Grodenchik campaigns for ex-campaign manager in Queens Council race

Councilmember Barry Grodenchik (left) endorsed his aide and former campaign manager Steve Behar in the race for Council District 23. Photo courtesy of Behar

By David Brand

Barry Grodenchik is campaigning for his former campaign manager in the race to replace him in the city council.

Grodenchik will leave office at the end of the year and has endorsed Steven Behar in the crowded field for his District 23 seat. The district includes Douglaston, Bayside, Glen Oaks, Little Neck and other Northeast Queens neighborhoods. 

Behar has served as counsel and aide to Grodenchik for five years, and he was Grodenchik’s campaign manager when he first ran for the council in 2015. 

“Steve knows City Hall inside and out and will be ready to serve our district on day one,” Grodenchik said. “No other candidate has the experience and the knowledge to be ready to immediately fight for our district.”

Behar has resumed campaigning after recovering from COVID-19. The progressive Democrat was hospitalized for the illness late last year.

In a statement, he said he was “honored” to have Grodenchik’s endorsement.

Nine other candidates have also filed to run in the June Democratic and Republican primaries in District 23.

They include college freshman Seth Breland; Queens Libertarian Party Chair Christopher Padilla-Fuentes; Sanjeev Jindal, an official with the India Association of Long Island; Democratic Socialists of America-backed activist Jaslin Kaur; nonprofit leader Linda Lee, community board district manager Debra Markell; Mandeep Sahi, healthcare consultant Koshy Thomas and Sikh community organizer Harpreet Toor.

Lee leads the fundraising with $61,272, according to the most recent financial disclosure reporting.