With incumbent Robert Holden term-limited, there is already one Democrat looking for the party’s nomination to succeed him as the 30th City Council District representative in 2025.
Dermot Smyth, a Democratic contender running for New York City Council District 30, has made his platform known in recent months as Queens soon enters the final year of current term-limited legislators.
As an educator, United Federation of Teachers political strategist and family man, Smyth aims to promote the needs of Queens neighbors while addressing a tough financial economy, public safety and public education in his campaign.
“It’s going to be a potentially turbulent year,” Smyth told QNS, acknowledging the political challenges facing the city next year and the abundance of expected vacant council seats. “I believe I can make a difference as a strong advocate for each of the neighborhoods in this district.”
Smyth, living in parts of the district for over 30 years, has gathered a strong display of legislative support from fellow democrats in Queens, including the endorsement of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
The borough president said his familiarity with Smyth’s work with the UFT demonstrated the candidate’s ability to work with elected officials and city agencies while advocating for the community.
“His knowledge of city government, and his vast experience working with leaders across the borough and city make him the very best candidate to take on this role in the City Council,” Richards said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting Dermot in this race, and working with him once elected.”
QNS had the chance to speak with Smyth one-on-one about his run for Holden’s seat, and his take on key issues facing legislators in the community.
‘A lobbyist for your district’
Smyth has served as a UFT political strategist for 15 years, lobbying for the support of teachers and students in the city council. The UFT is the largest teacher’s union in New York City and one of the largest in the country, representing hundreds of thousands of education professionals.
His role in the UFT exposed Smyth to political life and what he describes as a more activist-centered approach to the city council — one that he believes needs to change.
“I think sometimes people run on a more activist basis for their own political agenda, get themselves in and they advocate for way beyond the purview of a city council member,” Smyth shared.
It is through “lobbying” that Smyth hopes to change the recent status quo of residents wanting to leave New York due to a challenging financial climate.
“People should be running in this city for City Council and local seats, to basically be the lobbyist,” Smyth shared, recognizing that the act of lobbying can carry negative connotations. “But you’re basically being a lobbyist for your district and to advocate for what’s in the best interest of the communities that live here.”
Smyth said he wants to ensure the issues he addresses are pertinent to the community rather than outside issues that tend to “muddy the waters” for the public and in political campaigns.
A main topic of conversation from Smyth centered around affordability and a growing departure from residents who feel as though their communities are being forced out.
“Young people very often cannot afford to stay here and that’s why we have to focus on many of these jobs and career paths that they go into,” Smyth said, further pressing that the city has become far too expensive for regular folks.
Smyth also mentioned the blue-collar workers and their need to have communities to call their long-term home, especially those in the district.
“If you’re a police officer, firefighter, teacher, nurse or in sanitation, very often you’re coming from these communities and you want to be able to stay in them,” Smyth shared.
Public safety and mental health
One of the many issues on the minds of D-30 residents, public safety found its way to the forefront of conversations.
With the ongoing issues surrounding unregistered e-bikes and concerns over their use by reckless drivers, Smyth said it is a perfect example of why legislators need to weigh all the consequences of enacting a law.
“When we pass laws or come up with these new regulations, they need to be looked at with a more mature, responsible eye so we can plan ahead,” Smyth shared. “Everything can’t catch you by surprise.”
He hopes to keep a closer eye on legislation as it makes its way to the city council in hopes of eliminating any further consequences.
Smyth shared how children in and especially coming out of the pandemic are in need of more mental health services. The educator and father of two children said mental health awareness is one of his major focuses for his campaign.
“There’s nobody that comes into this profession without ever wanting to put the kids first,” Smyth told QNS, explaining how his role in the UFT made him a stern advocate for families and education.
He went on to share that he saw the impact of the pandemic first-hand with high school kids, and even his own child in higher education at the time. Overall, he hopes to bridge a gap with mental health access for children.
“I just think we have to get a handle on and address mental health needs of students and make sure that there are enough staff in schools, social workers and so on, that can be there for our children,” Smyth said.
The District 30 hopeful has the endorsement of several other Democratic legislators, including Congressman Tom Suozzi, and Assemblymembers Andrew Hevesi and Alicia Hyndman.
Smyth has not received an endorsement from Council Member Robert Holden, the current legislator for D-30 neighborhoods. Holden has instead voiced his hopes for his Chief of Staff, Daniel Kurzyna, to run in his stead.
A Republican competitor, Jonathan Rinaldi, has also opened his campaign for the City Council seat.
