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The Race ...

City Council
District 28

Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village and South Jamaica

Know something we should know? Let us know at campaign05@gothamgazette.com

Election Results ...

General Election Results

Thomas White

Primary Results

Thomas White

Candidates...

The Incumbent:
Allan Jennings

General Election Challenger(s):
Charles A. Bilal
Jereline Hunter
Thomas White

Primary Election Challenger(s):
Albert Baldeo
Charles A. Bilal
Clifton Stanley Diaz
Dhanpaul Narine
Thomas White

(Candidate Biographies below)

Campaign Finance Board General Election Voter Guide for District 28

Campaign Finance Board Voter Guide for District 28

Feature Articles ...

District 28: Scandals and Allegations in Queens

August 12, 2005

Most City Council races get little press coverage, but one race, the campaign for district 28 in South Jamaica and Richmond Hill, Queens is generating headlines almost daily.

The reason is the incumbent, Allan Jennings, who has a reputation for bizarre, and at times, hostile behavior.

Since being elected in 2001, Jennings has compared himself to Jesus Christ, placed ads in newspapers smearing his estranged wife and proclaiming his love for a Chinese dancer, released the names of undercover police officers at a public hearing, and threw a chunk of scrap metal at a FOX news television reporter while the camera rolled.

This spring, the City Council found Jennings guilty of "creating a hostile work environment" after five women charged the council member with touching them sexually and subjecting them to racist and intimidating remarks. The council fined Jennings $5,000, stripped him of his committee assignments, and required him to undergo anger management training.

Jennings, who maintains his innocence, has refused to pay the fine or attend the classes and is suing the City Council.

"Throughout my life I have committed many sins," Jennings said at the time. "But the sins I am accused of... I did not commit. I am innocent."

Citing Jennings unseemly behavior, five challengers are trying to unseat the incumbent this fall.

But several of the challengers also have been involved in questionable activities.

Thomas White, who represented district 28 in the City Council from 1991 until 2001 when he was term limited out of office, has been investigated for using state and federal money - that was supposed to go to drug treatment programs - to buy a new sport utility vehicle and pay gas bills and parking tickets. Although three employees of the program headed by White pleaded guilty to taking $367,000 in kickbacks in 2001, he maintains his innocence.

And two other candidates - immigration lawyer Albert Baldeo and pediatrician Robby Mahadeo – have filed criminal charges against one another.

Albert Baldeo said that Robby Mahadeo and another man threatened him several times to drop out of the race. In response, Mahadeo claims Baldeo waved a gun at his wife and children. (The Board of Elections has also knocked Mahadeo off the ballot; he is appealing the ruling.)

With all of the controversy surrounding the candidates, voters in the area may have trouble choosing a candidate who can address the area’s issues like education, housing, and crime.

It does not help that two of the six candidates – Thomas White and Allan Jennings – refused to be interviewed.

White declined numerous requests for an interview. A staff member for Jennings said an interview was "impossible" because the council member was "booked for the next month and a half." Reached on his cell phone, Jennings hung up abruptly.

EDUCATION
The four candidates who agreed to be interviewed say that the area’s schools are over-crowded and under-funded.

Albert Baldeo blames the bureaucracy of the Department of Education. He wants the regional superintendents of the schools to be moved out of their Manhattan headquarters and into offices in the areas they represent.

Dhanpaul Narine, a middle school teacher, agrees. "We need to decrease our dependence on Manhattan, and focus more on Queens," he said.

Narine wants to see more pre-kindergarten facilities open throughout the district, arguing that an early investment in education pays off later, particularly on third grade math and reading tests that Mayor Michael Bloomberg has put much of his emphasis on.

Narine, who holds a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics, also plans to get banks involved in order to fund such initiatives. "I will create an active partnership with the private sector," he said. "It plays a large role in education."

Charles Bilal, an imam at the Masjib Al Hamdul Lillah mosque in Jamaica, would like to establish more computer centers in the district. For example, he says, in August Martin High School only eight of the 180 computers work and none have access to the Internet.

HOUSING
Jereline Hunter, the lone Republican candidate in the race, complains of overdevelopment in the area and promises to stop the demolition of one-family homes that are being replaced by multi-family buildings.

"Houses are being squeezed anywhere," said Hunter.

Charles Bilal believes that developers are also using faulty building materials to construct new houses in the area. He plans to organize a citizens committee to monitor new construction. "This is considered a dumping ground," Bilal said. "Anything you want to build that is superficial, build it here."

Albert Baldeo has been involved in trying to save affordable housing in the district. He currently represents the residents of Rochdale Village, a housing development with 25,000 residents, who are faced with a 12 percent rent increase, the third hike in recent years. He has helped draw up a petition calling for an outside audit of the Rochdale Village Corporation’s finances, according to a Times Ledger article.

Baldeo also hopes to address high foreclosure rates in the district by establishing a housing assistance center, which will offer grants and loans to families.

CRIME
According to crime reports, the police precincts that serve district 28 have experienced both increases in burglaries and grand larceny. The South Jamaica area has also seen an increase in murders.

Charles Bilal said if elected he would call for a revival of the community policing program, which Mayor David Dinkins instituted in the late 1980s. The program paired police officers who patrolled the streets with local residents.

"Mayor Dinkins had the best program," Bilal said. "The community should know their police officers and the police officers should know their community."

Jereline Hunter is calling for a different approach. She wants to establish counseling and job training programs for young people who are being released from prison before they return to the community.

"If we really want to rehab them it is our duty to have jobs for them," Hunter said.

THE CAMPAIGN
Although Allan Jennings has been widely criticized for his actions in the press, he maintains that he still has strong support from people in the community who say he has delivered for them. On the day he was censured by the City Council, two dozen supporters showed up on his behalf.

"You can speak to anyone in my district," Jennings told the New York Times in early August. "My office responds to people. And the people in my district know that I have been responsible for a lot of real accomplishments for this community. The people of this district will re-elect me."

Thomas White is the first of the 38 City Council members term limited out of office in 2001 to run for his previous seat. White is hoping to draw on his support from the past, and the local party’s dissatisfaction with Jennings. He has the backing of the Queen’s Democratic Party and the endorsement of influential leaders like Reverend Floyd Flake.

By mid-July, Albert Baldeo had raised the largest amount money with $63,555 according to the Campaign Finance Board. Thomas White has just over $60,000, followed by Dhanpaul Narine with $16,097 and Charles Bilal with $5,450.

Allan Jennings, who owes the Campaign Finance Board $42,885 in penalties for previous violations, has been barred from the program this year. Jennings maintains that the records the board is seeking were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which killed his campaign treasurer. The Campaign Finance Board is in the process of garnishing a portion of Jennings’ $90,000 salary from the council.

Candidate Bios ...

The Incumbent:

Allan Jennings | Dem |
Allan W. Jennings was elected to the City Council in 2001. Before his election to the Council, Jennings was the senior vice president for First Federal Mortgage Bankers. He served as Special Assistant to the late New York State Assembly Member Cynthia Jenkins. He was also a confidential investigator for the Department of Corrections.

Challenger(s):

Albert Baldeo | Dem |
Albert Baldeo is an attorney in southeast Queens. He is president of the Community Outreach Assistance Center and a member of South East Queens Concerned Neighbors, the Richmond Hill Block Association, the Locust Grove Civic Association, and the Richmond Hill South Civic Association.

Charles A. Bilal | IND |
Charles A. Bilal is the founder and Imam (Pastor) of the mosque Masjib Al Hamdul Lillah. He is the founder of KEYS (Keep Elevating Youth Services Inc.), an organization that provides community youth services. Previously, Mr. Bilal has worked as an Imam/Chaplain with the New York City Department of Corrections. Mr. Bilal ran for City Council in 2001.

Clifton Stanley Diaz | Dem |
Clifton Stanley Diaz is employed with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/New York City Transit. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he is also a security consultant and was a former U.S. Police Officer. Diaz formerly served as the president of the Rochdale Village Board of Directors and is the president and founder of the Rochdale Village Civic Association. He has served as a page boy in the New York City Council and as a intern in the office of City Council President Paul O'Dwyer. Diaz was also a member, treasurer and president of community school board 28 and was a member of community board 12.

Jereline Hunter | Rep |
Jereline Hunter is the co-founder of GET-SMART Environmental Youth Organization. She also started the Shad-oos Modeling and Management Agency. Ms. Hunter is a member of The Presbyterian Women USA and The United Council of Black Republicans. She been involved with Key Women of America, Landmark Education Inc., and was on the Leaders Team of the Queens Citizen Organization. Ms. Hunter ran for the 32nd Assembly District seat in 2004.

Dhanpaul Narine | Dem |
Dhanpaul has been a teacher in the New York City School system for the past 17 years. He was president of the Third World Society at the London School of Economics. He also co-founded Guyana Watch and the Phagwah Parade, one of the largest street festivals in Queens.

Thomas White | Dem |
Thomas White is the former council member for district 28. He served in office from 1991 until 2001, when he was term limited out of office.

Campaign Trail ...

Below are the latest Campaign Trail items for the District 28 race. For the full Campaign Trail archive, go here

Another Loss for Jennings

September 28, 2005
City Councilmember Allan Jennings yesterday lost his bid to have the Board of Elections call a new election in his City Council race. Jennings, who lost the primary to former Councilmember Thomas White by 729 votes, said voting machines arrived late at six polling places where he traditionally does well. But election officials said voters filled out paper ballots until all the machines were in place by 9:55 a.m. Jennings’ attorney said he would now file a federal lawsuit.
(Newsday)

Seeking Fresh Start in District 28

September 15, 2005
Now that embattled Councilman Allan Jennings has lost his reelection bid, constituents in his 28th District in southeastern Queens are hoping for a major shift in the local political landscape. (Daily News)

Jennings Loses Council Seat

September 14, 2005
In a rare defeat for an incumbent City Council member, Allan Jennings, a Queens Democrat who has been shadowed by controversies, lost the party's primary yesterday to Thomas White Jr., his predecessor and the candidate of the Queens Democratic organization, which poured its resources behind Mr. White's candidacy.
(New York Times)

Sad Race in Queens

September 7, 2005
The Daily News surveys the race for the 28th City Council district in Queens and finds the incumbent Allan Jennings and all the candidates sorely lacking: “Endorsing any of these clowns is out of the question.”
(Daily News)

The Sad Case for Allan Jennings

April 27, 2005
To me the whole thing is pretty clear. I’ve known and have interviewed Allan Jennings several times since he first became a candidate for City Council some six years ago. He is strange; very, very strange. A number of years ago, in discussing Jennings with me, a female reporter noted that, “he doesn’t march to the tune of his own drummer, he hears a tuba.” (Queens Tribune)

Rookies steal spotlight Rookies steal spotlight

August 4, 2005
Jennings' troubles may be overshadowed by two novice politicians who accuse each other of harassment, menacing and other criminal allegations that are now in the hands of the Queens district attorney.

Attorney Albert Baldeo was arrested Tuesday on charges he allegedly waved a gun at the wife of a rival Democrat, pediatrician Robby Mahadeo, in order to intimidate him to back out of the contest.
(Newsday)

Queens City Council Candidate Denies He Harassed Wife Of Rival

August 4, 2005
A Queens candidate for city council denies charges that he harassed the wife of an opponent, in the latest twist in an ongoing political saga.
(NY1)

Council Candidate Charged With Threatening Rival’s Wife

August 3, 2005
Queens City Council candidate Albert Baldeo, a lawyer, was charged yesterday with menacing and harassment. Baldeo allegedly confronted the wife of political opponent Robby Mahadeo, waved a gun and told her Mahadeo should drop out of the City Council race or face consequences, police said. On past occasions, Baldeo accused Mahadeo, a pediatrician, of threatening behavior. Mahadeo, who denies the accusation, faces criminal charges. Both men are running for the seat currently held by Allan Jennings.

(Newsday)

As Five Rivals Circle, Embattled Councilman Allan Jennings Seems Unworried

August 2, 2005
City Councilman Allan W. Jennings Jr. spent the last year dealing with the ramifications of sexual harassment charges against him. But as he seeks re-election in his Queens district, he talks like a man without a political care in the world.In an interview at his district office, Mr. Jennings said he is utterly unworried about the possibility of defeat this year. And it is a message he sounds repeatedly, despite being the subject of a barrage of headlines focusing on the accusations against him.
"I'm confident because my record speaks for itself," said Mr. Jennings, 38, who faces five challengers in the Democratic primary on Sept. 13.
The Queens Democratic Party organization, never a supporter of Mr. Jennings, is supporting Thomas White Jr., 66, the councilman's predecessor, who left office after the 2001 election because of term limits. Mr. White, who served in the Council for 10 years, defeated Mr. Jennings in three primaries in the 1990's."He is an issue in this race," Mr. White said of Mr. Jennings. "He is not doing the job."
(New York Times)

2 challengers put the heat on Jennings in Council race

July 28, 2005
It has been a notable primary campaign this year in the 28th Council District, where embattled incumbent Allan Jennings (D-Jamaica) is fending ff two majo

While Jennings has been mired in legal flaps over his personal misconduct and with the City Council leadership over the right to publish his district newsletter, Democratic challengers Thomas White and Albert Baldeo have raised significant amounts of money and traction in their quests to unseat the beleaguered Jennings.
(Times Ledger)

Council Considers Higher Fine for Jennings

July 27, 2005
At a closed door meeting yesterday, the City Council Standards and Ethics Committee discussed whether to increase its $5,000 fine against Queens Councilmember Allan Jennings, who allegedly harassed his employees. (Newsday)

Six Contenders Vying Allan Jennings' Seat

July 25, 2005
With six contenders vying to take his job, disgraced City Councilman Allan Jennings could face a rocky road to re-election — an unusual position for an incumbent.
(NY Post)

Full District 28 Campaign Trail Archive

District 28 Campaign Trail in RSS format.