Peter Koo

Peter Koo
顧雅明
Member of the New York City Council from the 20th District
Assumed office
January 1, 2010
Preceded by John Liu
Personal details
Born (1952-01-12) January 12, 1952
Shanghai, China
Political party Republican (Prior to 2012)
Democrat (Since 2012)
Spouse(s) Bernadette Ching Koo
Children 2
Alma mater New Mexico College of Pharmacy
Website Official website

Peter Koo (born January 12, 1952) is an American politician, the Council member for the 20th District of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Bayside, College Point, Flushing, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Fresh Meadows and Whitestone in Queens.

Koo and Manhattan Council member Margaret Chin comprise the Asian-American delegation of the Council.

Life and career

Koo is a Chinese American born in Shanghai, China, in 1952. Prior to immigrating to the United States in 1971, he lived in Hong Kong. Graduating from the New Mexico College of Pharmacy in 1975 where he paid his way through by working minimum wage jobs at Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin Donuts, Koo is a pharmacist who developed a five-store chain of pharmacies called Starside Drugs Pharmacy.[1]

He has been a member of Queens Community Board 7. Previously, he unsuccessfully challenged local state senator Toby Ann Stavisky in 2008.[2] He has been called the “Mayor” of Flushing.

In January 2012,[3]Koo changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic.[4]

New York City Council

Koo was elected to the city council seat on 3 November 2009, defeating Democratic Party nominee Yen Chou, Working Families Party nominee S.J. Jung, and Green Party nominee Evergreen Chou. He assumed the position that was held by John Liu, the New York City Comptroller.[5]

Election history
Location Year Election Results
NY Senate
District 16		 2008 General √ Toby Ann Stavisky (D) 69.44%
Peter Koo (R) 30.56%
NYC Council
District 20		 2009 General √ Peter Koo (R) 49.05%
Yen S. Chou (D) 45.24%
S.J. Jung (Working Families) 4.06%
Evergreen Chou (Green) 1.64%
NYC Council
District 20		 2013 General √ Peter Koo (D) 79.67%
Martha Flores-Vazqeuz (Jobs & Education) 10.38%
Sunny Hahn (Reform) 6.40%
Evergreen Chou (Green) 3.38%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Victor G. Mimoni (12 March 2008). "Community activist Peter Koo challenges Stavisky". The Queens Courier. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  2. ↑ Liz Rhoades (29 October 2009). "Can Republican Koo beat Flushing Dem?". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Queens City Councilman Peter Koo Defects to Democrats". DNAinfo. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  4. ↑ Colangelo, Lisa L. (23 January 2012). "Queens Councilman Peter Koo flips from Republican to Democrat". Daily News (New York).
  5. ↑ Connor Adams Sheets (4 November 2009). "Republican Peter Koo defeats Chou in Flushing Council race". Boro Politics. Retrieved 20 November 2009.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
John Liu		 New York City Council, 20th District
2010–present 		Incumbent
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