By Sarina Trangle
State Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth) emerged from her first primary unscathed, garnering 75 percent of votes against an opponent making his initial run for political office.
The Associated Press reported her challenger, Dmytro Fedkowskyj, won about 25 percent of votes in Tuesday’s election as she captured three-quarters of the ballots cast.
The 16-year incumbent is all but guaranteed another term representing the 30th Assembly District, which includes Maspeth, Woodside and parts of Astoria, Long Island City, Middle Village and Sunnyside, because no major political party with ballot line status is running candidates against her. An independent candidate could challenge her in the Nov. 4 election.
Markey said in a statement, “I am grateful the voters overwhelmingly voiced their confidence in my service and want to see me back in Albany for a new term.”
Fedkowskyj, a Community Board 5 member, said he was pleased with his first foray into elected politics.
“I am proud of the campaign that we put together,” he said in a statement, which congratulated Markey, but also offered her advice. “Remember, the people of the 30th Assembly District need an Assembly member who is active, not absent, and I hope you will take that message to heart.”
Fedkowskyj initially touted his collaborative work on the city Panel for Educational Policy and District 24 City Education Council. But late in the campaign he said Markey had grown complacent and failed to have a real presence in the communities she represents.
Markey’s team countered that Fedkowskyj seemed unfamiliar with the boundaries of the district by accusing her of staying silent on issues in schools outside her territory.
Her campaign touted the experience it said helped her ascend to sit on the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee and serve as chairwoman of the chamber’s Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development.
Her spokesman, Michael Armstrong, said her role on the Ways and Means Committee helped her secure funding for local groups and initiatives that other legislators struggled to access.
Roughly 2,500 voters cast ballots, according to the AP.
While leaving PS 49 in Middle Village, Michael Rimanich said he voted for the incumbent along with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his lieutenant governor pick.
“I guess I’m just familiar with their work,” he said.
Outside the same poll site, Jason Elorriaga said he supported Fedkowskyj because he liked his education ideas.
“I like to see shake-ups within the party sometimes,” he said.
Markey enjoyed the backing of the Queens Democratic Party, several elected officials and a slew of unions.
Fedkowskyj was endorsed by the city Fire Marshals Benevolent and National Latino Officers associations, CEC leaders and the Kids Political Action Committee, comprised of public school parents.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
