By Bill Parry
Joseph Risi, Jr. was elected chairman of Community Board 1 in Astoria Tuesday night. Risi, who served as the board’s executive secretary and the chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee, defeated first vice chairman George Stamatiades by a vote of 28-14.
Stamatiades had served as CB 1’s interim chairman since Vinicio Donato retired in April after 39 years as the CB 1 Chairman. Last month, the first vote to replace Donato ended in CB 1’s first-ever deadlock with each candidate receiving 20 votes.
Risi, an attorney and former Counsel to the late state Sen. George Onorato, said, “We have a wonderful group of specially skilled people. Hopefully we’re going going to work together, we’re going to make this not only Community Board No. 1, but the No. 1 community board.”
Florence Koulouris, who replaced Lucille Hartmann as district manager in September, said, “We’re all happy the vote is over and now we can start fresh.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
