Five Democrats are competing in the primary for City Council District 19, which represents Little Neck, Bayside, Douglaston, North Flushing, Whitestone, Auburndale and College Point.
John Duane, a Little Neck attorney, served in the state Assembly in the 1980s for one two-year term and touted one bill he passed – the Vietnam Veterans Tuition Assistance Law – throughout his City Council run.
Flushing’s Paul Graziano has worked for nearly two decades as an urban planning consultant on downzoning, preserving the character of northeast Queens neighborhoods and protecting historic buildings and landmarks.
Austin Shafran grew up in Bayside and worked most recently as vice president of public relations for Empire State Development. Throughout the race, Shafran called on his experience working for various former federal and state elected Democrats.
Paul Vallone, a Flushing attorney, was the county Democratic Party’s pick for the City Council seat and based much of his campaign on improving public safety and restoring integrity to the northeast Queens district.
Auburndale’s Chrissy Voskerichian served as chief-of-staff for embattled Councilman Dan Halloran, but said her greatest role in his office was running an inclusive and exceptional constituent services operation.
