Queens Borough President Election: Upcoming Candidate Forums

QUEENS, NY — Queens voters are heading to the polls March 24 for a special election to choose a new borough president, a position that Melinda Katz vacated last month when she took office as Queens' new district attorney.

Voters have a slate of a half-dozen candidates to choose from — and a wealth of opportunities to hear from the candidates themselves.

The borough presidency is largely viewed as a ceremonial position, or a stepping stone to higher office, but borough presidents serve several important roles:

• They are influential gatekeepers on major land-use issues in their borough. Past borough presidents managed to leverage this opportunity and sway city decisions.
• They appoint the community board members who vote on rezoning proposals and such hyperlocal issues as restaurant liquor licenses.
• They appoint members of community education councils, which govern school districts.
• They oversee a multimillion-dollar budget, which supports community organizations, and help steer city funds to their borough.

The newly-elected borough president will only spend nine months in the position, as a primary election this summer and a general election in November will determine who finishes the rest of Katz's term.

Want to learn more? Here's a list of upcoming candidate forums.

Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Queens Chamber of Commerce forum (RSVP here)

• Time: 8:45 a.m.
• Location: Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Blvd., Queens Village

Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Bay Terrace Community Alliance forum

• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Clearview Park Golf Course, 202-12 Willets Point Blvd., Bayside

Thursday, Feb. 6 - Ridgewood Property Owners Candidate Forum

• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Ridgewood Presbyterian Church, 59-14 70th Ave., Ridgewood

Monday, Feb. 10 - LGBTQ Queens Borough President Candidate Forum (RSVP here)

• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Queens LGBT Center, 37-18 Northern Boulevard, Suite 107, Long Island City

Wednesday, Feb. 12 - New York League of Conservation Voters forum

• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona

Thursday, Feb. 13 - North Shore Towers Civic Association forum

• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: North Shore Towers and Country Club, 27240 Grand Central Pkwy,

Monday, Feb. 24 - Rockaway Youth Task Force forum

• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Macedonia Baptist Church, 330 Beach 67th St., Arverne

Saturday, Feb. 29 - Faith in New York forum

• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Christ Church International, 122-20 Merrill St., Jamaica

Monday, March 2 - Bayswater Civic Association forum

• Time: 8 p.m.
• Location: TBD

Tuesday, March 3 - Ozone Park Civic Association forum

• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Deshi Center, 83-10 Rockaway Blvd., Ozone Park

Wednesday, March 4 - Commonpoint Queens forum (RSVP here)

• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Sam Field Center, 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck

Thursday, March 5 - CHHAYA forum

• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica

Monday, March 9 - Queens College forum (email gov.affairsrsvp@qc.cuny.edu to RSVP)

• Time: 6 p.m.
• Queens College Student Union Building, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing

Wednesday, March 11 - Transportation Alternatives forum

• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: The Plaxall Gallery, 5-25 46th Ave., Long Island City

Tuesday, March 17 - Auburndale Improvement Association forum

• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: St. Kevin's Parish Center, 45-21 194th St., Flushing

Thursday, March 19 - Juniper Park Civic Association forum

• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Our Lady of Hope, 61-27 71st St., Middle Village

This story has been updated with additional forum dates.