David Weprin (L) and Donovan Richards cross endorse Monday
April 27, 2021 By Ryan Songalia
Two Queens politicians announced Monday that they are endorsing one another in their upcoming primary races.
Assemblymember David Weprin, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for NYC Comptroller, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards exchanged cross endorsements.
Richards is seeking another term for the office he won last year in a special election. Weprin had endorsed Richards in that race too.
Weprin has represented the 24th Assembly District in Northeast Queens for the past decade, and served in the City Council before that. He also worked for a number of Wall Street firms prior to being elected to public office.
“For many years, David Weprin has been a dedicated public servant to the people of Queens and will make an excellent Comptroller for the people of New York City,” Richards said.
“His background in the private sector, as the City Council Finance Chair, and as a member of the Assembly, has uniquely prepared him for the challenges of managing a complicated financial system, protecting the pensions of millions of New Yorkers and serving as a watchdog over the city’s agencies and departments,” Richards added.
This is not the first time that Weprin has run for the comptroller position. He ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2009 generating about 11 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary.
Weprin had high praise for Richards too.
“The Borough President has served his community and his borough well during his career in public service and I proudly accept his endorsement and offer him my support in his race to continue as Borough President,” Weprin said.
Weprin has garnered a number of endorsements from other Queens officials, including congressmen Gregory Meeks and Tom Suozzi, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, City Councilmembers Adrienne Adams, Karen Koslowitz, Peter Koo, Barry Grodenchik, Paul Vallone, and Assemblymembers Vivian Cook, Jenifer Rajkumar, Jeff Aubry, Cathy Nolan, Stacey Pheffer Amato and Ed Braunstein
The New York City primaries are scheduled for June 22.
One Comment
Why wouldn’t they cross endorse each other? They were both previously endorsed by Congressmember Gregory Meeks, leader of what is left of the Democratic Party Queens County Clubhouse machine. David Weprin & Donovan Richards have been loyal followers for years. This political quid pro quo may not make a difference. The old Queens County Democratic machine just ain’t what it was. Just ask former Congressmember Joe Crowley.
Larry Penner