Peter Koo

Peter Ah-Ming Koo (born September 5, 1952)[1] is a Chinese American politician who represented the 20th district of the New York City Council from 2010 to 2021. He is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Bayside, College Point, Flushing, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Fresh Meadows and Whitestone in Queens.

Peter Koo
顧雅明
Member of the New York City Council
from the 20th district
In office
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2021
Preceded byJohn Liu
Succeeded bySandra Ung
Personal details
Born (1952-09-05) September 5, 1952
Shanghai, China
Political partyRepublican (Prior to 2012)
Democratic (Since 2012)
SpouseBernadette Ching Koo
Children2
Alma materNew Mexico College of Pharmacy
WebsiteOfficial website
Peter Koo
Traditional Chinese顧雅明
Simplified Chinese顾雅明

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 in 1952. Prior to immigrating to the United States in 1971, he lived in the former British Hong Kong. Graduating from the University of 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.[2]

He has been a member of Queens Community Board 7. Previously, he unsuccessfully challenged local state senator Toby Ann Stavisky in 2008.[3] He has been called the "Mayor" of Flushing.

In January 2012,[4] Koo changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic.[5]

New York City Council

Koo was elected to the city council seat on November 3, 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.[6] He was term limited out of office at the end of 2021.

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%
NYC Council
District 20		 2017 Primary √ Peter Koo 57.9%
Alison Tan 41.67% [9]

Koo serves on the following New York City Council committees:[10]

  • Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing
  • Economic Development
  • Land Use
    • Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime Uses (subcommittee of Land Use Committee)
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Technology (He serves as chair of this committee.)
  • Transportation

Caucuses

  • Black, Latino/a, and Asian Caucus

Personal life

Peter has been married for 26 years and has two children, a boy and a girl.

See also

References
  1. "Our Campaigns – Candidate – Peter Koo". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. Victor G. Mimoni (March 12, 2008). "Community activist Peter Koo challenges Stavisky". The Queens Courier. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  3. Liz Rhoades (October 29, 2009). "Can Republican Koo beat Flushing Dem?". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  4. "Queens City Councilman Peter Koo Defects to Democrats". DNAinfo. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  5. Colangelo, Lisa L. (January 23, 2012). "Queens Councilman Peter Koo flips from Republican to Democrat". Daily News. New York.
  6. Connor Adams Sheets (November 4, 2009). "Republican Peter Koo defeats Chou in Flushing Council race". Boro Politics. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
  7. "New York Council". Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  8. "New York Council". Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  9. Monteverdi, Suzanne (September 13, 2017). "Incumbent Peter Koo wins Democratic primary for Flushing's Council District seat – QNS.com". qns.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  10. "District 20". Peter Koo. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
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