Forum Photo by Patricia Adams
Flanked by her mentors, outgoing Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder and former assemblymember, her mother, Audrey Pheffer, newly elected Stacey Pheffer Amato, celebrated a crushing victory levied on opponent Alan Zwirn.
By Michael V. Cusenza
In what The New York Times called a “stunning repudiation of the establishment,” Jamaica Estates native Donald Trump on Tuesday was elected the 45th President of the United States, soundly defeating the heavily favored Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The Republican Trump, 70, carried 30 states to 279 electoral votes and the improbable victory. Clinton, 69, narrowly won the popular vote, but was able to notch only 228 electoral votes.
The GOP candidate’s win is nothing short of historic, and capped a brutal, bruising 18-month slog to the White House; a race that featured more than its fair share of cringe-worthy moments—whether on social media or the stump—nearly all courtesy of the Teflon Donald.
“We showed America the silent majority is no longer silent,” Trump said. “Today, we created an America that WINS again. Today, we made our hopes, our dreams – our limitless potential – a reality. Today, we made history. Today, we created a government that is once again of, by and for the people.”
The Queens County Republican Party congratulated Trump on Wednesday.
“The Queens native’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement connected with millions of voters across the country, securing the win for a Republican House and Senate,” noted QGOP Chairman Bob Turner. “President-elect Trump’s pledge to fix Washington and our inner cities, rebuild our infrastructure, take care of our veterans and put millions of people back to work is real change for all Americans.”
In the two local races featuring Forum-endorsed candidates, Democrats Stacey Pheffer Amato and Joe Addabbo, Jr., trounced their respective opponents on their way to Albany.
Pheffer Amato succeeds Phil Goldfeder in representing the 23rd Assembly District – Rockaway, Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach, Lindenwood, Howard Beach, and Ozone Park – the same seat her mom, Queens County Clerk Audrey Pheffer, held for more than two decades.
“We have been lucky to have truly dedicated public servants who have been instrumental in our recovery from Sandy and who have been strong voices in City Hall and in Albany,” said Pheffer Amato. “I am humbled by the community’s faith in me to continue this important work and I intend to be a strong advocate for our families.”
Pheffer Amato would later add, “Tonight, I follow in the footsteps of our Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder and my mother, Audrey Pheffer. My mother taught me the importance of public service from an early age and, together with Assemblyman Goldfeder, supported me at every step along this campaign. I look forward to following their example as our next Assembly Member.”
State Sen. Addabbo has represented the 15th Senatorial District – Broad Channel, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Glendale, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ozone Park, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Woodside and the Rockaways – since he was first elected to the seat in 2008.
“We’re all here because we believe in the best state senator in all of New York,” said retired New York Supreme Court Judge Augustus Agate at Addabbo’s victory party Tuesday night at Old Mill Yacht Club in Howard Beach. “Politics and public service are in his DNA. Joe has a long history behind him and a great future ahead of him.”
