Katz Wins Queens Borough President Race

Democrat Melinda Katz defeated Republican Aurelio Arcabascio in the race for Queens borough president.

With 72 percent of the vote counted, Katz, who was a former state assemblywoman and City Council member for Forest Hills, received 79 percent of the vote, while Arcabascio took 17 percent, The New York Times reported.

Everly Brown, who ran for Queens borough president on the Jobs and Education line, got 2 percent of the vote.

Karen Koslowitz held onto her Council seat after defeating Independent Jon Torodash. Koslowitz received 91 percent of the vote, while Torodash had 8 percent.

Former State Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a Democrat, bested Republican Alexander Blishteyn and Faith and Values candidate Mujib Rahman in the race for Councilman James Gennaro’s seat, which covers a sliver of Forest Hills and Kew Gardens.

Lancman received 75 percent of the vote, while Blishteyn took 18 percent and Rahman had 5 percent.

Elsewhere in Queens, Flushing attorney Democrat Paul Vallone, who is Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.’s brother, defeated Douglaston attorney Dennis Saffran, a Republican, by 57-42 percent.