Donovan Richards is aiming to succeed James Sanders as the City Council representative for the 31st District. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Over the last eight years, Donovan Richards has moved his way up the political ladder under the guidance of City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and now he is aiming for City Hall.

Richards announced that he will run to replace Sanders when the councilman’s third term ends in 2013, and he has started early work on his campaign. The 28-year-old chief of staff said he has been considering a serious run for the office for the last couple of months and he was ready to grab the torch from his mentor.

“We need to put this new generation in the forefront,” he said.

Sanders, who has been in office since 2002, will be term limited out of office in two years and has pledged his full support to Richards’ campaign. So far, no other candidate has officially announced his or her interest in the race for the 31st Council District, which includes the neighborhoods of Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Edgemere, Bayswater and parts of Cambria Heights and Ozone Park.

Richards said he would continue Sanders’ work to help solve the community’s biggest problems: violence and lack of programs for youth. The candidate said he is constantly out and about in the district and attends meetings with various groups to come up with solutions to the surge in shooting incidents in southeast Queens.

It was an act of violence that hit close to home and led to him to seek a career in politics.

In November 2003, Richards joined Sanders’ office while studying at Nyack College after his friend Darnell Patterson was murdered on the streets of Jamaica. The tragedy and a meeting with Sanders at an anti-gun event spurred the candidate to make a difference.

“When I lost my childhood friend to violence … I decided I wanted to do something about this community,” he said.

By starting out as an aide and later moving up to a district manager, Richards said he gained a lot of insight from Sanders and his staff. He has worked with them on several issues, including the constant flooding problems during torrential rain storms, the construction of a hot sheets motel near Springfield Gardens High School and mosquito problems in the Rockaways.

“There is not a fight I have not been involved with,” he said.

In 2008, Richards ran against state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) in that year’s Democratic primary, but lost to the incumbent. The candidate said the experience taught him to make connections early to avoid any roadblocks, such as petition signatures.

During the Assembly campaign, his signatures were challenged and he said he had to spend a lot of time away from the streets to resolve the issue.

“One of the things I’ve learned is that I have to work with different people from different walks of life. You don’t make the same mistake twice,” he said.

Former Mayor David Dinkins speaks at Dora Young's funeral. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Dora Young was more than just a political activist in southeast Queens, she was an inspiration and guiding force to the community leaders and elected officials in the city.

Nearly 200 mourners, including a Who’s Who of political heavyweights, gathered at St. Benedict the Moor Church in St. Albans Friday to honor the 89-year-old Democratic district leader for her decades of service.

Not only was Young one of the first black and female deputy clerks to work at Queens Borough Hall, she helped several elected officials get into higher office, including City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), state Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) and state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) as the co-chair of the Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club.

Comrie, who was joined by his fellow St. Albans leaders as well as Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), Assembly members Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) and Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona) and former Mayor David Dinkins, said politics was always her passion.

“A Democratic district leader is a non-paid position … yet so many [prominent] people came out here,” he said.

Young was born Oct. 20, 1921, in North Carolina, and after marrying Evie Young Jr. in 1949, the couple moved to Addisleigh Park, where she remained for the rest of her life.

She worked at Queens Borough Hall for more than two decades and officiated at hundreds of marriages. More than 40 years ago, she and former Councilman Archie Spigner helped to create the Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club to put southeast Queens on the political map.

Spigner said she really had a good vision for the club and always spoke candidly to everyone.

“She’d always used to tell me, ‘Archie, you’re not the only leader around here in the club,’” he joked.

Young took many up-and-coming political proteges under her wing and helped them accomplish their goals. Scarborough recalled that when he first joined the club, he wanted to run for several open elections, but she forbade him to do so due to his inexperience.

The assemblyman said her advice paid off and he was able to work his way up to the Assembly seat.

“Dora helped people and taught people,” he said.

Smith agreed and said her energy brought energy to any event or meeting among the elected officials.

“She was the type of person that once she got in a room, she lit it up. She got everyone talking,” she said.

Aside from her duties as the club’s co-leader, Young never lost touch with the community. She was active with her church and kept volunteering her time — especially at Christmas, when she answered children’s letters to Santa Claus as St. Nick’s secretary.

Even when an undisclosed illness kept her from being out and about, she would still lend a hand in the neighborhood and make sure that the community’s quality of life remained stable.

Dinkins, whom she campaigned for during the late 1980s, said her life would be an example to generations to come.

“Service to others is the right we pay for being on earth. Dora Young left paid in full,” he said.

Ruben Wills (c.) greets potential voters on Sutphin Boulevard Tuesday morning. Photo by Christina Santucci

Ruben Wills won the special election to fill the Council seat held by Thomas White with a modest lead over Nicole Paultre-Bell, unofficial election results from New York 1 said.

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, the longtime activist and political aide had about 31.2 percent of the total vote with 3,347 votes in the election for the District 28 seat, according to NY 1. Paultre-Bell, the fiancée of police shooting victim Sean Bell, had roughly 25.3 percent of the total with 2,721 residents choosing her at the polls, the station reported.

Albert Baldeo came in third with 1,512 votes, or about 14.1 percent, followed by former Councilman Allan Jennings, with 1,068 votes, or 9.95 percent; Charles Bilal, with 925 votes, or 8.6 percent; Harpreet Toor with 728 votes, or 6.8 percent; and Martha Butler with 436 votes, or 4.1 percent, according to NY 1.

The city’s Board of Elections said there were problems at polling stations in southeast Queens, which delayed the count for the election.

In other southeast Queens races, state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) won his bid for another term in Albany with 17,801 votes, roughly 74.1 percent of the total, and defeated GOP opponent Samuel Benoit, who had 5,089 votes, or about 21.2 percent of the total, and Conservative candidate Everly Brown, who had 1,146 votes, or 4.8 percent, according to NY 1. Only 72 percent of the precincts reported their results, NY 1 said.

State Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) and state Assembly members William Scarborough (D-St. Albans), Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) and Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica) all ran opposed in the general election and will be serving another term in Albany this January.

Wills, who was supported by state Huntley and City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), said he was positive that he would pull through to capture the seat.

“I look forward to working with the diverse neighborhoods of the 28th Council District to address the challenges we face together,” he said in a statement.

Paultre-Bell, who was backed by U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) and Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), could not be reached for comment.

Wills’s backers said he had proven himself for years during his work with Huntley and Comrie as well as community groups.

“I like that he lives in the community and has been part of the community for years,” said voter Evelyn Rucker, 40, after she cast her ballot at August Martin HS.

Voters choosing Paultre-Bell, who had to move into the district last month, said her fresh face in southeast Queens politics gave them confidence in putting their trust behind her campaign.

“I figured she’s new so they didn’t have a chance to corrupt her,” said Bernie Williams, a 59-year-old voter from Jamaica.

But others thought that her naivete would hinder her from getting positive results for the neighborhood.

“She has a reason, she has a cause, but we need a leader who knows what to do,” said Abigail Thomas, 22, who voted for Wills.

The special non-partisan election was held following White’s death in August. Seven candidates from all over the district, which includes the neighborhoods of Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Rochdale Village, threw their hats into the ring following the election’s announcement.

The large number of candidates on the ballot and the short time they had to get their message out on the streets made some voters a little confused about whom to choose.

“I was interested in the race, but I didn’t have any of the histories on them,” said a Jamaica voter who would only identify herself as Johnnise.

The 38-year-old said she ultimately omitted that race on her ballot.

“I would have made a choice, but I didn’t see them do anything for the community,” she said.

The winner will serve a term that lasts until Dec. 31, 2011 and will have to face another election next year to retain the Council seat.

State Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (l.) is facing a possible challenge from Clyde Vanel.

Election season has been heating up this summer in Queens as several political hopefuls announced their challenges against incumbents in the state Legislature.

The July filing with the state Campaign Finance Board revealed that state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) and state Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) will be facing competition during this fall’s Democratic primary.

But political newcomer Okenfe Lebarty, who has been listed in the campaign finance database as Titus’ challenger for the 31st Assembly District, which includes Far Rockaway, Rosedale and parts of South Ozone Park, announced his departure from the race early Tuesday morning.

Okenfe Lebarty (l.) announced the end of his campaign against state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus.

In an e-mail sent out to supporters, Lebarty, a West African immigrant who went to Far Rockaway High School and currently works as the executive director for the University Student Senate for the City University of New York, said his campaign finances had prevented him from continuing in the race.

He raised $3,385 for his campaign so far and spent $4,213, according to campaign finance records. Titus has collected $4,130 for her re-election and spent $3,188, records show.

“Due to lack of resources, we cannot maintain a vigorous and robust campaign, hence our path to victory will not be attainable,” Lebarty wrote in an e-mail.

Huntley, who was elected in 2007, has so far amassed $5,000 in contributions and spent $324 for her re-election bid for the 10th Senate District, which includes Jamaica, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and parts of Forest Hills.

State Sen. Shirley Huntley (l.) will be facing Lynn Nunes in the Democratic Primary.

Records show Lynn Nunes, who was six votes shy of defeating City Councilman Thomas White (D-South Ozone Park) during last year’s Democratic primary, has dwarfed the incumbent in both contributions and expenditures, campaign finance records show. The 25-year-old candidate has received $155,390 in contributions and spent $29,085 on his campaign so far, according to campaign finance records.

Nunes contributed the most to his run with a $10,000 donation to his campaign, according to the records.

Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans), the only one of Queens’ five-member Senate delegation who did not have an opponent listed on the campaign finance board website as of the July 15 filing deadline, has amassed $279,150 in contributions and spent $240,441 so far. The largest contribution came from David Rich, a Manhattan lobbyist for the Greater New York Hospital Association, records show.

Although Clyde Vanel has announced his run against Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village) in the 33rd Assembly District, which includes Queens Village, Cambria Heights and parts of Bellerose, he was not listed on the campaign finance database as of press time Tuesday. The Democratic challenger said he has filed with the campaign finance board and is still committed to his run for the Legislature.

Clark has so far raised $900 for her re-election campaign and spent $1,826 so far, records show. Vanel is listed on the city Board of Elections’ list of candidates who have amassed signatures to appear on the September ballot.

In southern Queens, state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) is facing a re-election challenge in the 15th Senate District from former Councilman Anthony Como, a Republican.

The district covers Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, Howard Beach, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and South Ozone Park.

Addabbo has raised $126,355 this year while Como has raised $17,657, according to campaign finance records.

The first-term senator has spent more than $70,000 and Como has spent more than $13,000.

Assemblyman Michael Miller (D-Woodhaven), who won a special election last year to replace disgraced former Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, is being challenged on two fronts in his quest to win re-election.

Nick Comaianni, a member of Community Board 9 and Community Educational Council 24, is running in the Democratic primary against Miller and Forest Park Senior Center Executive Director Donna Caltabiano is running as a Republican.

Miller has raised $26,655 this year and Caltabiano has raised $4,875. There were no fund-raising totals available yet for Comaianni.

Okenfe Lebarty

A west African immigrant who was planning a run for Assembly dropped his bid early Tuesday morning.

Okenfe Lebarty sent a mass e-mail message to his supporters around 12:40 a.m. alerting them that he could not go forward with his run against state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) in this fall’s Democratic primary. Lebarty, who works as the executive director for the University Student Senate for CUNY, according to his website, said money was the primary reason for his campaign’s suspension.

The e-mail read:

Dear friends,

After careful considerations, my campaign team and I have decided to suspend our campaign and not go
forward with the race for NYS Assembly District 31.

Due to lack of resources, we cannot maintain a vigorous and robust campaign, hence our path to victory
will not be attainable.

Although this campaign is ending, our fight for a more sustainable District 31 still continues.
My sincere gratitude to all those who helped and supported this campaign. Without you this would not have been
possible. Our work is not yet over. I hope all of you will continue to advocate a progressive agenda
in your communities. In the words of our fathers, ‘Hope does not kill, we shall live
and get what we want one day”

Thank you

Okenfe Lebarty

State campaign finance records showed that Lebarty collected $3,385 for his campaign and spent $4,213 on his race so far. Titus has $4,130 in contributions and spent $3,188 on her reelection bid so far, according to the records.

No other Democrats filed to get on the primary ballot against Titus this year.

Queens Coalition for Parks and Greenspaces President Fred Kress (from l.) and Councilman James Sanders listen to Jacques Leandre as he explains what happened during an event he co-sponsored in Brookville Park last month. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Civic leaders and residents of Rosedale clashed with state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) and political candidate Jaques Leandre last week as they tried to piece together how one of their family events at Brookville Park had spiraled out of control and littered the greenspace.

Members of the Queens Coalition for Parks and Greenspaces and the Rosedale Civic Association demanded answers from the politicians and the other co-sponsors of the Aug. 22 family day picnic at the park during a meeting Sept. 2 after alcohol was served during the afternoon and evening celebration and garbage was scattered for nearly one square block.

“If this was supposed to be a family day, then we are in trouble,” said Fred Kress, president of the Queens Coalition.

Brookville Park Manager Mark Edwards said an application permit for the family day picnic was submitted by Eric DeBerry, Titus’ husband, and it stated there would be 300 people attending.

When Edwards arrived the next morning to inspect the damage, which required extra city Parks Department crews, he was confronted by DeBerry and another organizer who screamed at him and demanded their deposit back.

“They said the party got out of control,” Edwards recalled. “These two gentlemen felt they did nothing wrong.”

Leandre, who is running against incumbent City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) in the Democratic primary next week, arrived at the meeting an hour late and said he heard about the litter and called DeBerry and the other man to go to the park the next morning to sort things out. He said he was appalled to hear about the incident and pledged to help the community rectify the situation.

“I would not expose my wife and children to that,” he said

Martha Butler of Titus’ office said she never saw the tent where the alcohol was served or the garbage, which contained several empty beer bottles and sexually suggestive postcards with scantily clad women. Although Kress and other community members took pictures of the litter and the confrontation between Edwards and DeBerry, Butler questioned whether the mess was caused by her office’s party.

“You think we would have sat there and let what happened happen?” she asked.

“Apparently you did,” responded Rosedale Civic member Paul Mader.

Titus arrived at the meeting more than an hour later, allegedly after Butler called her during the session, according to several community members, and disputed Edwards’ account of his meeting with her husband the morning after.

She suggested it was another party that trashed the park, but Edwards said that was impossible since the park was closed.

“It was not another party, it was an extension of the party from the daytime,” the park manager said.

Suzette Wilkins of Valley Stream, L.I., told the community members the event was initially created three years ago by her family and friends as a memorial to her husband, Vaughn, a Rosedale resident who was killed in an auto accident. During the second year, one of her friends, party promoter June Baloon, wanted to make the party bigger and called Titus’ office to help sponsor it and get permits.

For this year’s celebration, Wilkins said she only helped organize the area for the children and the other sponsors took over the remaining parts of the party. She said she was shocked when she saw a tent advertising “open bar, ladies only,” during the celebration, which was scheduled to last from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“I did address it and they said it was taken off,” Wilkins said of the sign.

The Long Island resident said she did not meet Titus that day and never met Leandre and apologized to the residents for the damage the party caused.

Kress and his fellow civic members accepted her apology, but he said he was going to pursue the matter with the Parks Department and possibly the state Assembly. He said Wilkins’ somber memorial was hijacked by the sponsors and he called for them to be banned from the park permanently.

Fred Kress, president of the Queens Coalition of Parks and Green Spaces, was scheduled to hold a meeting this week with the two elected officials and other community members to discuss the massive cleanup the city Parks Department had to undertake following the family day held there Aug. 22 between noon and 9 p.m.

A tent was set up in the park advertising an open bar for ladies, hard liquor was given away to dozens of participants and several empty bottles and trash were left behind the next morning, according to Kress.

“The debris field was one square block. I’ve never seen something like this in the park,” he said.

Among the garbage left at the park were sexually suggestive pamphlets with color photos of scantily clad women. It was not known who exactly set up the tent and sold the alcohol, according to the Parks Department.

Other sponsors for the family day picnic included a promotion company called June Ballon, an Avis car rental dealership on Long Island and a company called “Crazy Joint.”

“It’s so disturbing to see them not respect our community,” said Laurelton community activist Barbara Morris.

Titus condemned the alcohol distribution and littering of the park and said she did not see any of those activities when she visited the event with her daughter. The assemblywoman, who has hosted the family day picnic for the last three years, said there were many other groups using the space that day for other events.

“Shame on them. This was a beautiful day,” she said of the litterers. “Every event I hold, I make sure before we leave that it is cleaned.”

Several calls to Leandre, who is running against incumbent Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) in the Democratic primary in two weeks, were not returned.

Sanders said he was appalled by the incident after his office received several phone calls from constituents who complained about the wild party that went into the late hours of the night.

“I’ve been informed that one person passed out and the park was left in disorder,” he said. “I do not condone the use of drugs or alcohol in public venues.”

While Kress was overseeing the damage done to the park, he said he saw two of Leandre’s associates argue with park officials, asking for their money back. The park members declined and the men left, according to Kress.

“They were yelling, saying that, ‘They are the community [sic].’ Well, you’re not with the community if you’ve done this,” the civic leader said.

Kress said he tried to reach out to Leandre to get him to address the incident, but the political candidate said he was busy. The civic head said that was no excuse and called on him and Titus to take responsibility, regardless of who sold the contraband.

“Well, if you rented a hall and the people who stayed at the hall wrecked the place, you’re responsible,” he said.”