Leroy Comrie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leroy Comrie
Member of the New York Senate from the 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2015
Preceded by	Malcolm Smith
Member of the New York City Council from the 27th district
In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2013
Preceded by	Archie Spigner
Succeeded by	Daneek Miller
Personal details
Born	Leroy George Comrie Jr. (1958-08-10) August 10, 1958 (age 66) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marcia Moxam
Children	2
Education	University of Bridgeport

Leroy George Comrie Jr. (born August 10, 1958) is an American politician from New York City. He is a State Senator for District 14 in the New York State Senate. This district covers many neighborhoods in Queens, like St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Hollis, Rosedale, Laurelton, Kew Gardens, and Queens Village.

Early Life and Education

Leroy Comrie Jr. was born in New York City. His parents, Ruby Frith-Comrie and Leroy Comrie Sr., came to the United States from Jamaica. He has one brother.

He went to P.S. 116, I.S. 8, and Jamaica High School. Later, he studied at the University of Bridgeport. It was there that he became very interested in politics and how the government works.

Public Service Career

Before becoming a politician, Leroy Comrie worked as a photographer. He took pictures at local weddings and community events.

He also worked for seven years in the office of New York City Council Member Archie Spigner. He started as an aide and later became a top assistant. Comrie also served on Community School Board 29, eventually becoming its president.

Serving on the New York City Council

In 2001, Leroy Comrie was elected to represent the 27th district in the New York City Council. He took over from Archie Spigner. It was a very close election, but Comrie won by less than 200 votes.

After being re-elected in 2005, his fellow Democratic members chose him as Deputy Majority Leader. This meant he helped lead the Democratic group in the council. He also led the Queens group and chaired important committees, like the Consumer Affairs Committee and the Land Use Committee.

As Deputy Majority Leader, Comrie helped direct money to local groups in Southeast Queens. These funds supported organizations like the Black Spectrum Theatre and local police community councils. He also managed a large budget for building projects in his district. For example, he helped fund the construction of P.S.36Q, a school that cost $19 million.

Working with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Comrie helped get millions of dollars each year for the Queens Library system. In 2007, he supported a resolution in the NYC Council to speak out against the use of a certain offensive word. This was a symbolic but important statement from the council.

In 2009, Leroy Comrie was re-elected for his third term on the New York City Council. He won against his opponent, Clyde Vanel. Comrie supported Mayor Michael Bloomberg's idea to let elected officials serve a third term temporarily because of economic problems. This allowed him to run for office again.

As the head of the Consumer Protection Committee in 2011, Comrie tried to help with child obesity. He suggested a law that would stop fast food restaurants from giving away toys with unhealthy meals. Even though the bill didn't pass, it encouraged places like McDonald's to add healthier options to their kids' meals.

He also held hearings about companies that seemed to copy gang styles for their products. In 2013, as chair of the Land Use Committee, Comrie helped lead the effort against a proposed soccer stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The plan was stopped because many people in the community were against it.

Running for Borough President

In 2013, Comrie ran to become the Borough President of Queens, taking over from Helen Marshall. He promised to bring more investment to Queens' transportation and buildings, including a new subway line. However, he found it hard to raise as much money as his rivals. He also did not get the support of the powerful Queens Democratic Party, which chose to support Melinda Katz instead.

Comrie eventually stopped his campaign and supported Melinda Katz for Borough President. He later worked as Deputy Borough President under Katz for her first year in office.

Serving in the New York State Senate

NYS Senator Leroy Comrie is sworn in for his second term with the assistance of NYS Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Jamaica)

In 2014, Leroy Comrie decided to run for the New York Senate. He challenged the current Senator, Malcolm Smith. Comrie won the primary election by a large margin.

After being elected to the State Senate, Comrie helped choose his replacement as Deputy Borough President. He selected Melva Miller, who was the Queens Borough President's director of economic development.

When he started his term, Comrie was appointed as a lead member on the Elections Committee and the Consumer Protection Committee.

2016 Democratic National Convention

Comrie was chosen to be a delegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. After the 2016 presidential election, Comrie joined other Democrats in New York. They asked a group of State Senators to stop supporting the Republican Party. He even protested by attending town halls organized by their opponents.

Important Political Actions

Housing and Community Issues

During his first time in the New York State Senate, Leroy Comrie helped pass a bill. This bill made it easier for people with disabilities to get rent stabilization, which helps keep housing costs affordable.

As a state senator, Comrie has worked on several community issues. He helped prevent a state-run juvenile prison from being built in Queens Village. He also fought against a large religious building project in Cambria Heights/Laurelton. Comrie also worked to stop the closure of the EmblemHealth facility in Cambria Heights, which provides health education to the community.

He also took strong stands against some proposed laws in New York City. He worked with other Queens officials to oppose a plan to charge drivers for entering busy areas (called congestion pricing). In the State Senate, he also helped to cancel a fee that the NYC Council had put on plastic bags.

Election Laws

As a lead member on the Elections Committee, Comrie has pushed for new laws to improve New York's election system. He wants to make voting easier by allowing early voting, simplifying ballots, and making voter registration smoother. These bills, however, did not pass in the New York State Senate at the time because of opposition from the Republican leaders.

Comrie also suggested a law that would let people vote by mail without needing a special reason. This would require changing the state constitution.

Personal Life

Leroy Comrie has been married to Marcia Moxam since 1990. They have two children. He is a lifelong member of Saint Albans the Martyr Episcopal Church. There, he has served in various roles, including as a layperson and a chalice administrator.