From City Hall News:
Queens County and Others Inch Toward Dromm in Race Against Sears
Immigrant issues, LGBT resonance define Jackson Heights primary
by Betwa Sharma
Incumbents do not tend to get voted out of the Council. But that is exactly what several challengers are hoping to do in the Jackson Heights district of Helen Sears (D), who is defending herself against charges that she is ineffective and out of step with the constituents.
“She has achieved little in eight years, and now her time is over,” said Daniel Dromm, who teaches the fourth grade and is considered by many to be the most likely to knock off the 80-year old Sears. “The community is desperate for change.”
A dedicated gay rights activist since the early 1990s, Dromm has already secured endorsements from the United Federation of Teachers and from many district leaders—almost unheard of for a challenger.
Dromm is confident that he will get support from the two political clubs he founded—the New Visions Democratic Club and the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club. He also hopes to get the backing of the John F. Kennedy Democratic Club of Queens, which is Sears’ home club.
A big boost for Dromm is that Maureen Allen, president of the JFK club, has already endorsed him. Political heavyweights in the community, including Assembly Member José Peralta (D) and Council Member Julissa Ferreras (D), who represents the neighboring district, are also on his side.
By making education, quality of life and civil rights his top issues, Dromm has won support in different groups of the diverse neighborhood.
“Danny is the fresh air this neighborhood needs,” said Will Sweeney, a resident and community activist. “The generation that would vote for Sears has passed.”
The buzz is that Dromm will also win the nomination of the Queens County Democratic Party over Sears. A political insider described the incumbent as “not very innovative,” who did not go out of the way for her electorate. “The party is in a tight spot right now,” he said. “They’re thinking of easing her out.”
There is some fatigue in the community as well, according to a district leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity and slammed the Council member for skipping meetings and events.
“People do not get help from her office in accessing city services, and they are simply tired of Helen Sears,” the district leader said.
Dromm, who was the party’s choice before the term limits extension, has managed to retain his support inside the party. The district leader expressed confidence that the majority of district leaders were leaning towards nominating Dromm as the party candidate.
But district leader and Assembly Member Michael Den Dekker said he believes Sears remains strong.
“She has worked in the community since I was a little kid,” he said. “Her political record is hard to beat.”
That is the argument Sears herself is making on the trail.
“No one has more insights into this community and no one can represent it better,” she said.
The district has undergone rapid change since Sears was first elected in 2001, becoming a center for immigrants from Latin America, South Asia and East Asia.
Two immigrants, Bryan Pu-Folkes and Rodolfo Flores, gave Sears a spirited challenge in the 2005 primary. In that extremely low-turnout, 6,800-vote race, Sears eked out a victory with 4,225 votes.
Despite the flood of immigrants, the voting pattern does not reflect the changing demographics of the community. Many newcomers do not register to vote, do not apply for citizenship or eventually move out to a richer neighborhood.
Out of 58,664 total registered voters, there are some 7,000 South Asians registered to vote, according to SEVA, an immigrant advocacy group based in Queens.
Stanley Kalathara, a lawyer who has raised $67,952, and Mujib Rahman, a Bangladeshi resident of Elmhurst who has not reported campaign funds, are also in the race but have not emerged as serious competitors. Then there is Alfonso Quiroz, another LGBT activist, who has $67,686 in the bank.
Sears, meanwhile, reported $119,623 on her May filing for a committee that remains technically undeclared. Dromm reported $81,087.
While Dromm is seen as the inimitable pioneer of activism, Quiroz is making his mark as a new-age activist. He is addressing issues like clean energy, economic development, education, affordable housing and transportation.
Many residents, however, are put off by his position as spokesperson for Con Ed.
Quiroz called that background an advantage.
“My experience in the energy sector will be very useful for the community,” he said.
There remains some question, however, over whether or not two gay candidates will split the vote of the burgeoning LGBT community of Jackson Heights. But Quiroz is not worried about splitting the vote with Dromm.
“We’re two completely different people. Different generations, political paths and outlooks,” he said.
Plus, there are old-fashioned factions among the South Asians who may not vote for a gay candidate, like local Muslim merchant Mohammad Pier.
“We are very conservative and it is against our religion,” Pier said.
But many South Asians seem not to care about the sexual orientations of the candidates, and, like Sikh voter Jaspreet Singh, are more concerned about civil rights for people often targeted because of their turbans and long beards.
For all that is being discussed, though, Den Dekker said he believes September will be about one question.
“This is what an election is all about,” he said. “Vote for experience, or vote for change.”
Labels: CivilRights, CommunityOrganizing, Education, Immigrant Rights, Press, QualityofLife
Senator Tom Duane (D-New York) has endorsed Daniel Dromm for the City Council, 25th District. State Senator Thomas K. Duane represents New York's 29th State Senatorial District since 1998. Prior to his election to the State Senate, Duane served for seven years in the New York City Council. Senator Duane serves as Chair of the Senate Health Committee. In this role Senator Duane is committed to promoting sound health care policy and quality, affordable health care for all New Yorkers. Daniel Dromm has made improving and expanding health care access a centerpiece of his campaign.
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