Southeast Queens pols back Richards for borough president

Councilmember Donovan Richards is running for Queens borough president. Photo by William Alatriste via City Council/Flickr

 By Victoria Merlino

A long list of Southeast Queens lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, are backing Councilmember Donovan Richards for Queens borough president with three weeks to go before the March 24 special election. 

State Sens. Leroy Comrie and James Sanders, Assemblymembers Alicia Hyndman, Clyde Vanel, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Vivian Cook, and Councilmembers I. Daneek Miller and Adrienne Adams all threw their support behind Richards in a joint announcement Tuesday. 

Meeks is the chairperson of the Queens County Democratic Party, which endorsed Richards for borough president in December.  

"In Queens we have the opportunity to make history by electing Donovan Richards our next Borough President,” Meeks said. “Over the years, I've partnered with Donovan on creating affordable housing, bringing jobs to Queens, and improving our transportation system. He has been a staunch advocate for his district and for our borough as a whole.”

Richards raised the second highest amount of campaign money in the last filing period, behind former Queens District Attorney’s Office prosecutor James Quinn. 

Richards has also been endorsed by DC 37, Local 372, UFT, 32BJ, New York Hotel Trades Council, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and 1199SEIU. 

“Being born and raised in Southeast Queens, it means so much to have the support of my colleagues who represent the place I grew up,” Richards said.

Councilmember Costa Constantinides, former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, police reform advocate Anthony Miranda and tech entrepreneur Dao Yin are also running. The election will occur on March 24.