QUEENS — Longtime Jamaica Councilman Leroy Comrie, who once had run for Queens Borough President against Melinda Katz, will become her deputy, Katz announced Tuesday.
Comrie, who has represented Sountheast Queens, including Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis and Cambria Heights, for 12 years, is term-limited and will leave the City Council this month.
“From the beginning, this campaign was about empowering working families and making life better for every Queens resident,” said Katz in a statement. "Leroy’s long history of leadership in Queens will be essential as we build the most open, inclusive, and transparent transition in Queens history."
Earlier this year, Comrie, who was born and raised in Queens, challenged Katz in the race for Queens Borough President and picked up a number of high profile endorsements, including from former mayor David Dinkins and District Council 37.
After dropping out of the race in July, Comrie endorsed Katz in August.
“Now more than ever, Queens needs Melinda’s vision for a more prosperous and equitable borough,” said Comrie in a statement. “Over the 20 years I’ve spent working with her, Melinda has proven herself a tireless and honest public servant with a real plan to move our borough forward.”
Katz also announced that Jay Bond, who served as her policy advisor when she was a member of the City Council, will become her chief of staff.
Katz beat City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. and Everly Brown, a real estate developer, in the Democratic primary, and Republican candidate Aurelio “Tony” Arcabascio in the general election, winning 80 percent of the vote.
