By Anna Gustafson
Forest Hills resident Karen Koslowitz made the move from her former position as deputy borough president to director of community boards last month to prepare for her bid for her former City Council seat.
The city Conflicts of Interest Board ruled in March that Koslowitz would face no issues running for the 29th District Council seat if she switched her position from deputy borough president to director of community boards.
“I’m stepping down from an executive position to a staff person, so there’s no conflict of interest,” Koslowitz said.
As director of community boards, Koslowitz will relay interests of the local groups to Borough President Helen Marshall. Koslowitz took a $10,000 pay cut in her new position, and she is now making $146,000.
Koslowitz contacted the Conflicts of Interest Board this winter to discuss the move to change positions.
She could have faced a conflict of interest had she remained in her position as deputy borough president and conducted fund−raising for her campaign, according to an advisory opinion issued by the board in 2001 that states individuals making a bid for office must resign from their positions if they are policy−makers before they solicit donations.
Koslowitz, a 46−year Forest Hills resident, represented the 29th District in the Council for 11 years until 2001, when she was term−limited out of office. District 29 covers Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park and parts of Maspeth and Elmhurst.
Also running for the seat are former state Assemblyman Michael Cohen, Lynn Schulman, Heidi Harrison Chain, Melquiades Gagarin and Joseph Nocerino.
“My campaign is going great,” Koslowitz said. “I’ve hired all the people I need for a campaign, like my campaign manager.”
Manhattan−based Parkside Group will manage Koslowitz’s Democratic campaign.
Koslowitz shut down the strip club Runway 69 in Forest Hills while in the Council, a move area residents have said played a major role in revitalizing Austin Street.
After the strip club closed, stores like Barnes & Noble, Ann Taylor Loft, TGI Friday’s and Uno’s opened on Austin Street.
