City Council Campaign 2003

General Election Results

Three Races to Watch in the General Election

District 35 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights
Councilmember James E. Davis was shot dead by a political rival. This fall,residents will now have to choose someone to fill the vacant seat.

District 19 - Bayside, College Point, Whitestone, Bayside
District 19 in Queens is one of the few areas in the city that has elected a Republican to City Council. But in 2001, Democrat Tony Avella beat his Republican opponent, although only by 357 votes. Now a new Republican candidate is trying to win the seat back and is challenging the incumbent on his record on taxes, zoning, and parking.

District 43 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst
Taxes matter a lot in this area, which is one of the few parts of the city ever to elect a Republican to the City Council. A Democratic incumbent, who has voted to raise several taxes since taking office in the spring, is hoping he can hang on to his seat.

A Dozen City Council Races to Watch in the 2003 Primary Election

District 10 - Washington Heights, Inwood
In an area of the city where rents are rising and affordable housing is scarce, three Democrats and a Republican are challenging incumbent Councilmember Miguel Martinez.

District 12 - Co-Op City, Baychester, Wakefield, Eastchester
A third of the population of district 12 and two Democratic rivals live in Co-op City, which represents the bulk of voters and the area's major issues. Shirley Saunders, who only lost by 103 votes in 2001, is again challenging incumbent Councilmember Larry Seabrook.

District 18 - Parkchester, Castle Hill, Soundview
In the latest chapter in a long political rivalry in the Bronx, incumbent Councilmember Pedro Espada Jr. has dropped out of the race and handed his seat to his son Pedro G. Espada. A new challenger, backed by the Bronx Democratic Party, is hoping she can win.

District 19 - Bayside, College Point, Whitestone, Bayside
District 19 in Queens is one of the few areas in the city that has elected a Republican to City Council. But in 2001, Democrat Tony Avella beat his Republican opponent, although only by 357 votes. Now a new Republican candidate is trying to win the seat back and is challenging the incumbent on his record on taxes, zoning, and parking.

District 24 - Briarwood, Flushing South, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates
Two Democratic challengers fault incumbent City Councilmember James Gennaro for not taking a stand on difficult issues, like lead paint legislation. Gennaro defends his record and says he did not "take the easy way out."

District 27 - St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights
The quiet middle-class neighborhoods of district 27 in Queens are home to much of borough's trash. Garbage dumps - and what should be done about them - are a major campaign issue in this district where the challengers say the incumbent spends too much time at City Hall.

District 28 - Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, South Jamaica
Councilmember Allen Jennings has earned the reputation as one of the most unpredictable members of the City Council. Five challengers and the Queens Democratic party are hoping to unseat him.

District 34 - Williamsburg, Bushwick, Ridgewood
The face of Brooklyn is changing as the waterfront is developed and trendy neighborhoods spring up. But the council member who represents district 34 will also have to listen to the concerns of residents of Queens, now that redistricting has changed the political boundaries of this area.

District 35 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights
Councilmember James E. Davis was shot dead by a political rival. This fall,residents will now have to choose someone to fill the vacant seat.

District 37 - Cypress Hills, Wyckoff Heights, Bushwick
This district has the highest incidents of childhood lead poisoning in the city, and the race centers on legislation to create tougher lead paint laws. The incumbent does not support it; the challenger does.

District 43 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst
Taxes matter a lot in this area, which is one of the few parts of the city ever to elect a Republican to the City Council. A Democratic incumbent, who has voted to raise several taxes since taking office in the spring, is hoping he can hang on to his seat.

District 45 - East Flatbush, Flatlands
A nondescript building in East Flatbush could determine the political future of City Councilmember Kendall Stewart. He owns the building and blamed recent violations on his tenants. His challengers say he is not serving the community.

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