Jamaica Pol Elected To Lead Queens Democratic Party

QUEENS, NY — U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks was unanimously elected Monday as the new chairman of the Queens Democratic Party. Meeks succeeds former U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, who stepped down in February.

About 70 district leaders met Monday morning at the county headquarters in Forest Hills to elect Meeks, who represents Southeast Queens in Congress. A spokesperson said the meeting was unusually well-attended.

The Queens organization is considered the most powerful party branch in the five boroughs, according to City & State.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the Chairman of the Queens Democratic Organization, Gregory W. Meeks. #AlwaysForward pic.twitter.com/GolnxoHrra
— Patrick Jenkins (@NYStrategist) March 11, 2019

Meeks was considered the most likely successor to Crowley, according to a City & State report that broke the news ahead of the Monday election. Crowley left the post after he joined one of the country's top lobbying firms. Meeks, a Crowley ally, is unlikely to spearhead radical changes within the party, City & State reported. He's a vocal opponent of a bill that would raise taxes on Wall Street traders and supported the Amazon HQ2 deal for Long Island City.

In 2013, Meeks was named one of the 13 most corrupt Congress members by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit that investigates the influence of money in politics. In 2006, Meeks paid a below-market sum for a St. Albans house built by one of his campaign contributors on land owned by another contributor, according to the CREW report. He has also failed to report loans on personal financial disclosure forms, CREW found.

Meeks represents New York's Fifth Congressional District, which covers Jamaica, Cambria Heights, Hollis, Laurelton, Queens Village, Rosedale, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park and the Rockaways.