In the New York City general election on November 4th, Democratic candidate Phil Wong defeated his Republican opponent Alicia Vaichunas in the 30th District of the City Council. With this victory, the New York City Council will see an addition of one more Asian American council member, bringing the total number of Asian American council members to three (including Margaret Chin, Carlina Rivera, and Phil Wong).
The election for the 30th District New York City Council seat was mainly contested between Phil Wong and his colleague, the Republican and Conservative Party candidate Alicia Vaichunas. According to statistics from the Board of Elections, with 94% of votes counted, Phil Wong secured 54% of the votes, totaling 19,320 votes, which was 12 percentage points ahead of his opponent Alicia Vaichunas (43.75%) and with a lead of over 3700 votes.
Upon hearing about Phil Wong’s victory, his supporters congratulated him in large numbers. Phil Wong expressed his gratitude towards his supporters and volunteers in his victory speech and vowed to continue the outstanding work of Council Member Holden, promising to serve the residents of the district to the best of his abilities. In a campaign video released on election day, he stated, “In my journey through life, I have achieved what others thought was impossible. Although the responsibility is heavy, I know I can face the challenges.”
Known as a pragmatic Democrat with extensive experience, Phil Wong has a diverse background. He immigrated from Hong Kong to the United States at the age of 8 in 1974, graduated from Jamaica High School, studied computer science at Cornell University, and worked in software development, website construction, and translation. He later transitioned to translation of pharmaceutical research papers and specialized in patent translations.
Phil Wong’s commitment to community affairs and advocating for educational rights began in 2014 with his protest against turning the “Pan Am Hotel” into a homeless shelter, ultimately leading to his involvement in defending the SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test). He has served as the Chair of the 24th School District Education Committee, currently chairs the New York Unity Alliance, and is a co-founder of the Elmhurst United Civic Association, being recognized as one of the “Top 100 Education Leaders” by “City & State” magazine.
Joining Council Member Holden’s office in the 30th District two years ago as a Budget Director, Phil Wong played a key role in securing record funding for schools, parks, and senior centers in the district.
Regarding the election as a battle of gentlemen, Phil Wong pledged to retain Alicia Vaichunas if he emerged victorious. The district encompasses Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Elmhurst, and Rego Park, with an Asian population constituting 20%.