New York City’s Board of Elections on Monday declared that Queens Borough President Melinda Katz defeated public defender Tiffany Cabán by 60 votes to become the Democratic party’s candidate for Queens DA. Cabán declared she would appeal the results in court on Wednesday.
Cabán is contesting more than 100 invalidated ballots.
The winner, Melinda Katz, said: “While it is everyone’s right to avail themselves of the judicial process, I urge all participants in this hard-fought election to come together and join me in beginning the hard work of reforming the criminal justice system in Queens.”
Melinda Katz, who grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, comes from a Jewish family with a long history of civic involvement. Her father, the late David Katz, founded the Queens Symphony Orchestra in 1953, and her mother, the late Jeanne Dale Katz, founded the Queens Council on the Arts.
A Democrat, Katz is the current Queens Borough President. She served as New York City Councilwoman from 2002 to 2009.
Melinda Katz is no stranger to narrowly decided primaries. In 1998, she lost the primary race for Chuck Schumer’s 9th congressional district to Anthony Weiner by 285 votes.