Photo Courtesy of Ariola Campaign
Ariola, seen here with PBA President Pat Lynch, has positioned herself as the law and order/public safety choice for Council District 32.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Joann Ariola on Tuesday cruised to victory over Steve Sirgiovanni in the Council District 32 Republican Primary on an historic day across the five boroughs as the City Board of Elections rolled out ranked-choice voting for the first time.
Photo Courtesy of Councilman Ulrich’s Office
Councilman Ulrich has served the people of the 32nd District for 12 years. He has endorsed Joann Ariola to be his successor.
Ariola garnered more than 80 percent of the vote to earn the opportunity to face the Democratic candidate in the general election in November to see who will succeed Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) who is being term-limited out of office.
“I’m honored that Republican voters have overwhelmingly chosen me as their candidate for this seat. I thank all the supporters, staff and volunteers who made it possible. Now, on to victory in the general. Voters of all political stripes are crying out for public safety and I am the only candidate who will fight for it, in our neighborhoods and throughout the city,” Ariola said Wednesday.
“Congratulations to all the clear winners last night, especially my good friend Joann Ariola,” Ulrich added. “Now onto victory in November.”
Photo Courtesy of Ariola Campaign
Councilman Bob Holden (D-Middle Village) earned a victory on Tuesday.
However, Ariola’s November opponent remains to be determined. A crowded Dem field saw no less than eight candidates on the new ranked-choice ballots. As of Wednesday afternoon, and with more than 97 percent of scanners reporting, Felicia Singh leads Michael Scala by the skinniest of margins: 36.23 percent to 35.87 percent.
Scala ran on the Democratic line four years ago in a bid to unseat the popular Ulrich. The councilman easily handled the challenger, defeating the attorney Scala by a margin of 7,147 votes (66 percent to 34 percent).
City officials have indicated that it could be several weeks before winners in the close races are determined.
“We set out to build a campaign that centered on the diversity of District 32, and we did it. We set out to reach voters who have never been reached before, and we did it,” Singh said. “We know that absentee ballots and ranked choice votes need to be counted, but we also know that District 32 voted for courage, change and community on Election Day, and I’m so proud of what we’ve created.”
Photo Courtesy of Ariola Campaign
Democrat Queens Borough President candidate Elizabeth Crowley talks to potential voters Tuesday morning.
In another tight race, incumbent Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. leads former City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley 41.35 percent to 40.2 percent in the Democratic primary for borough president. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), who will be term-limited out of office, garnered nearly 18 percent of the vote.
In the Democratic mayoral primary, former NYPD captain and State senator Eric Adams leads the 13-candidate field—but the new ranked-choice system means that that is another race that is yet to be decided. At deadline, Adams had just 31.66 percent; Maya Wiley 22 percent; and Kathryn Garcia emerged with 19.48 percent. Once the clear frontrunner, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang earned just 11.66 percent of the vote on Tuesday. He has conceded.
