By MICHELLE SELLERS

Queens will send an entirely new delegation of councilmembers to City Hall next year and all but one of the 14 will be Democrats.

The Republican party lost Council District 19 in northeast Queens and District 32 in southwest Queens to the Democratic candidate. Only northwest District 30, currently held by Tom Ognibene, will remain in the care of a Republican, Dennis Gallagher.

On the Southeast Queens front, campaign and party fever was running high Nov. 6. James Sanders, running for
the 31st Council District, described the result numbers as looking "marvelous" at 10 p.m. on election night.

"I feel good," Sanders said, with 75 percent of the vote accounted for which gave him a 12:1 lead in the race. "The people of the 31st district have spoken and they are decisive on change," said Sanders beaming with confidence. As Sanders prepares to take office, he commented that he would act upon the things he listened to while campaigning in the Queens district.

"I understand there is the need for a youth center in Laurelton, there are concerns with flooding conditions in Springfield Gardens and Rosedale and a need for economic development in Rockaway," said Sanders, putting the issues atop his list of change. Sanders’ aim for the entire district is "education," he noted. "I intend to be a passionate activist in all of these arenas," he said, asking for support from his former opponents. "When I do right, say it. When I do wrong, pull me to the side and alert me. If I continue to do wrong, go public against me," said Sanders, contending his ability to rebuild not only Queens, but New York.

Allan Jennings, Jr., the winner of the 28th Council District, anticipates focusing on educating Queens children. "Starting in January 2002, I will start a campaign to help our children read and write. I am looking for 200 volunteers, that’s 20 for each school, to help the 4th graders pass the newly instituted standardized testing." Acknowledging that 61 percent of the children in his district failed the equivalency test in May of this year, while 81 percent passed in other Queens communities, Jennings, Jr. said, "We are all to blame. It takes a village to raise a child."

Other things that Jennings, Jr. aims to accomplish during his term are "economic development and employment." To do this Jennings is planning a job fair in the district bringing federal and state agencies under one roof in May to reach out to residents who need employment.

Taking over Archie Spigner’s seat in District 27 will be Leroy Comrie who stated he was glad the numbers were what they were for the general election, but he "didn’t take it for granted," considering the close call in the September Primary race.

Although disappointed that the City would not have a Democrat as mayor, Comrie plans to be "aggressive and active in the community to make it a better place for people to raise their families," he said.

"I will utilize my expertise and connections in government to help the economic downturn since Sept. 11," said Comrie. To do so Comrie plans to be a leader in the economic revitalization in the district, which he acknowledged has "affected businesses and individuals in Queens."

According to Comrie, who said despite walking into a major deficit in the district for this year and next, some work must be done through a "micro" approach. "We must restore organizations and civics to get information from the city government to ensure people are aware of what their civic responsibilities are," especially new Queens residents, mentioned Comrie.

As a Community School Board 29 member, Comrie plans to continue his focus on education. "We have to have a well trained work force," Comrie urged.

In addition to these prevalent issues, Comrie said he also, "vigorously address quality of life issue," in the 27th Council district.

It was a landslide victory and a step into history for Helen Marshall as she was elected to be Queens’ first African American borough president and join the victory ranks of an entirely new Queens delegation for the 2002 City Council.

Marshall graciously accepted the 69 percent win over her opponent Councilman Alfonso Stabile, who collected 31 percent of the vote. And as she spoke to the gathering of friends, supporters and Queens Democratic leaders, she pointed out her unique role as the 18th Queens borough president and the second woman to hold the job.

"I am proud of being here and living the American dream," she said.

Marshall pledged a seamless transition, and thanked Borough President Claire Shulman for laying a strong foundation to follow.

"All I have to do is build on the high standards and guidance of Claire’s dedication and devotion to our great borough," said Marshall.

"I’ve spent the last 19 years serving in various branches of government and now I will use my experience to work for all of Queens," she added, "My goal is to make Queens the best borough in the world," she asserted.

Shulman attended the victory celebration and added, "We’ve made history today. I was concerned about who would take my place, but the person I wanted to take it won, and I congratulate the new queen of Queens."

Archie Spigner of the 27th City Council district knew before the end of October what history had in mind for Marshall. He introduced her at the Oct. 24 meeting of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation as the future borough president and "Queens first lady." He went on to say, "She is an active civic and community leader here and in Albany with education expertise," at the discussion on the developments in the southeast Queens community.

Community School Board 29 President Nathaniel Washington added his support, saying "I think she will make a great Borough President. One of the best yet. She understands the needs of Queens as a whole and understands the plight of minority and so called majority minorities. She is an advocate for public school education, especially the need for space in District 29 as we implement phase two of building schools to relieve overcrowding."

And the first word Woodhull Block Association President Norine Wright had to say about the win was, "Awesome."

He added, "She came out to visit the Hollis community and met the residents and church leaders to talk with them about our concerns," said the civic leader. "She cares and seemed sincere, especially about education when she talked to parents."

Shulman On Marshall

When Shulman spoke of the victory won this week by her close friend and future Borough President Helen Marshall, she said she was both proud and "a little sad."

Shulman told the PRESS on Nov. 8, "Since I supported Helen so strongly, I am thrilled that she won yesterday . . . The victory celebration was exciting and fun and happy, and I had a great time . . . It’s a bittersweet feeling, though. I love this job and I think I did it well, and I’ll miss it. But it’s time for new blood and possibly for new horizons to open up in the borough."

Shulman said she is "confident" that Marshall will do a good job as borough president, and said with a laugh, "I’ve been friends with Helen for only about 30 years. She’s a really decent person. I know she’ll do fine things for this borough." She added, "Helen told me she might need some help in the beginning, and I’m willing to help her. Whatever is necessary I will do . . . Helen is keeping some of my people on staff so the borough’s business can be done smoothly, and I appreciate that."

Marshall’s place in history as the first African American borough president in Queens is something Shulman is "very proud" of. She said, "Queens is historically very moderate in its political philosophy, so for the people to elect an African-American woman for borough president is really a sign of the times. I’m very proud of Queens right now." Marshall will also be the second woman borough president behind Shulman, prompting Shulman to say, "I’ve started a trend. You know why, it’s because women are great detail people and they make sure things get done."

As for her own future, Shulman said, "I’m not retiring. This is a beginning for me, too. I will be doing something. I don’t know yet what I’ll be doing, but I will be definitely doing something."

The woman elected this week to be the next borough president of Queens described Jamaica as an area "ripe for development" at a recent membership meeting of Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC).

Helen Marshall said she feels there are "some possibilities and opportunities" in Queens for businesses that have been displaced by the World Trade Center attack.

Marshall noted several significant private and public economic development projects underway in Jamaica Center and said she is pleased "they will be done under my watch."

Noting that Jamaica’s residential population is predominantly minority, Marshall said progress was being brought about "with the community," an arrangement she asserted is essential to development plans anyplace in the borough.

During the GJDC session, progress was reported on three fronts:

• Plans for the construction of a $90 million 300,000 square foot office tower near the AirTrain Jamaica Terminal. GJDC, sponsor of the project, recently designated LCOR Inc. as the developer.

• Additional expansion schedules by JetBlue, the new airline operating out of JFK Airport and headquartered in Queens. Fifty percent of the airline’s employees come from Southeast Queens, according to the GJDC.

While final results in Queens elections will not be available until Nov. 12, the New York City Board of Elections has compiled a tally of votes in all Queens elections from police precincts and poll workers.

Photos of the winners with the numbers in the Queens Borough President election and the City Council elections are as follows:

Queens Borough President
D - Helen Marshall: 185,347 votes, 68%
R - Al Stabile: 85,597 votes, 31%
G - Dorothy Williams-Pereira: 3,228 votes, 1%

District 27
D - Leroy Comrie: 17,264 votes, 81%
I - Cynthia Jenkins: 1,881 votes, 8%
R - Ishmael Morgan: 1,677 votes, 8%
IND - Ed McKay: 436 votes, 2%

District 28
D - Allan Jennings: 11,670 votes, 69%
L - Anthony Andrews, Jr.: 2,665 votes, 16%
R - Rameshwar Jodha: 1,536 votes, 9%
IND - Inderjit Singh: 353 votes, 2%
F - Garth Marchant: 290 votes, 2%
W - Patrick Jenkins: 283 votes, 2%

District 31
D,W - James Sanders: 15,290 votes, 85%
R, F - Everly Brown: 1,926 votes, 11%
I - Rosalind O’Neal: 447 votes, 2%
L - Ed Lewis: 218 votes, 1%
G - Francisco Pena: 149 votes, 1%

Political Parties Key
R = Republican
D = Democrat
I = Independence
C = Conservative
L = Liberal
RTL = Right to Life
G = Green
W = Working Families
F = Fusion
IND = Independent of party affiliation