Donovan Richards
{{Short description|American politician (born 1983)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Donovan Richards
| image = Donovan Richards, 2022.jpg
| caption = Richards in 2022
| office = 21st Borough President of Queens
| term_start = December 2, 2020
| term_end =
| predecessor = Sharon Lee (acting)
| successor =
| office1 = Member of the New York City Council
from the 31st district
| term_start1 = February 20, 2013
| term_end1 = December 2, 2020
| predecessor1 = James Sanders, Jr.
| successor1 = Selvena Brooks-Powers
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|4|9}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| education = Nyack College
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
| website = {{url|queensbp.org|Official website}}
| deputy = Ebony Young
}}
Donovan Richards Jr.{{Cite web |title=About Borough President Donovan Richards – Office of the Queens Borough President |url=https://queensbp.org/about-bp/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |language=en}} (born April 9, 1983) is an American politician serving as the Borough President of Queens. He is also a former New York City Council member, having represented the 31st district. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
His former district includes portions of Arverne, Bayswater, Broad Channel, Cambria Heights, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Howard Beach, Jamaica, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Laurelton, Rockaway Beach, Rosedale, South Ozone Park and Springfield Gardens in Queens.
Richards was the Democratic nominee for Queens Borough President in the November 3, 2020 general election. He defeated the Republican nominee Joann Ariola and independent candidate Dao Yin. Richards was sworn in as Queens Borough President on December 2, 2020.
Life and career
Richards was born and raised in southeast Queens. When he was young, he served with a mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on behalf of St. Albans Congregational Church.
He attended Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York later graduating from Jamaica High School in Queens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/personality/interviews-profiles/can-donovan-richards-find-himself.html|title=Can Donovan Richards find himself?|date=March 15, 2020|website=City & State NY}} He subsequently attended Nyack College, then Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens.
New York City Council
In June 2011, Richards became the chief of staff for New York City Councilman James Sanders, Jr., and when Sanders was elected to the New York State Senate, Richards won a 2013 special election to succeed him. Richards was appointed chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Richards was appointed to be the chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
| class="wikitable collapsible" |
| valign=bottom
! colspan=4 | Election history |
| valign=bottom
! Location ! Year ! Election ! Results |
| NYC Council District 31 | 2013 | {{party shading/Green}}|Special | √ Donovan Richards 29.11% |
|---|
| NYC Council District 31 | 2013 | {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic Primary | √ Donovan Richards 51.60% |
| NYC Council District 31 | 2013 | {{party shading/hold}}|General | √ Donovan Richards (D) 91.77% |
Queens Borough President bid
In June 2020, Richards secured the Democratic nomination for Borough President of Queens.{{Cite web|title=Borough President|url=https://web.enrboenyc.us/OF15CY0PY1.html|access-date=2021-06-23|website=web.enrboenyc.us}} On November 3, 2020, Richards won the election for Borough President of Queens.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://council.nyc.gov/d31/html/members/home.shtml Councilman Donovan Richards ]
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=James Sanders, Jr.}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the New York City Council
from the 31st district|years=2013–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Selvena Brooks-Powers}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Sharon Lee
{{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Borough President of Queens|years=2020–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{New York Borough Presidents}}
{{Queens Borough President}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Donovan}}
Category:20th-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians
Category:African-American New York City Council members
Category:African-American people in New York (state) politics
Category:New York (state) Democrats
Category:New York City Council members