By Kathianne Boniello
Carol Gresser has made some new friends in her campaign for Queens borough president — friends who could help the Democratic candidate win the seat this fall.
More than 70 people turned out for the Asian Friends of Carol Gresser’s endorsement of the former city Board of Education president Saturday afternoon at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Flushing.
“I feel humbled at your support,” Gresser told the crowd of mostly elderly Chinese and Korean community leaders as the hosts of the event translated her words “My Asian friends have been my best inspiration for so long. We will lead the way, I promise you.”
The nearly two-hour event featured a number of endorsements by various community leaders, including Chun Soo Pyun of the Council of Korean Churches, Zhao Jinglun, chief editorial writer for the Asian American Times, and Nancy King Wang of the Chinese American Cultural Association.
Gresser, who broke her foot earlier this month, has pressed on with her campaign for Borough President Claire Shulman’s seat despite the Queens Democratic Party’s backing of fellow candidate and City Councilwoman Helen Marshall (D-East Elmhurst). City Councilmen Sheldon Leffler (D-Hollis) and Alfonso Stabile (R-Ozone Park) are also in the running for the borough presidency.
A Douglaston resident, Gresser is well known for her eight-year stint as Board of Education president and a subsequent falling out with Shulman, who decided not to reappoint Gresser to the board in 1998. Gresser had been battling with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a Shulman ally, over the appointment of Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew at the time.
Richard Rapp, president of the FDR Democratic Association, also showed his support for Gresser during the event.
“Our club endorsed Carol by a very large margin,” said Rapp, who said the FDR Democratic Association requires that a candidate receive 60 percent or more of the vote during its endorsement process.
Education was the most prominent topic during the event at which the Asian community endorsed Gresser.
Dr. Che Tso Huang, of the City University of New York, told the crowd why he chose to support Gresser.
“She impressed me as a person who could speak for the children of the city and the parents,” he said.
Rapp told those assembled that Gresser “cares especially about the education your children can get, should get and must get.”
Zhao Jinglun, chief editorial writer for the Asian American Times, a Chinese-language weekly newspaper, pledged the community’s support in helping to elect Gresser.
“We will do our part by trying our hardest to get out the vote,” he said.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
