Nine candidates file petitions for Queens BP special election

Eagle file photo by David Brand.

By David Brand

A lengthy ballot — and some quirky party names — may await Queens voters when they head to the polls to pick the next borough president on March 24. 

Nine candidates submitted viable petitions ahead of Tuesday night’s filing deadline, with each candidate running on a made-up ballot line in the wide-open special election, where typical party affiliation does not matter. 

Everly Brown, Councilmember Costa Constantinides, former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, police reform advocate Anthony Miranda, mapmaker Danniel Maio, former Queens prosecutor James Quinn, Councilmember Donovan Richards, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer and Dao Yin each submitted their petitions on time.

Brown, a perennial candidate for public office who ran for Borough President in 2017, is running on the “Homeowners NYCHA” line. Yin is running on the “Red Dragon” line.

Constantinides represents “TransformQueens,” Crowley named her party “It’s Our Time,” Miranda chose the “Queens Progressives” line.

Maio is the “I Like Maio” party, Richards chose the “Community Unity” party, Quinn is on the “Keep Queens Safe” line and Van Bramer represents “Queens Values.” 

Candidates are required to secure at least 2,000 signatures from registered Queens voters to make the ballot, but the Board of Elections has not yet set a hearing date to determine whether candidates’ signatures are valid.

Jusinta Jaggassar-Ernul did not submit the necessary number of signatures to qualify for the ballot.