After Near Tie, Como Wins Queens Council Seat

The Queens County Board of Elections commissioner, Anthony Como, will represent the 30th district in Queens in the City Council after winning a special election to replace Council Member Dennis Gallagher, who resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of sexual abuse.

Initial counts after the June 3 election showed Mr. Como, a Republican, leading his closest competitor, Elizabeth Crowley, a Democrat, with 2,352 votes to her 2,282, each securing about 32% of the total. A former Republican council member for the district, Thomas Ognibene, finished with 27% of the vote while another Democrat, Charles Ober, secured 10%.

Mr. Como's lead narrowed, however, as additional paper ballots were counted and Ms. Crowley conceded this past Wednesday night, with just 38 fewer votes in the unofficial count, according to the Daily News. Ms. Crowley ran unsuccessfully against Mr. Gallagher in 2001.