Avella Makes 2009 Run Official

Avella Announces by tonyavella2009 on Flickr.

City Council Member Tony Avella (D-Queens) officially announced his candidacy for Mayor on the steps of City Hall yesterday. Surrounded by supporters, he spoke about his hopes to curb overdevelopment, reduce taxes, and reform the Department of Education.

Avella is in his second term as City Council member (term-limited out in 2009) for the 19th District, which includes Auburndale, Bayside, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglaston, Little Neck, Malba, and Whitestone. He worked as an aide to City Council Member Peter Vallone, Sr., Mayors Koch and Dinkins, and as Chief of Staff to the late State Senator Leonard Stavisky and to State Senator Toby Stavisky.

A vocal opponent of out-of-scale real estate development, Avella is also Chair of the Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee of the City Council. He will face a crowded field that will most likely include many well-funded Democratic hopefuls like Council Speaker Christine Quinn, U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner, and City Comptroller Bill Thompson. Released before his formal announcement at City Hall, below is a YouTube clip of Avella explaining some more of his rationale for running: