Evan Triantafilidis
evant@queensledger.com
Sherry Algredo has been named the new chair of Community Board 9, which covers Woodhaven, Kew Gardens, and parts of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park.
Algredo unseated three-term board chairman Kenichi Wilson at last week’s in-person board meeting, but not before some controversy into Wilson’s eligibility to run for a fourth term.
Although community boards allow for four consecutive two-year terms, it was originally thought that CB9 limited the position to three terms in their bylaws. However, that wasn’t the case, as Wilson sought a fourth term after reviewing the board’s bylaws, just hours before the scheduled meeting.
While Algredo could have contested Wilson’s eligibility, she opted to go head-to-head against him for the chair position, which resulted in a 19-16 vote in her favor.
“Nobody thought this could happen,” Algredo told the Ledger. “God made this possible. It was a controversy if I chose to make it a controversy, but I decided to take my chances and I won.”
Algredo, the former first vice-chair of the board, joined CB9 four years ago and had been appointed chair of the Education and Youth Services Committee. The Richmond Hill resident has been actively involved in the community, helping to organize events that promoted local businesses and education efforts in southeast Queens.
“I ran on integrity and honesty, and we did it together,” Algredo said. “With all odds against me, I stood tall.”
The Richmond Hill resident is believed to be the first Community Board chairperson from Trinidad and Tobago.
Shortly after her victory, Algredo received a congratulatory phone call from Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, whose district encompasses Woodhaven and parts of Richmond Hill.
“On International Women’s Day, I was delighted to call in to the CB9 meeting from Albany to congratulate my friend Sherry Algredo on her election to Chair of Community Board 9,” Rajkumar said in a statement. “There is no one more deserving or qualified. She has worked tirelessly for our neighborhoods as 1st Vice Chair, and has been a leader advocating for our children’s education. She also has made history as the first Indo-Caribbean woman to chair the Board. I look forward to partnering with this caring and dynamic leader to serve the people of South Queens.”
Wilson will remain on the board as the first vice-chair, as officers to the board will be sworn in on April 1, 2022.
“I’m here to support the board,” Wilson told the Ledger.
