Pogozelksi concedes to Wong in D30, Shanel Thomas-Henry holds lead
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Queens City Council candidates Shanel Thomas-Henry and Phil Wong maintained their lead in their races on Tuesday following new vote totals from the Board of Elections. Eagle photos by Ryan Schwach
By Ryan Schwach
Two City Council races appeared to come to an end on Tuesday after the Board of Elections released its latest vote count for the primary election that unfolded on June 24.
Local organizer Shanel Thomas-Henry maintained her lead in District 21, and council staffer Phil Wong saw his lead over his opponents in District 30 grow. Hockey league founder Paul Pogozelski conceded to Wong just hours after the newly counted election results dropped after holding off from conceding last week following the release of the first count.
Thomas-Henry had already declared victory over progressive Erycka Montoya in District 21, which covers parts of Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.
Her lead went down a mere 10 votes with the new numbers, from 373 to 363 over Montoya.
Montoya has not responded to requests for comment, and has not made any public remarks regarding the race’s results since Election Day.
Wong, a staffer for conservative Councilmember Robert Holden hoping to succeed his boss, declared victory last week in District 30, which covers parts of Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, Elmhurst and Rego Park.
Wong led the race on July 1 by 235 votes with over 1,000 mail-in ballots left to be counted. He now leads by 319 votes over Pogozelski.
It is currently unclear how many votes remain uncounted in the two races. The BOE is expected to roll out a final update and certify the election’s results next Tuesday, July 15.
With affidavits and mail-in ballots going mostly Wong’s way, Pogozelski texted Wong to concede the race.
"I give him props for running a good race...I take my hat off to him," Pogozelski told the Eagle. “I kind of figured on [election night] that it was going to be difficult to catch up.”
Wong and Pogozelski finished ahead of the the Queens County Democratic Party’s candidate, Dermot Smyth.
Wong ran with the backing of his boss, a key endorsement from the Council’s Common Sense Caucus co-chair that may have been a deciding factor in his victory.
Holden’s hold on District 30 will continue no matter what happens in November’s general election.
Wong is poised to face off against Republican Alicia Vaichunas, who is also a Holden staffer. Both have said they are likely to hire the other for their own Council office, regardless of who wins.
Holden has said he will not endorse in the race.
