On the Ballot
By Katie McFadden
Hey Rockaway, there’s an election going on! Early voting began October 28 and continues all week through November 5, with your last chance to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7. While it isn’t a big race for president, governor or mayor, your vote is still just as important this election season in races such as city council, Queens district attorney, some important ballot proposals and more. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll see in your ballot.
This year, all Queens voters will have a choice in the Queens district attorney race. Melinda Katz, a Democrat, has held the position since January 2020 after winning the election in 2019. Now up for re-election, Katz has some challengers on the ballot. She is being challenged by George Grasso, a former longtime member of the NYPD and judge, who is running on the Public Safety line and Michael Mossa, a longtime criminal defense attorney, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. Voters can pick one of the three candidates on the ballot.
Queens voters will also have a choice for Judge of the Civil Court in Queens County. The choice is between Republican Sharmela Bachu and Democrat Sandra Perez. They will also have a choice in the Justice of the Supreme Court for the 11th Judicial District in Queens County. Voters will select five choices out of six options. Jessica Earle-Gargan, Cassandra A. Johnson, Peter J. Kelley, and Karen Lin are all running on the Democrat line. Scott Dunn is running on the Democrat and Republican line. Gary Muraca is running as a Republican.
There are two ballot questions that all New York voters will decide on. The first is regarding extending sewage project debt exclusion from debt limit. The question is: “”The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution extends for ten years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove from their constitutional debt limits debt for the construction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?”
The second question is regarding the removal of small city school districts from special constitutional debt limitation. The question is: “The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?”
Voters in City Council District 31 (Far Rockaway to Arverne) and City Council District 32 (Breezy Point to Rockaway Beach) will also have the city council race on their ballots. Those in City Council District 31 will have a choice between current city councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, a Democrat who has held the position since March 2021 after a special election, and Republican challenger, Daniella May. In District 32, current councilwoman, Republican Joann Ariola, is running unopposed.
Once again, early voting is now open through Sunday, November 5. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For information on where to find your polling site, head to: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/
