By Phil Corso
Former state Assemblyman Rory Lancman earned himself a new job in government Tuesday after winning the general election to replace the term-limited City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows).
Lancman beat out Republican Alexander Blishteyn and Values candidate Mujib U. Rahman with 74.8 percent out of the 68 percent precincts reporting, the AP reported.
Blishteyn came in second with 19.8 percent while Rahman collected 5.4 percent of the votes, preliminary results showed.
The victory sealed a spot in government for Lancman one year after he vacated his Assembly seat, handing him the keys to the borough’s 24th District in the City Council, which includes Flushing, Fresh Meadows and Jamaica. Lancman’s platform included staunch opposition to co-locating charter schools with public schools and he has also came out in support of affordable housing in his district. He also backed two recent bills in the Council setting out to limit the Police Department’s use of the controversial stop-and-frisk practices.
Lancman made a run for Congress during his final months as a member of the state Assembly, ultimately losing in a Democratic primary to now U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing).
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
