Donovan Richards Sworn In As Queens Borough President

KEW GARDENS, QUEENS — Donovan Richards was sworn in Wednesday as the next borough president of Queens.

Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee stepped down Tuesday, after the New York City Board of Elections certified Richards' victory with two-thirds of the 790,000 votes cast in the Nov. 3 race.

Lee held the position since former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz took office as the borough's district attorney at the start of the year.

Richards, who most recently represented Southeast Queens and the Rockaways as a member of the City Council, won the seat after defeating Queens GOP Chair Joann Ariola in the general election and four Democratic opponents in the June primary.

He announced the members of his transition team this week.

Richards will serve the remainder of Katz's term, which is up at the end of 2021.

Another set of primary and general elections next year will decide who serves the next full, four-year term as borough president.