Council Member Daniel Dromm, candidate Shekar Krishnan and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz with supporters of Krishnan’s campaign (Shekar Krishnan via Twitter)
June 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Council Member Daniel Dromm announced his endorsement Monday of candidate Shekar Krishnan to succeed him in representing the 25th Council District.
Dromm, who has represented Elmhurst and Jackson Heights on the council for nearly 12 years, is term-limited and must vacate his seat at the end of the year.
He has repeatedly retweeted Krishnan’s previous endorsement and other positive announcements, but had not weighed in the race to find his replacement until Monday, roughly two weeks before Primary Election Day.
Dromm said he supports Krishnan based on his leadership qualities.
He and Krishnan have worked together for years through the New Visions Democratic Club, which Dromm founded in 2002. Krishnan has served as president of the club.
“I have closely worked with Shekar on many important community initiatives like creating Diversity Plaza, expanding Travers Park, and fighting for Elmhurst Hospital,” Dromm said in a statement. “He is the best candidate to represent our community because he has the vision and the experience to be a leader who unites us all.”
In turn, Krishnan applauded Dromm’s accomplishments during his tenure serving District 25.
“From leading the fight for justice for Julio Rivera, which grew into the LGBTQIA+ movement in Queens, to becoming the first openly gay elected official in Queens, Council Member Danny Dromm is a pioneer,” Krishnan said. “He has been a champion for immigrant rights, our public schools, and open space in our community.”
He said he was honored to have Dromm’s support.
“I am so grateful for his support,” he said. “His impact on Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, Queens, and all of NYC is historic and indelible.”
Dromm is the latest elected official to endorse Krishnan in the race. The candidate has collected numerous endorsements from lawmakers, labor unions and political groups.
He has been endorsed by Assembly Member Catalina Cruz; Rep. Nydia Velázquez; State Senators Julia Salazar and John Liu; Council Members Justin Brannan, Carlina Rivera, Antonio Reynoso and former Council Member Costa Constantinides; the United Federation of Teachers; Hotel Trades Council; 32BJ and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club among others.
Most recently, Krishnan was endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s “Courage to Change” political action committee (PAC).
Ocasio Cortez’s PAC also endorsed Carolyn Tran, another candidate vying for the D-25 seat.
Tran — who had worked as Dromm’s chief of staff until earlier this year — has garnered a number of endorsements as well. She had been endorsed by State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Tenants PAC, Progressive Women of NY, Labors’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), and New American Leaders among others.
Krishnan and Tran are just two of the eight Democratic candidates running to replace Dromm. The other candidates are Alfonzo Quiroz, Manuel F. Perez, William H. Salgado, Fatima Baryab, Yi Andy Chen and Liliana C. Melo.
Quiroz has been endorsed by Manhattan Assembly Member Danny O’Donnell; the Stonewall Democrats of NY; former State Senators Thomas Duane and John Sabini; former Gov. David Paterson and the United Probation Officers Association.
Primary Election Day is June 22 and early voting starts Saturday. Find your poll site here.
