Queens voters will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of New York City government as all 51 City Council seats are up for grabs in the 2025 election cycle. With several incumbents term-limited and new challengers stepping into the spotlight, the borough is home to some of the city’s most closely watched and competitive races.
Candidates are vying to represent a borough that continues to grow in population and diversity, bringing new urgency to local issues like housing, public safety, transit, and education.
The primary election will be held on June 24, followed by the general election on November 4. Ranked-choice voting will once again be used in the primaries, giving voters the opportunity to rank up to five candidates in each race.
The 2025 City Council election in District 30 is shaping up to be a tense contest. It will feature Democratic candidates Phil Wong, Paul Pogozelski, and Dermot Smyth, Republican candidate Alicia Vaichunas and potential Independent Fr. Mike Lopez.
These five candidates are all vying to replace the term-limited Council Member Robert Holden and represent the Central Queens neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Elmhurst and Rego Park.
Phil Wong: Democrat focused on preserving education and public safety
Phil Wong is the Budget Director for Council Member Holden and decided to run for office himself after receiving an endorsement from the district’s current representative.
Wong moved to Elmhurst in 1976 and attended local schools, including P.S. 102 and William Cooper Junior High School (IS 73). His three daughters also attended public schools in the area, which further deepened his commitment to supporting local education. Wong’s involvement in civic issues began when a homeless shelter was suddenly opened in his neighborhood, which he protested against. He continued his advocacy work by defending educational fairness, particularly in the fight to protect specialized high school exams and the Gifted and Talented Program.
Paul Pogozelski: Democrat with a background in small businesses and grassroots organizations
Paul Pogozelski serves as the President of the Middle Village Property Owners and Residents Association and the Middle Village Roller Hockey League. Pogozelski became heavily involved with the community after moving to Middle Village with his family in 2017. He built his campaign around public safety, preserving parks and green spaces, affordable housing, and small business support.
Pogozelski comes from a business background and sold his small business in 2022. Throughout his campaign, he has emphasized his local involvement and transition from business owner to community advocate. He has expressed that his experience as a homeschool dad during the pandemic deepened his connection to civic life by bringing his children to local community meetings as a method of education.
Dermot Smyth: Democratic UFT strategist and former public school teacher
Dermot Smyth has lived in parts of the district for over 30 years and has gathered strong legislative support from fellow Democrats in Queens. As an educator, United Federation of Teachers political strategist, and family man, Smyth aims to promote the needs of his neighbors while addressing a tough financial economy, public safety, and education in his campaign.
Smyth has worked in the labor movement for 25 years, 16 of which with the UFT. He has emphasized his union support throughout his campaign with many endorsements. He believes that quality of life issues are the top concern in the community and has pledged, if elected, to use his experience and leadership position in the City Council to help increase police staffing and address issues like gun violence.
Alicia Vaichunas: Republican civic leader with emphasis on public safety and quality of life issues
Alicia Vaichunas is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Council Member Holden and has been a key member of his team for eight years. Her support for Holden began well before he took office, working alongside him and the Juniper Park Civic Association to protect the community.
Among her achievements, Vaichunas led efforts to block the Holiday Inn from being converted into a homeless shelter in 2016, exposed the Maspeth High School admissions scandal that ignored parochial school students, and fought tirelessly to secure better educational opportunities as a former PTA President at PS/IS 49. She has received numerous endorsements for her campaign, including one from mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Fr. Mike Lopez: Local priest and founder of Ridgewood-based food poverty non-profit
Fr. Mike Lopez is a member of the Missionary Benedictine of the Poor and the founder of the Hungry Monk Rescue Truck. He recently announced that he was disqualified from running on the Democratic ticket and is currently exploring other avenues.
Lopez, who grew up in nearby Bushwick, aims to work with seniors and help in a different way after serving the local community for more than a decade through his ministry and work establishing weekly food banks for low-income families and homeless individuals. He also pledged to make education a central point of his campaign, stating that he would push for more resources and wraparound services that are not solely education-based for local schools.
District Demographics and Political Landscape
District 30 is home to plenty of diverse neighborhoods, with a population that is approximately 57% White, 31% Hispanic, 8% Asian, and 2% Black. The district has a Democratic registration of 51%, with Republicans comprising about 18.8% and 26% of voters unaffiliated with a party.
