Elizabeth Crowley after voting on Tuesday, November 4 - Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Crowley campaignDemocrat Elizabeth Crowley narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Anthony Como in the race for the 30th City Council District, the only council district up for grabs this year. Crowley, who is an educator, captured 56 percent of the vote after two earlier unsuccessful attempts to win this seat.
“I’m pleased. I’m delighted. I won yesterday, but the most important work is ahead of me,” said Crowley of Middle Village, explaining that she will work with the community to address issues such as overdevelopment.
“I was cautiously optimistic,” she added. Crowley explained that she was more hopeful back in June this year, when she fought for this same seat, which had been vacated by the resignation of disgraced City Councilmember Dennis Gallagher, against Como. Gallagher’s resignation had required a special election. In 2001, Crowley lost the same Council seat to Gallagher.
Crowley said that while she tried to attract votes at subway stops on Election Day, she got a particularly warm response from the public. Crowley used a grassroots campaign.
Her victory means that Como’s City Council term will be one of the shortest in history - less than a year long.
“It was a hard-fought campaign,” said James McClelland, chief of staff for Como, adding that Como and his staff will help Crowley when she assumes her post.
“I think it was more of a vote against the party. We just happened to be victims of that,” McClelland explained.
Senator Serphin Maltese, who on Election Day lost his seat in the 15th Senate District to Democratic Councilmember Joseph Addabbo, agreed. “I think a number of Democrats stayed on the line, and it obviously affected myself and my legislative colleague Anthony Como,” Maltese explained.
Throughout the campaign, Crowley touted her experience as an educator, saying that her work, including partnerships with businesses and community centers, has provided job training services and education programs to thousands of New Yorkers in need.
Crowley is the daughter of parents who served on the Council and the cousin of Representative Joseph Crowley.
