queens puts on its residential landscape. A laundry list of issues facing the district boiled down to that same concept, whether it was considering the construction of a new elementary school in the heart of Bayside, putting electrical lines underground or fighting to silence airplane noise as it grows louder overhead.
Tied into that same concern was the issue of over-development and the battle to keep it from altering district’s neighborhoods. In fact, an entire public forum at the Bayside Historical Society in late August centered around land use, curbing over-development and promoting landmarking, as each of the Democrats was asked how they planned on fighting to preserve the character of the district.
The Council hopefuls were also queried about how they expected to preserve funding for historical institutions. Some borough activists, including Graziano, have noted some difficulties in working with Halloran to have certain buildings preserved throughout the district, highlighting their intentions to change the tide if elected.
But most of all, restoring the district’s reputation and minimizing the scars left by Halloran’s departure became paramount to all five Democrats eyeing the seat. Voters often referred to the incumbent’s turbulent final months in office in questions to the candidates, showing a newfound weariness as a result of the scandal.
One way or the other, the five candidates running for the Democratic line were put through intense public scrutiny on their platforms in light of the recent scandal to hit the district. And the countless questions floated throughout the race on issues affecting the quality of life in Queens showed what residents held most precious when deciding who was worthy of the seat, and they will take those sentiments into the voting booth.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
