FAR ROCKAWAY — A youth group leader arrested in 2014 for assault says he hopes voters will give him a "fair shot" with a run for a district leader seat this September.
Milan Taylor is a founder and chief executive officer of the Rockaway Youth Task Force, a civic-minded organization that engages local youth through volunteering and other activities, according to its site.
He's also a member of Community Board 14.
In 2014, he was arrested on assault, harassment and criminal obstruction of breathing charges after he allegedly threw Riána Sherwood, then 25, on to a couch in the RYTF offices, according to police.
He then choked her, and also damaged her iPhone in the assault, according to the criminal complaint.
Taylor, 27, who maintained his innocence, took a plea deal of disorderly conduct before going to trial, according to the Queens DA.
He was sentenced to eight weeks of anger management and Sherwood was issued a year-long order of protection against him.
He said he's now running to bring a "fresh perspective and renewed energy to political leadership" in his district.
"I hope to re-engage those who have become frustrated with the political system and renew hope in democracy, particularly amongst younger voters and voters of color," he said in a statement to DNAinfo.
Sherwood, though, said voters "should be very mindful of the people they put in positions of authority and political power."
"We can’t have a successful society when people think it's OK to abuse women," she said.
Taylor said voters should judge him by his work and on the "totality of the person I am."
"I have continued to work tirelessly within my community and have always given people a fair shot," he said. "I think voters will do the same."
Elsewhere in Queens, Hiram Monserrate — who was also arrested after an assault against a woman in 2009 — is running for a district leader seat in East Elmhurst and Corona.
The election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13.
