By Courtney Dentch
Two more southeast Queens residents have thrown their hats into the ring to take on incumbent City Councilman Allan Jennings (D-Jamaica) in this fall's primary and general elections.
Carolyn Younger-Nolan, a community activist and founder of Black Family International, has received the support of the Republican Party to face Jennings in the general vote, while Richmond Hill resident Inderjit Singh hopes to get a spot on the Democratic primary ballot.
Both hopefuls faced Jennings in the 2001 council race, although both names were removed from the election when their petitions were challenged.
Jennings, along with the rest of the Council, is up for re-election after only two years due to the redistricting process, which shifts boundary lines to accommodate population changes. Council members typically serve four-year terms.
Jennings was the only incumbent in the Queens delegation who did not receive the backing of the Queens County Democratic Party. The party leadership nominated Yvonne Reddick, district manager of Community Board 12.
Jennings has begun to collect signatures for his petition to get on the ballot, said spokeswoman Charmaine Gibson. Jennings declined to comment on the challengers, and Gibson said he will not be speaking directly to reporters until the petitioning process is completed next month.
Younger-Nolan, 59, of Jamaica, switched parties after the last city council race. The former Democrat said she was tired of working on and recruiting workers for political campaigns and not getting the support of the party in return. She gained the GOP endorsement for this election, she said.
“I watched for 24 years how the Democrats used my goods and services,” she said. “I went to the Republican Party and they opened their doors to me.”
The Queens Republican Party was unavailable for comment.
Younger-Nolan founded Black Families International in 1982 to promote family and community-oriented values. She started Family Day, a community celebration that began in Queens and has spread across the state, she said.
“I've been a deliverer and a voice for the people, and I've been making changes that have to be considered good changes,” Younger-Nolan said.
Younger-Nolan moved to Jamaica from Astoria in 1996, she said. Prior to that she ran for both the state Senate and the state Assembly.
Younger-Nolan wants to focus on education, including after-school programs, she said.
“The more education you bring into the community, the more crime goes down,” Younger-Nolan said.
Inderjit Singh, 66, has been involved with local and national politics for more than 40 years. He was born in an area of India that is now Pakistan, but he spent most of his adult life in America.
Singh could not be reached for comment, but he announced his candidacy late last month.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
