Special Election Scheduled To Fill Queens Council Seat

KEW GARDENS HILLS, QUEENS — Mayor Bill de Blasio has scheduled a special election in February to fill the City Council seat vacated this week by Rory Lancman.

The election, which is set for Feb. 2, will determine who represents the 24th City Council District until the end of 2021. After that, whoever wins the November 2021 general election for the seat will take over and serve the standard four-year term.

“This date, within the window allowed by the City Charter, will facilitate maximum voter participation," de Blasio said in a statement Friday. "I encourage all eligible Queens residents to vote early, in person, or by absentee ballot in the upcoming special election.”

Lancman had represented Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills and Jamaica since 2013.

He gave up his seat to take office as the state's first special counsel for ratepayer protection, a newly-created position in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration that is meant to hold utility and telecom companies accountable to their customers.

Lancman would have been term-limited out of office in 2021.

Last year, he ran to become next Queens district attorney but dropped out days before the primary election and endorsed Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, who ended up winning the position.

In an interview with the Queens Daily Eagle, Lancman denied that Cuomo's job offer had anything to do with his last-minute exit from the race. Cuomo had backed Katz.