Eight candidates seek Queens Council seat in Tuesday special election

The City Council district that represents some of the communities hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy is up for grabs Tuesday.

Eight candidates will vie for the seat that represents the 31st Council District in southeast Queens in a special election. James Sanders left the position with one year left in his third term last month after he was elected to state senate.

Former City Councilman Allan Jennings; two of Sanders former staffers, Donovan Richards and Michael Duncan; Selvenia Brooks, a former spokesman for state Sen. Malcolm Smith; and Pesach Osina, a former staff member of state Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder, are among the candidates.

The district includes the neighborhoods of Laurelton, Springfield Gardens and the Rockaways, which is still recovering from the Oct 29th storm.

The winner of the election will have to run for office again next year.