At least two candidates have emerged for the term-limited Robert Holden’s 30th City Council District seat in 2025. Holden himself would like to see Daniel Kurzyna, his chief of staff, join the race, too.
Holden, a known long-time civic leader and Democrat serving in the public eye for decades, faces the end of his term-limited time as City Council Representative for D-30 at the end of next year.
Candidates looking to take up the mantle of Holden’s City Council spot have made their claims known in recent months, with UFT Political Action Coordinator Dermot Smyth and Republican challenger Jonathan Rinaldi gunning for the seat.
However, Holden told City and State magazine on July 19 that he believes Kurzyna ought to make a run to succeed him.
QNS confirmed Holden’s remarks and asked Kurzyna for comment on the preemptive endorsement.
“I think I have the qualifications for it,” Kurzyna told QNS, adding that he is strongly considering running for the council seat.
Should he decide to run, Kurzyna said he would do so as a Republican candidate.
In 2017, when Holden (a conservative Democrat) secured his victory against two-term incumbent Elizabeth Crowley for D-30, he had obtained a Wilson Pakula certificate in September — allowing him to run on the Republican party line.
His experience as a civic leader helped Holden earn the GOP party line and take the seat away from Crowley, who lost even after beating him by 64% in the Democratic primary. Crowley called the defeat a “bait and switch.”
Holden’s approval of Kurzyna’s potential run already garnered phone calls from civic leaders and other known allies in the district.
Kurzyna, a father, husband and the youngest potential candidate, would follow a history of other city council staffers who rose to the city council member position.
Other notable Queens Council Members who climbed up from city council staffing positions include Joann Ariola and Lynn Schulman, among many other legislatures. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is another example of a recent legislators with staffer backgrounds.
In the 30th District’s history, when Republican Tom Ognibene was term-limited from the City Council in 2001, he was succeeded by his chief of staff, Dennis Gallagher.
Kurzyna already holds years of service with Holden, and if he runs, will likely champion much of Holden’s agenda.
Kurzyna has not yet shared outright if he will begin a campaign for Holden’s seat, but insisted he would need to discuss the possibility with his wife before officially entering the race.
