Adrienne Adams, chairwoman of Community Board 12, on Thursday announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 28th City Council District, the seat vacated last week when Ruben Wills was convicted on corruption charges.
Adams’ announcement came with the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, Bronx), who also serves as the Queens County Democratic Party chairman.
Crowley and the party previously had endorsed Wills for re-election.
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens, Nassau) also has endorsed Adams.
She joins a Democratic field that already includes Hettie Powell, Richard David and former Councilman Allan Jennings.
“Community and service are not empty words, but are the principles that have guided my life,” Adams said in a statement issued by her campaign. “As I campaign to represent the people of the 28th Council District, I am proud to have the support of Congress Members Crowley and Meeks, and look forward to partnering with them and my many friends in the City Council to improve the economic opportunity, transportation options, and overall quality of life in Rochdale, Jamaica, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.”
“The people of Queens deserve honest representation and a City Council member who will fight tirelessly for the best interests of the community,” Crowley said. “Adrienne Adams has proven time and again that she knows what this community needs and how to build the coalitions necessary to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I’m proud to support her campaign for City Council.”
“As we work to stem the extremism of Donald Trump’s presidency, having City Council Members who are committed to working together to deliver for our communities is critical,” Meeks said. “Adrienne Adams has a record of delivering for the people of Queens as Chairwoman of Community Board 12, and I know she’ll continue to do so as our new City Councilwoman.”
Adams has been chairwoman of Community Board 12 since 2012, taking over when the panel was in a state of turmoil.
She is also a member of the Jamaica Now Leadership Council, which promotes economic development in the neighborhood, as well as serving on the Governor’s Local Planning Committee for the Jamaica Downtown Revitalization Initiative in support of funding specific revitalization project,s and is a past member of the Queens Borough Public Library Board of Trustees.
Adams last year ran against state Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) in the 10th Senate Democratic primary.
She jumped into the race when Sanders announced his intention to primary Meeks in the 5th Congressional District. Sanders eventually dropped the bid, but Adams won the party’s endorsement. In the September primary, however, Sanders defeated Adams by 15 points and coasted to re-election in November.
Sanders is believed to be backing Powell for the nomination.
The Democratic Primary will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12th.