John J. Ciafone (Photo Queens Post)
April 11, 2021 By Christian Murray
Several candidates are running for the 22nd District council seat that was vacated by Costa Constantinides last week.
In our latest Podcast, we talk to John J. Ciafone, who is vying for the seat that covers Astoria, Rikers Island and parts of Woodside, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst.
He is running as a Democrat on a “common sense” platform calling for law and order. Ciafone says that the other candidates in the race are too left wing, which prompted him to run.
Ciafone, a private-practice attorney and a prominent landlord, has run for office before. He ran unsuccessful campaigns for the 22nd District council seat in 2001 and in 2013.
Ciafone was born and raised in Astoria and graduated from St. John’s School of Law in June 1994. His law firm is located on Steinway Street and he owns several properties in the borough.
He has served as Secretary to the President of Community School Board 30, which covers most of western Queens including Astoria. Ciafone is also an EMT/Paramedic trained EMS first responder.
The Democratic primary is being contested on June 22. Ciafone will be on the ballot along with Leonardo Bullaro, Tiffany Cabán, Catherina Gioino, Evie Hantzopoulos and Nicholas Velkov.
The winner will then run in the general election in November against Felicia Kalan, a Republican, and Edwin DeJesus, an independent.
