By Jeremy Walsh
An eight-year City Council incumbent is fighting off challenges from two newcomers as the race to determine the Democratic City Council candidate for Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Woodside and Rego Park moves into the home stretch.
Councilwoman Helen Sears (D-Jackson Heights), the chosen candidate of the Queens Democratic Party, had raised $235,984 and spent $180,147 by the Sept. 4 filing deadline at the city Campaign Finance Board. Jackson Heights teacher and activist Daniel Dromm, the Working Families Party candidate, had raised $221,914 and spent $150,643 during the same period, records show.
Jackson Heights immigration attorney Stanley Kalathara, who eschewed the public funding process, had raised $125,302 and spent $119,187.
Whoever wins will go on to face Republican Mujib Rahman in the general election in November.
Sears is a former hospital administrator who has been active in neighborhood politics since 1978. She has held the seat since 2001 and has often touted her experience in the Council as a budget negotiator for Queens.
She supported the extension of term limits for city office, saying eight years is often not sufficient to see major projects come to fruition, but also recently expressed regret that the decision was not put to a referendum.
Dromm is an openly gay teacher and Democratic district leader who helped found the Jackson Heights Pride parade in 1993. Dromm emphasizes his eagerness to reach out to the Latino community, which he says has been underserved in the district. He also touts his knowledge of education issues from personal experience.
Kalathara spent the early months of his campaign attacking Sears’ vote in favor of extending term limits. He has also offered to use his knowledge of immigration law to help constituents if elected. He is a former restaurateur and has said he would work to encourage small business growth in the Jackson Heights and Elmhurst areas.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jewalsh@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
