Special Election Set For Donovan Richards' City Council Seat

FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS — Mayor Bill de Blasio has called a special election on Feb. 23 to replace Donovan Richards on the City Council, who left his seat this week to take office as Queens borough president.

The special election will determine who represents the 31st City Council district — covering Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens — until the end of 2021.

At that point, the winner of a November 2021 general election will take over for a full four-year term.

"This date, within the window allowed by the City Charter, will give residents the chance to make thoughtful and informed decisions about their representation," de Blasio said in a statement Friday.

The race will be the second special election that month in Queens.

A Feb. 2 election will decide who fills City Council Member Rory Lancman's seat representing parts of Central Queens, which he gave up to join Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration.

Both special elections are slated to make use of a new ranked-choice voting system that takes effect next year.

Under the new system, voters list candidates in order of preference rather than having to select just one candidate.

But a growing movement is trying to delay its implementation, arguing that there has not been enough of an effort to educate voters about the voting system.