By Naeisha Rose
Voters came out in big numbers in southeast Queens, ushering Adrienne Adams into the history books and keeping I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) in public office with landslide victories in their respective City Council races.
Adams became the first woman to represent Jamaica in Council District 28, with 14,027 votes, or 86 percent of the 16,276 ballots cast, according to WNYC.
Miller (D-St. Albans) secured his seat with 22,731 votes, or 95 percent out of the 23,903 vote total in District 27, according to WNYC.
A total of 40,179 votes were tallied in the two districts.
Together Adams and Miller accounted for 36,758 votes in their favor. District 28 covers Rochdale Village, South Ozone Park and parts of Jamaica, while Dustrict 27 includes Queens Village, Hollis, Cambria Heights and St. Albans.
Powell, a public defender who was close to stealing Adams’ thunder in the September primary for the Democratic nomination, went up against her again in the general election as a Working Families candidate and received 1,379 votes, or 8.5 percent of votes. Ivan Mossop, a tax accountant turned GOP candidate, had 870 votes, or 5.3 percent of the votes.
Miller’s competitors, Green Party candidate Francois received 743 votes, or 3.1 percent of the total, and Republican candidate Green got 429 votes, or 1.8 percent of the votes.
Residents who went to PS 80 in Rochdale were mostly middle-aged adults who voted in what is now Adams’ district, according to poll workers. About 20 people arrived as early as 6 a.m. to vote. But some voters were confused as to where their polling site was, according to poll inspector Inez Lewis. Many assumed that when PS 354, a nearby school going through construction, was not available that they should go to PS 80.
Lewis wished they had remembered to bring their voter cards so that nothing would hold up the voting process.
“The people need to be told to bring those cards, because they don’t know where to go,” Lewis said.
At PS 34 in Queens Village there were over 2,000 votes cast and at PS 80 in Rochdale close to 1,300 voters showed up.
Elderly residents who went to PS 34 shuffled into the elementary school with walkers and canes in the morning and early afternoon hours, braving the bitter cold to vote in Miller’s district, according to poll workers.
Other voters in Queens Village included parents who wanted to teach their kids about voting, workers coming off the twilight shift and others who wanted to get their vote in before they had to rush off to work, according to Mari-Yon Pringle, the poll booth coordinator for that site.
“The elderly often come early to avoid the cold and dark,” Pringle said.
Both victors celebrated their wins at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Jamaica with Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton).
“Thanks to all of my supporters, friends and family for your love and strength as we crossed the finish line to victory today!” Adams said. “There is much work to do, but together as one unified district and fortified southeast Queens community, we will move forward!”
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
