By Naeisha Rose
City Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) captured the most votes to once again be the Democratic contender for District 27 against two challengers in the November election.
He defeated Anthony Rivers, a retired U.S. Marine who served the NYPD for 23 years in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn and eventually retired as a lieutenant.
With 79.6 percent of the votes counted, Miller piled up 78.7 percent to 21.3 percent for River, according to preliminary results from the Associated Press.
Throughout the day both candidates did a lot of last-minute campaigning for the City Council seat.
Miller voted at Campus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights at 8 a.m., and at 12:30 p.m. he took his mother to vote at PS 36 in St. Albans.
Rivers further outlined his campaign platform on Queens Public Access TV on Monday and Tuesday.
Even before Miller learned the results he had a lot to say to his constituents in Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens and St. Albans.
“We accomplished so much together in just under four years,” Miller said. “We changed the narrative about southeast Queens. More people here are working – we enjoy the lowest unemployment rate anywhere in New York City. Our schools succeed – all of them.”
“We are addressing chronic flooding – we secured nearly $2 billion – two thirds of the entire city sewers budget. We made our communities safer. We protected thousands of good paying union jobs – school bus drivers and attendants, and building service, school custodial, and grocery store workers. We passed paid sick leave. Let’s continue to make a difference together with proven leadership that delivers for us at City Hall.”
Miller’s victory party was at the Lavish Venue, which is located at 114-69 Farmers Blvd., St. Albans.
Miller’s platform consisted of tackling transit issues, job creation, and homeownership for millenials as well as mitigating flooding in his district.
His contender fought to keep out an overabundance of shelters in the district, prevent co-locations in area high schools, better air quality and to put a stop to gentrification.
Miller will have to face off against Green Party candidate Frank Francois and Republican contender Rupert Green in the general election Nov. 7.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
