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 New York, N.Y. (October 21, 2025) – Today, Citizens Union, a nonpartisan good government group, announced its endorsements in three contested races for City Council. After a rigorous evaluation process, Citizens Union has endorsed Benjamin Chou (District 19 – Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Auburndale, North Flushing, and parts of Murray Hill), Alicia Vaichunas (District 30 – Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood, and parts of Woodhaven and Woodside), and Kayla Santosuosso (District 47 – Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, Coney Island).

“With a number of competitive Council races on ballot this fall, it is important that voters take a moment to learn about who is running to represent them, and where they stand on important reform issues. Citizens Union is proud to support a bipartisan slate of candidates – Benjamin Chou, Alicia Vaichunas, and Kayla Santosuosso – for City Council in their respective races in Queens and Brooklyn. These candidates are all deeply committed to their communities, and we look forward to working with them to advance a robust reform agenda at City Hall,” said Grace Rauh, executive director of Citizens Union.

 

Candidates were evaluated based on the following criteria:

• alignment with Citizens Union’s reform agenda, specifically views on ethics, election reform, and police accountability;
• ability to advance their agenda once in office;
• knowledge of the needs of their constituents; and
• ability to wage an effective and competitive campaign.

In the general election for Council District 19 in Queens, Citizens Union endorses Benjamin Chou (D). Chou is an 11-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department. As a firefighter, he also serves as President of the FDNY Phoenix Society, which supports Asian community members of the department. Chou supports most of Citizens Union’s priorities except for moving local elections to even years citing “concerns that it could diminish focus on local issues.” It’s clear from his dedicated career in public service, his candidate interview, and his questionnaire that Chou’s campaign is guided by principled calling for public service and the best interests of his constituents. Citizens Union endorses him in the race for City Council District 19.

Chou is running against incumbent Council Member Vickie Paladino, who is seeking re-election. In 2021, Citizens Union wrote that Paladino “should not be elected for this position,” and we still believe that today. During her time in office, she has compared vaccine mandates to Nazi Germany, said protestors should be “slayed,” suggested that a journalist be punched in the face, and called for Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, an American citizen, to be deported. We could not consider her for an endorsement as she declined to participate in our process but find her divisive, disparaging demeanor antithetical to public service and detrimental for civic life in New York City. We encourage voters to support her opponent.

In the general election for Council District 30 in Queens, Citizens Union endorses Alicia Vaichunas (R). Vaichunas is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Council Member Bob Holden, who has represented this district for the past eight years. Vaichunas served in his office for that entire time. There, she has mostly focused on constituent services, serving the district’s residents and deepening her involvement in the community. Though Vaichunas supports most of Citizens Union’s agenda, she opposes ranked choice voting and moving lobbying oversight to the Conflicts of Interest Board. Despite our differences, Vaichunas demonstrated willingness to engage on issues and seemed amenable to alternative views. Citizens Union appreciates her deep involvement in the community and her relentless pursuit to solve her constituents’ issues. We endorse her in this race over her opponent.

In the general election for Council District 47 in Brooklyn, Citizens Union endorses Kayla Santosuosso (D). Santosuosso is the Chief Counsel to Council Member Justin Brannan, who represents this district, and a small business owner. She previously worked in nonprofits, political campaigns, and the City’s Law Department. Santosuosso supports all of Citizens Union’s agenda items on the candidate questionnaire and presented a thoughtful and nuanced approach to policy and the City Council’s oversight role. She also stressed how she would reach and listen to different communities and voters in this oddly shaped district. Her familiarity with this district and her government experience make her well-positioned to become an effective representative in the City Council and advocate for reform. Citizens Union endorses her candidacy for Council District 47.

 

Citizens Union list of November 2025 endorsements:

• Council District 19, Queens – Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Auburndale, North Flushing, Murray Hill
  Benjamin Chou (D)
  
• Council District 30, Queens – Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood, Woodhaven, Woodside
  Alicia Vaichunas (R)
  
• Council District 47, Brooklyn – Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, Coney Island
  Kayla Santosuosso (D)

In the June primary election, Citizens Union issued a preference or ranked preference for the following candidates who are on the ballot this fall:

• Comptroller
  Mark Levine
• Manhattan Borough President
  Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• City Council District 2 (Manhattan- Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, East Village, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Gramercy, Murray Hill-Kips Bay)
  Harvey Epstein
• City Council District 4 (Manhattan- Midtown South-NoMad, Midtown-Times Square, Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village, Murray Hill-Kips Bay, East Midtown-Turtle Bay, United Nations, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill)
  Virginia Maloney
• City Council District 5 (Manhattan- East Midtown-Turtle Bay, United Nations, Upper East Side-Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville)
  Julie Menin
• City Council District 8 (Manhattan/The Bronx – Mott Haven-Port Morris, Melrose, Concourse-Concourse Village, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville, East Harlem (South), East Harlem (North), Randall’s Island)
  Elsie Encarnacion
• City Council District 14 (The Bronx- University Heights South-Morris Heights, Fordham Heights, University Heights-North Fordham, Morris Heights, Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge-Marble Hill, Mount Hope, Bedford Park)
  Pierina Sanchez
• City Council District 17 (Queens- Crotona Park East, Melrose, Hunts Point, Concourse, East Tremont, Morrisania, Longwood, Port Morris, West Farms)
  Justin Sanchez
• City 28 (Queens- Richmond Hill, Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Rochdale Village)
  Tyrell Hankerson
• City Council District 38 (Brooklyn- Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood Heights, Windsor Terrace, Dyker Heights, Borough Park, Park Slope, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach)
  Alexa Avilés
• City Council District 51 (Staten Island- Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Lighthouse Hill-Manor Heights, New Springville-WillowbrookBulls Head-Travis, Fresh Kills Park, Oakwood-Richmondtown, Great Kills-Eltingville, Arden Heights, Rossville, Annadale-Huguenot-Prince’s Bay-Woodrow, Tottenville-Charleston, Freshkills Park, Great Kills Park)
  Frank Morano

In addition to these endorsements in competitive Council races, Citizens Union has endorsed all six proposals that will be on the ballot this fall, which include four City Charter amendments on land use and housing, one Charter amendment to move local elections to even years, and one statewide constitutional amendment involving the Adirondack Forest preserve. You can read more about the ballot questions here.

Citizens Union’s endorsement in the Mayor’s race will be announced shortly.

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