State Sen. Toby Stavisky, center, launched her campaign for reelection last week. Photo courtesy state Sen. Toby Stavisky
State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) already has seven terms under her belt and launched her bid for another one this week.
The senator representing Queens’ 16th District touted some of her top legislative victories in recent years at the kickoff in Flushing, including the passing of a state DREAM Act and Women’s Equality reforms as some of her shining moments in the Senate. She will face Flushing activist and businessman S.J. Jung in a democratic primary later this year.
“I will continue to fight to ensure all Queens families, and New Yorkers across our great state, have access to quality education and receive the services and support they deserve from state government,” Stavisky said.
Stavisky was elected in November 1999 as the first woman from the borough to serve in the state Senate. Her latest re-election bid came from a successful bid in 2012 in which 75 percent of the votes were in her name. She was also the first woman to ever chair the Senate’s committee on higher education.
Earlier this week, the Queens County Democratic Party threw its full support behind Stavisky as she geared up for her primary run against Jung. U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) touted Stavisky’s 14-year tenure in the Senate as proof she knows how to lead effectively.
“Senator Stavisky is an experienced and dedicated public servant with a proven track-record of delivering for the hard-working men and women of her district,” Crowley said. “She is precisely the type of Democratic leader the people of Queens need in the state Senate and I am proud to support her for re-election.”
Stavisky’s district encompasses parts of northeastern Queens, including communities like Bayside, Elmhurst, Flushing, Forest Hills and Whitestone. Jung ran for the same Flushing seat back in 2009 but lost by a slim margin.
“Serving the residents of Queens has been an honor and I am proud that the Democratic party has selected me to continue representing the hardworking men and women of Queens in the state Senate,” Stavisky said.
Along with the Democratic Party came support from other borough elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills), City Councilman Ron Kim (D-Flushing), state Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) and several others. The elected leaders helped pack out the star-studded panel of Stavisky supporters at her re-election kickoff in Flushing last Friday.
“State Senator Toby Stavisky is an incredible public servant, and I enjoyed working with her during my time in the state Assembly, and now as a Congressional representative,” Meng said in a statement. “I applaud Toby for her dedication to the residents of Queens and look forward to many years working together to ensure New Yorkers receive the essential government services they deserve from both the state and federal governments.”
The Forum will profile Jung’s candidacy in an article next week.
By Phil Corso
