By Phil Corso
A former City Council hopeful from Bayside signed on to a new job this week with the same party that endorsed him when he was running for public office.
Austin Shafran, who lost to Councilman-elect Paul Vallone in September’s Democratic primary, announced he would be joining the Working Families Party as its New York legislative director. He most recently served as a spokesman for Empire State Development and said he was excited to look ahead in his new role after a long and hard-fought Council run.
“The Working Families Party is a guiding force behind the principle — everybody counts or nobody counts — and I’m proud to be counted as a member of their team fighting to bring social and economic justice to millions of families,” Shafran said. “Whether it’s great schools for our children, good jobs for our workers or affordable housing and healthcare for all who need it, the WFP stands as a beacon of hope and pillar of progressive advocacy.”
Shafran previously held positions working for the City Council, Senate Democrats and for Gov. Andrew Cuomo in communications and policy. Now with the Working Families Party, Shafran said he would be working on issues, including public financing, fast food worker wages and civil justice initiatives.
“With common purpose and purposeful togetherness, I look forward to working with them to ensure the birthright of equality is a reality for all New Yorkers,” Shafran said.
Shafran came in second out of a crowded and sometimes contentious five-way Democratic primary for the northeast Queens 19th Council District seat currently held by embattled Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone), who is facing federal corruption charges.
Vallone, who won the nomination in that primary, bested Republican challenger Dennis Saffran in the general election, turning the Republican district over to the Democrats.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
