Steve is a man of and for District 19. Steve first interest is, and always will be, our District. District 19 deserves a candidate who has fought for our community and against the special interests. If anyone knows the district inside and out, it’s Steve — and this is why he is running to be your council member. Steve knows that District 19 deserves a representative who has fought for the community and against narrow special interests; a representative who is not beholden to real estate developers or interested in expanding a family empire, but accountable to the people; a representative who speaks with an independent voice and provides experience and bold leadership in these uncertain times.

A Boy from the Neighborhood…

Steve's parents moved with their two sons to Bayside 39 years ago when Steve was in first grade. A product of the public school system, Steve attended P.S. 46, I.S. 74, and Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. Steve’s mother Gloria was vice president of the Parents Teachers Association at P.S. 46 and worked in the lunchroom of P.S. 98 in Douglaston for 21 years. Likewise, Steve’s father Julius, a World War II veteran, worked in the lunchroom of P.S. 203 in Bayside after he retired from his career as a textile printer. Steve’s father has held various positions in local Knights of Pythias lodges, including three terms as the Chancellor Commander of the Apollo Lodge in Bayside. Steve’s father is currently a member of the United Queens Knights of Pythias Lodge in Flushing and the Queensview Knights of Pythias Lodge in Whitestone. Steve’s brother Jeff has owned a bagel store in Bayside for over 14 years and has worked in that same store for over 25 years.

A Man of Service…

Steve has been a political and community activist in Northeast Queens for years. Steve believes that government can work properly only with community involvement. He has lived up to this principle with years of service in northeast Queens and beyond. Steve understands that the best citizen is the informed citizen, not a community left in the dark. Through Democrats for New Politics, he has worked to bring elected officials, candidates, community leaders, and renowned experts to northeast Queens to teach and inform the community of the issues we face. And, the best way to use this knowledge is to take it to the voting booth. Through voter registration drives, Steve has helped register many new voters in Queens. Steve firmly believes that registering citizens to vote and giving them a voice in who is elected to public office only strengthens our democracy.

Steve has campaigned for many local Democratic candidates including Councilmen Tony Avella and Jim Genarro. Steve currently serves as Councilman Avella's representative to Community Board 7 and Community Board 11. During the 2008 presidential campaign Steve formed the Bayside-based group Northeast Queens for Obama. Under Steve's leadership, Northeast Queens for Obama, working with the Obama campaign and the Queens County Young Democrats, hosted debate watch parties, voter registration drives, phone banked into key swing-states, opened an Obama-Biden office in Flushing and coordinated weekend volunteer trips to Pennsylvania from Bayside.

Steve is a member of the Jefferson Democratic and has been a member of the Saul Weprin Democratic Club since 1986. Since 2004, he has also served as president of Democrats for New Politics, a Northeast Queens-based independent Democratic club established in 1968. Additionally, Steve serves on the Board of Directors of the Queens County Progressive Democratic Club.

What the future holds…

Steve takes pride in being a true son of northeast Queens. This is why he has served District 19 for many years and wants to continue to do so as your council member. Much progress has been made over the years, but there is still much to be done. Steve knows this, knows northeast Queens, and knows what it takes to best serve the people of District 19.