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Home to some of the city's most overcrowded schools, and some of the scariest stretches of Queens Boulevard, District 29 is looking for a new leader in the fall.
A former assemblywoman, a public relations executive, a TV newswoman and several community activists are battling for the city council seat now held by Karen Koslowitz, who cannot run again because of term limits. The district includes the sprawling surburban areas of Forest Hills and Kew Gardens as well as Rego Park and parts of Maspeth and Ridgewood.
Even with six candidates, there was little disagreement among the contenders about such issues as education, Queens Boulevard safety and rent stabilization.
Public relations executive Lynn Schulman and former Assemb. Melinda Katz are running for the Democratic line, while television journalist Rene Lobo is the sole Republican. Norbert Chwat is running as a Conservative, Joseph Tiraco on the Independence line and Jeanette Evans with the Green Party.
Katz, 36, who served in the Assembly from 1994 to 1998, left her seat after making an unsuccessful bid for the State Senate. In 1998 she became director of community boards for Queens Borough President Claire Schulman. She has been endorsed by the Queens County Democratic party.
With no incumbents running in Queens, Katz feels she has an edge as the only candidate in District 29 to have held elected office.
"The new city council is going to be defined by new members-14 out of 14 of the [council members] from Queens will be new," said Katz, who lives in Forest Hills. "I'd like to think that I have the experience to [serve] effectively from day one."
Schulman, 43, worked for former New York City Mayor Edward Koch's administration in the 1980s, before pursuing a career in litigation...