Phil Gim (Photo: Gim campaign)

Earlier this week, Ethel Chen registered a campaign committee to run for Assemblywoman Grace Meng's seat. Like Ms. Meng, Ms. Chen is a Democrat, and even though there remains some doubt as to whether Ms. Meng might be running for reelection or as the Democratic nominee for an open congressional seat, Ms. Chen is one of several candidates plowing forward with their campaigns.

This week, Democrat Ron Kim and Republican Phil Gim also declared their campaigns, setting up a primaries in a field that may already be set to include Democrats Isaac Sasson and John Scandalios, as well as Republican Sunny Hahn.

It looks like Mr. Kim and Mr. Gim are the favored candidates of their respective county organizations, however.

“The last few election cycles have shown that the voters of Queens want results from their elected officials, and that they will vote for the best candidate regardless of party affiliation," Phil Ragusa, the chairman of the Queens County Republican Party, said in a statement. "Phil Gim will get results, so I have no doubt that Phil Gim will get their support.”

“I have come to know Ron as a dedicated public servant and tireless advocate for his community. From a young age, Ron was eager to become directly involved in the diverse community he has been a part of his since the age of 7," Mr. Ragusa's Democratic counterpart, Congressman Joe Crowley, said on behalf of Mr. Kim yesterday. "Ron’s experience navigating various and complicated regulations on behalf of small businesses will be invaluable as our communities struggle through a difficult economy. Ron will work hard to create jobs and get Queens back to work.”

John Scandalios (Photo: Ray Filmano)

John Scandalios, the owner of the comic book store Crazy Scondo's, says he's committed to running as a Democrat in Peter Koo's Council District in Northeast Queens.

Despite Mr. Koo's personal wealth, Mr. Scandalios pledged to spend no more than $1,000 on the race. "My budget is $999, because there’s no reason for me to spend any more than that," he said in an interview with Politicker last night. "I don’t like receiving ... 50 different mailings from ten different candidates … I find it a nuisance."

Mr. Scandalios, a former engineer who worked on the operating system for the Trident II Submarine, said he found his way into the comic book business through a love of baseball cards a couple decades ago and intends to use his experience running a small business in the City Council.

"I can help Flushing, and I see a lot of things wrong, I can help the city. I know what it takes. I’ll show my fiscal responsibility, which I’ve learned through having a small business over 20 years."

Mr. Scandalios said he was  motivated to enter the race over a particular problem he encountered: illegal passenger vans in his neighborhood. "I reported [the problem] to my local politicians, and each one of them acted appropriately, forwarding my complaint to the government agencies, and did a good job."

However, Mr. Scandalios says there's still much more he wants to accomplish. "I see a lot of things wrong with Flushing," he continued. "I can’t see myself going back and forth between these politicians giving them long lists of things I don’t like. I thought, if I run for office, I’ll win the election and take care of my own issues."

"The main issues I have are the overdevelopment of Flushing and the rising property taxes. When I’m elected, I’ll propose a property tax freeze," he added.