Assemblyman Mike Miller retained the 38 District Assembly seat by overwhelmingly defeating challenger Etienne David Adorno 71 percent to 29 percent during last week’s primary.
In one of many primary races that were voted on throughout Queens and New York City on Thursday, Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) maintained his 38th District Assembly seat for two more years after defeating his challenger, Etienne David Adorno.
Miller comfortably retained the seat, beating Adorno 71 percent to 29 percent. The turnout for this election was low, with only 2,021 people in total casting their votes for the two candidates. Miller received 1,441 of those votes, according to election results.
Surrounded by supporters, friends and colleagues in local government, the Assemblyman was thrilled to keep his seat, which includes parts of Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Glendale and Ridgewood.
“The people sent us a message,” Miller said at his election party at Zum Stammtisch restaurant in Glendale. “That Mike Miller did a tremendous job these last two years.”
While campaigning Miller told voters that his experience of representing those neighborhoods in Albany was the main reason he should be reelected. He also championed improving the quality of life for the neighborhoods in his district even if they were city issues rather than state issues.
Among the notables to attend his victory party were State Senator Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaways).
The Assemblyman was ecstatic to get endorsements from his colleagues in local government.
Etienne David Adorno
“It says that I’m doing a good job and I’m doing it in the right way,” Miller said.
As for Adorno, he was in a jovial mood despite the lop-sided defeat against Miller. He said that he was able to run a successful campaign even though he had little money and no endorsements from the Democratic Party, other elected officials and unions like the United Federation of Teachers.
He added that he decided to run for the seat despite having little time, three months, to put together a campaign because he wanted to show Miller that there was someone out there that was willing to run against him.
“At the very least, I’ll shake things up and make Mike realize that there is somebody out there that could take him out and that he better get on his job,” Adorno said at his election party at Tropical Restaurant in Woodhaven.
During his campaign, Adorno said that Miller did not make himself known to the community in his two years in the Assembly, and that while he was going door-to-door campaigning, only 14 people knew who Miller was, which he disputed saying that Adorno asked that question to people who live outside the district.
He added that despite his loss, more people, specifically the younger generation who may not have cared about politics before, are going to pay attention to what Miller does and hold him accountable. Adorno said that he left a congratulatory voicemail for Miller on Thursday night.
“Now you’ve got two more years. Congratulations. Make them count,” he said.
As for Miller, he said that he’s glad that the campaigning for his Assembly seat is over and he can focus on doing his job and helping his constituents.
By Luis Gronda
