On election night, while most congressional Democrats were playing musical chairs with Republicans and Tea Partiers, the Bronx’s congressmen stayed put.
Both congressman Jose Serrano and Joe Crowley were easily re-elected to their seats on Tuesday, November, 2. For Crowley, who’s district includes Morris Park, Throggs Neck, Co-op City, Soundview and Parkchester, as well as communities in Queens, that meant gaining nearly 80 percent of the vote over challengers, Republican Ken Reynolds and Green Party candidateAnthony Gronowicz.
“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve the good people of New York’s 7th District for a seventh term,” he said. “Working on behalf of my constituents always has been and always will be my number one priority, and that doesn’t change based on who is in the majority in Congress or who is sitting in the White House.”
While the Bronx has remained solidly Democratic, Republicans in the Congress swept into power after winning more than 60 seats. The change in leadership will make it harder for Democrats, who had controlled the house, senate and White House since 2008, to enact items on their agenda.
Crowley said during his next term he will make strengthening the economy his top priority so the country can rebound from the current economic slump.
“I will continue to fight to get our economy back on tract and to put New Yorkers back to work,” he said. “To do this, we must maintain our investments in education programs at every level, invest in job training for hard-working Americans and to cut off the tax incentives that are encouraging U.S. employers to ship jobs overseas.”
Here at home Crowley has pledged to find a compromise between activists wanting to save trees on Pelham Parkway and the city government, which is interested in improving the roadway. He also plans to continue working on long-term projects, such as the bringing home $6.6 million for sand replenishment at Orchard Beach, and the $2.5 million he allocated for the Bronx River Greenway project that is aimed at improving the local environment, he said.
“I will also continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for all Bronxites, supporting efforts to reduce crime, help our environment and beautify our community,” he said. “I look forward to serving my district for another term and am ready to get to work and help move New York forward.”
His main challenger, Reynolds, a retired Federal Express worker and Tea Party candidate, collected 18.9 percent of the vote. Anthony Gronowicz, of the Green Party, received the remaining 1.3 percent.
