Lynn Schulman Gets Party Nod In Packed Forest Hills Council Race

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — The Queens County Democratic Party and the J.F.K. Regular Democratic Club this week endorsed Lynn Schulman in the crowded race to represent Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill in the New York City Council.

The endorsements give Schulman's campaign an added boost as she competes against 11 other candidates who have so far registered to run for the seat, currently held by the term-limited City Council Member Karen Koslowitz, who leaves office at the end of this year.

“Our grassroots campaign is building a robust and diverse coalition for change," Schulman told Patch. "I welcome the support of the Queens County Democrats and the JFK Democratic Club because we need to be united as we confront the challenges we face in health care, income inequality, and racial justice.”

Schulman already benefits from name recognition among political heavyweights, thanks to her work as a senior community and emergency services liaison for City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and an early fundraising advantage.

Schulman had already raised $71,000 for her campaign by September, becoming one of the top fundraisers of any City Council candidate at that time, according to City & State.

She has also been endorsed by the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, the Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens, and the Victory Fund, a national LGBTQ organization, as well as such influential unions as the Hotel Trades Council, 32BJ, the New York State Nurses Association and the United Federation of Teachers.

Now at $75,000 raised, plus another $160,000 in public matching funds, Schulman remains the race's top fundraiser. Of that, $7,895 came from 58 people registered as doing business with the city.

Some of those donors have reported lobbying Schulman directly in her role working for Johnson, City & State reported last year, but she brushed off pay-to-play concerns.

But the New York City Campaign Finance Board's matching funds program, which matches small donations from New York City residents, has given Schulman some competition.

Two other candidates, Aleda Gagarin and David Aronov, have almost as much or even more cash on hand than Schulman, according to campaign finance records filed last month.

Aronov, who, at 24, would be one of the youngest members of the City Council, previously worked for Koslowitz, who has yet to endorse a successor. He also worked as a Queens organizer for New York City's 2020 Census effort and founded the nonprofit Bukharian Jewish Union.

Gagarin, who leads fundraising efforts at the nonprofit Candid, is endorsed by the Working Families Party and is positioning herself as the progressive among a field of Democrats. (Her campaign manager and spouse, Mel Gagarin, attempted an insurgent congressional campaign to oust U.S. Rep. Grace Meng last year.)

Volunteer EMT and nonprofit founder Avi Cyperstein is vying for the support of Orthodox and Bukharian Jewish constituents by racking up endorsements from local rabbis and prominent Jewish community members.

The other candidates are Evan Boccardi, Michael Conigliaro, Sheryl Fetik, Eliseo Labayen, Marcelle Lashley-Kabore, Douglas Shapiro, Edwin Wong and Donghui Zang.

The dozen candidates have four months until June's likely-decisive Democratic primary election to win over voters and donors.