Congress Member Tom Suozzi and Debra Markell (Debra Markell via Twitter)
March 25, 2021 By Allie Griffin
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is backing Debra Markell for City Council– the latest high profile political figure to support her candidacy.
Markell, who is the district manager for Queens Community Board 2, has garnered the support of several well-known legislators–as she campaigns to represent District 23, a seat that covers a swath of eastern Queens.
She has racked up several big name endorsements– such as DiNapoli, Congress Member Tom Suozzi, Assembly Members Cathy Nolan and Chuck Lavine, Council Member Robert Holden and former Congress Member Steve Israel.
Markell is running in a crowded field in her quest to replace Council Member Barry Grodenchik. In October, Grodenchik announced that he would not seek another term, despite being eligible to run.
Markell has been able to pull in these endorsements, despite not being backed by the Queens County Democratic party. The party decided not to support a candidate for District 23.
She announced DiNapoli’s endorsement on Tuesday.
The state comptroller, a lifelong Long Islander, said he fully supports Markell to represent the district that borders Nassau County.
“Debra has been a fierce advocate for her community for more years than I can count,” he said in a statement. “Her passion and commitment for New York City, and her record of getting things done for Queens are exactly the kind of traits we need in City Hall to get us back on track.”
Council District 23 covers the neighborhoods of Bayside Hills, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village.
The other candidates running for the seat include Alex Amoroso, Steve Behar, Seth Breland, Janet Dennis, Christopher Fuentes-Padilla, Sanjeev Jindal, Jaslin Kaur, Linda Lee, James Reilly, Koshy Thomas and Harpreet Toor.
Kaur has racked up her own share of endorsements as well.
She has earned the backing of many legislators to the left of Markell’s supporters — including progressive names like State Senators Michael Gianaris, Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport as well as Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani, Jessica González-Rojas, Phara Souffrant Forrest and Marcela Mitaynes.
She has also been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America and Working Families Party among other groups.
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