DANIEL DROMM, Democrat for City Council

From Jackson Heights Times:
by Jeremy Walsh

Challengers to City Councilwoman Helen Sears’ (D−Jackson Heights) seat wasted no time in tearing into the incumbent at a candidates’ forum last Thursday as she publicly indicated her interest in re−election.

Speaking in front of the New Visions Democratic Club, Sears, Democratic District Leader Daniel Dromm and Jackson Heights attorney Stanley Kalathara spent 90 minutes exchanging criticism of one another and ideas for the district in the first face−to−face discussion of the race.

Sears, who was first elected in 2000, touted her experience as she asked the club to re−elect her to a third term. Representatives from Sears’ office did not confirm whether it was the first time she publicly announced her interest in re−election.

Dromm, a gay rights activist and public school teacher, attacked Sears for inadequate leadership. “I have some skills in the community that I have shown to bring people together,” he said.

Dromm took Sears to task for not doing more for the struggling hospital in Elmhurst (St. Johns) when its parent company went bankrupt in 2005.

“St. John’s was ready to close a number of years ago,” he said. “We should have been on top of that years ago.”

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