You are reading

Selvena Brooks-Powers and James Gennaro–Who Both Recently Won Special Elections–Secure Victories Tuesday

Council Members James Gennaro and Selvena Brooks-Powers (Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers via Twitter)

June 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin

Two Queens council members — who recently won special elections to represent their respective districts until the end of the year — have likely secured their seats for a full term.

Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and James Gennaro are expected to serve on the City Council for a full term after in-person votes were tallied Tuesday night.

Brooks-Powers secured 68.16 percent of voters’ first-choice votes in the District 31 primary with 92 percent of scanners reported.

Gennaro garnered 59.69 percent of first-choice votes in the District 24 primary, according to unofficial Election Night results with 99 percent of scanners reported.

Each candidate was able to secure a majority, more than 50 percent, of first-choice votes — the margin needed to win their respective primary races outright in the city’s new ranked choice voting system. However, absentee and affidavit ballots have yet to be tallied.

It’s the second election both Brooks-Powers and Gennaro have participated in only a few months. Each won a nonpartisan special election — in which ranked-choice voting was also deployed — for their respective districts in early 2021.

Brooks-Powers won a special election in March to replace Donovan Richards, who left his seat to become Queens borough president. The council district covers Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens.

Meanwhile, Gennaro won a special election in February to replace Rory Lancman, who left to take a position in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration. The council district covers Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills and Jamaica.

The special elections only earned each candidate a temporary stay on the city council—until Dec. 31. They need to win the Democratic primary and the November general election in order to serve a full term.

Brooks-Powers ran yesterday against candidates Nancy Martinez and Nicole Lee. The runner-up in the March special election, Pesach Osina, did not run again in the primary and instead endorsed Brooks-Powers for the D-31 seat.

Gennaro was able to win the majority of first place, in-person votes against challengers Saifur Khan, Mohammad Uddin and Moumita Ahmed, who had strong progressive support. Ahmed received 22.73 percent of votes.

Gennaro will likely face off with Republican Timothy Rosen in the general election on Nov. 2. Rosen earned 59.35 percent of in-person votes in the Republican primary Tuesday against Angelo King.

The Board of Elections is not expected to certify the results of the primary elections until the week of July 12 or later to allow time for absentee ballots to come in.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Jamaica teen busted in Bronx after taking part in Ozone Park street takeover early Sunday: NYPD

A Jamaica teenager is accused of taking part in a chaotic street takeover in Ozone Park on Saturday night, where several NYPD vehicles were vandalized by a mob of hundreds. Police say he later fled to the Bronx, where he was tased and arrested following a foot chase through the Van Nest neighborhood early Sunday morning.

Tristan Nandram, 18, of Liverpool Street in Jamaica, was booked at the 43rd Precinct in Soundview, where he was charged with criminal mischief and other related crimes after police responded to a 911 call of possible shots fired in the vicinity of Zerega Avenue and Gleason Avenue.

JFK Airport contractors arrested for stealing $70K in copper wire after Port Authority sting: DA

Two Queens contractors were arrested by officers from the Port Authority Police Department on Saturday for allegedly stealing copper wire from a warehouse at JFK Airport.

Anildat Arnold, 46, of 114th Street in South Ozone Park, and Vejai Ramsarup, 54, of 214th Street in Queens Village, were separately arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday on a six-count criminal court complaint charging them with grand larceny, burglary, and criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing approximately 1,100 feet of copper cable wire valued at more than $70,000. The defendants were busted after they tried to steal an additional 150 feet of wire from the warehouse.

Spring blooms bright in Queens: your guide to cherry blossom hotspots around the borough

Apr. 1, 2025 By Jessica Militello

Cherry blossoms are already blooming across Queens, marking the arrival of spring. The sight of the delicate pink flowers marks the start of the special season in Queens, letting admirers take photos or simply appreciate the cherry blossoms’ beauty. The season, while brief, offers a chance to slow down and enjoy nature’s beauty and appreciate its fleeting nature. The cherry blossom isn’t just pretty to look at; the flower has tons of symbolism and history to learn about to make you enjoy them even more this Spring.