NYC Primary Election 2020: Iggy Terranova Takes On Sen. Gianaris

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Democrats in western Queens will get to cast a ballot this month in a collection of local, state and federal primary races — including the 12th Senatorial District, where state Sen. Michael Gianaris will have to defend his seat against challenger Iggy Terranova.

Terranova, an Astoria resident, is a retired sanitation worker. During his time with the city's Department of Sanitation, he worked as a garbage collector, a supervisor and as a citywide officer in the community affairs department. He attended the New York Military Academy.

The 12th Senatorial District covers Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside, as well as parts of Woodside, Maspeth, Ridgewood and Woodhaven.

• READ MORE: Michael Gianaris Defends Senate Seat

The primary election, slated for June 23, is open to registered Democratic voters. All New York voters may request a mail-in ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ballots must be postmarked by the date of the election for the vote to get counted.

For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from June 13 to June 21.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the primary election to create these profiles. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Iggy Terranova

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

46

NYC neighborhood of residence

Astoria

Position Sought

State Senate

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

n/a

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

New York Military Academy

Occupation

Retired Department of Sanitation Official

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

n/a

Campaign website

iggyterranova.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Because our current representative has failed our community and it's time that we make a change. During my career in Sanitation I spent everyday helping New Yorkers and want to continue to do that for my community as the State Senator representing the district that I grew up in.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Unemployment, especially as we see such a stark rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need a leader who will encourage businesses to come here and I intend to do just that so we can get people back to work as quickly as possible.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent has forgotten where he came from and the community that he serves. I will fight to bring jobs to our district and send the message that Queens is open for business, not vilify those who come here. I will also work directly with the community to find solutions to the issues they face, whether it's potholes in the street or an issue that a small business is facing.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Rather than focusing on the needs of our community, my opponent has focused on his own ambitions. He scuttled a deal that would have brought over 25,000 good paying jobs to our district and now we are suffering the consequences. We need leaders who are going to work hard for our communities, not themselves.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

-Making Queens Business Friendly
-Building and Preserving Affordable Housing
-Reforming Our Criminal Justice System
-Fixing Our Transportation System
-Ensuring Protections for Labor Unions

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I spent the majority of my career dealing with community issues related to the Department of Sanitation in all parts of the city. In 2010, I handled the blizzard hearings and I later took care of sanitation during the the Second Avenue subway expansion. I know how to deal with community issues and make sure they are resolved quickly and effectively.

The best advice ever shared with me was: (No response)

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? (No response)