Retired Colonel Announces Candidacy for Assembly in Southern Queens
A retired Army colonel, who identifies as part of a New York City police family, announced on Saturday his intention to run for the state Assembly in Southern Queens. His campaign focuses on public safety and reducing taxes, claiming that his extensive military service distinguishes him in this race.
Col. (Ret.) Tom Sullivan is seeking to represent Assembly District 23. He shared with Breitbart News Saturday, during his third attempt for the seat, that his background in the military and law enforcement is precisely the type of experience the district has been lacking.
Sullivan emphasized that his familial connections to service set him apart from his competitor. “My opponent has never worn a uniform. His family has never worn a uniform,” he remarked. He found it troubling, almost personal, that the Police Benevolent Association recently endorsed his opponent.
He elaborated on his family’s history in service: his father was an NYPD detective, one brother served in the Secret Service, another was an inspector with the Port Authority Police, and his youngest brother is with the NYPD. Sullivan himself has dedicated 30 years to the Army Reserve, participating in combat tours across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
Sullivan noted that he has received the endorsement of the Police Conference of New York, which represents about 50,000 officers statewide.
He linked his campaign message to public safety, referencing the tragic 2024 killing of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. Diller was shot during an incident in Far Rockaway and was transported to Jamaica Hospital, a significant distance away. Sullivan pointed out that the Rockaway peninsula has been without a Level 1 trauma center since Peninsula Hospital closed nearly ten years ago.
As part of his agenda, Sullivan proposed a tax freeze as a preliminary step, aiming ultimately for a tax cut, arguing that New Yorkers face some of the highest tax rates in the nation.
The previous election in 2022 was tightly contested, with Sullivan losing to then-incumbent Stacey Pheffer Amato by just 15 votes, according to certified results. Pheffer Amato’s decision to step down this year paves the way for an open-seat contest between Sullivan and Democrat Pesach Osina in the upcoming November election.
As the midterms approach, New York Republicans are focusing on themes of affordability and public safety, positioning themselves as a counterbalance to the progressive policies of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Osina emerged victorious in the Democratic primary held in June, defeating attorney Mike Scala by a significant margin.
