Queens GOP leader runs to keep conservative-controlled council seat red
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Joann Ariola is running in Council District 32. Photo courtesy of Ariola campaign
By David Brand
The head of the Queens County GOP is running to keep the borough’s last Republican-held office under conservative control.
It was something of an open secret that Joann Ariola would run for Queens’ Council District 32, a seat held by term-limited Councilmember Eric Ulrich. She made it official Tuesday by filing her campaign with the New York City Board of Elections.
Ulrich is Queens’ lone Republican elected official and an ally of Ariola, who lives in Howard Beach and ran for Queens borough president last year.
Ariola received about 26 percent of the vote in the general election, with Donovan Richards, a Democrat, receiving about two-thirds of the ballots cast. Richards took office in December 2020.
Despite the wide margin of defeat, Ariola ran neck-and-neck with Richards in an assembly district that overlaps with most of Council District 32. She logged 43 percent of the vote in Assembly District 23, while Richards received about 46 percent.
She previously denied she was considering a bid for city council, but said Wednesday that she thought she was best suited to keep the South Queens Council seat red.
“I sought a candidate I thought could win, and that candidate happened to be me,” Ariola said. “That was something I had to decide as head of the county party and wanting to win seats.”
The district includes Ozone Park, Howard Beach and the western portion of the Rockaway Peninsula.
Her campaign for borough president focused on support for the police and easing pandemic restrictions on businesses, particularly restaurants.
She said many constituents encouraged her to run to replace Ulrich, especially with nine Democrats already in the mix.
“They believe in my message and believe in my ability to be a city councilmember because I’m constituent-oriented,” she said. “Multiple people told me, ‘Please, we need you to run for the seat. We need a moderate voice,’ and so I did.”
The District 32 Council seat could open earlier than Jan. 1, 2022.
Ulrich has considered taking other jobs and leaving the council before the end of his term. His early exit would trigger a nonpartisan special election. He did not respond to messages seeking comment for this story.
Ariola said Ulrich has not disclosed his plans to her, but she said she is ready to go if he does indeed leave the council.
“Who could blame him for seeking employment. He’s a dad,” she said. “I don’t know if a special election makes it easier, but I do know no matter what it is, a special or a general election, I’m ready.”
