Shanel was born and raised in East Elmhurst and Corona, Queens. She earned a bachelor’s degree in international business and a master’s degree in public administration from Howard University. She lives in East Elmhurst with her husband and their 2 daughters.

Shanel worked as the Community Outreach Manager and public information liaison for the $8 billion LaGuardia Redevelopment Program. She has also been a business owner since 2001.

Shanel Thomas-Henry - Ballotpedia

Shanel Thomas-Henry's run for City Councilor for NYC District 21 is her first campaign for public office.

Supports raising the minimum wage to a living wage.

Supports workforce development programs that equip people with the skills needed to secure good jobs in the union workforce and fill critical city vacancies.

Supports lifting the cap on street vendor licenses and establishing a regulated system for vendor locations.

- Supports raising the minimum wage to a living wage.
- Supports workforce development programs that equip people with the skills needed to secure good jobs in the union workforce and fill critical city vacancies.
- Supports lifting the cap on street vendor licenses and establishing a regulated system for vendor locations.

Economy

As of June 8, 2025, Shanel Thomas-Henry’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Supports expanded vocational training, trade programs, and partnerships with local businesses and unions to create clear career pathways for students.

- Supports expanded vocational training, trade programs, and partnerships with local businesses and unions to create clear career pathways for students.

Education

Supports calling on New York State to initiate a rent-freeze on rent stabilized units and increase services to help lower the burden of rent, such as CityFHEPS, SCRIE, DRIE, and more.

Supports calling on New York State to initiate a rent-freeze on rent stabilized units and increase services to help lower the burden of rent.

Supports moving beyond temporary hotel placements by providing long-term solutions and essential resources to help people transition to stable housing.

- Supports calling on New York State to initiate a rent-freeze on rent stabilized units and increase services to help lower the burden of rent.
- Supports moving beyond temporary hotel placements by providing long-term solutions and essential resources to help people transition to stable housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports strengthening community policing by investing in local precincts and providing state-of-the-art resources to officers.

Opposes the use of ICE to "terrorize" communities and wants to ensure neighbors feel safe while removing "active criminals" through the judicial system.

Supports funding for improved lighting, security cameras, and increased trash pickups to enhance public safety and quality of life.

- Supports strengthening community policing by investing in local precincts and providing state-of-the-art resources to officers.
- Opposes the use of ICE to "terrorize" communities and wants to ensure neighbors feel safe while removing "active criminals" through the judicial system.
- Supports funding for improved lighting, security cameras, and increased trash pickups to enhance public safety and quality of life.

Public Safety

Supports improving bus service in East Elmhurst and Corona by advocating for increased MTA funding to reduce wait times and overcrowding.

Supports creating more direct bus routes to commercial areas in Queens.

Plans to push for stricter oversight and reforms to ensure Access-A-Ride operates efficiently and reliably for seniors and people with disabilities.

Supports fair wages, safe working conditions, and adequate resources for transportation workers.

- Supports improving bus service in East Elmhurst and Corona by advocating for increased MTA funding to reduce wait times and overcrowding.
- Supports creating more direct bus routes to commercial areas in Queens.
- Plans to push for stricter oversight and reforms to ensure Access-A-Ride operates efficiently and reliably for seniors and people with disabilities.
- Supports fair wages, safe working conditions, and adequate resources for transportation workers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports protecting access to gender-affirming care.

- Supports protecting access to gender-affirming care.
- Supports access to abortion.

Healthcare

Energy & the Environment

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Shanel Thomas-Henry

As of May 7, 2025, David Aiken’s website did not contain information on this issue.

David Aiken - Ballotpedia

David Aiken previously ran for New York City City Council in 2021, but did not win.

As of June 8, 2025, David Aiken’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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David Aiken

Erycka was born and raised in Corona, Queens. She has 2 children.

Erycka works as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the New York City Council. She previously worked at Friends of the High Line.

Ballotpedia: Erycka Montoya

Erycka Montoya's run for New York City Council in District 21 is her first campaign for public office.

Supports expanding paid family leave programs to include independent, freelance, and gig workers.

Supports implementing cost-of-living reduction measures by creating citywide programs to assist struggling households with additional nutritional benefits, utility bill payments, internet access, and other essential services.

Supports establishing commercial rent control guidelines to ensure small businesses can afford their rent.

Supports expanding the Fair Fares program and mandating automatic coverage for CUNY students.

- Supports expanding paid family leave programs to include independent, freelance, and gig workers.
- Supports implementing cost-of-living reduction measures by creating citywide programs to assist struggling households with additional nutritional benefits, utility bill payments, internet access, and other essential services.
- Supports establishing commercial rent control guidelines to ensure small businesses can afford their rent.
- Supports expanding the Fair Fares program and mandating automatic coverage for CUNY students.

Supports properly funding the Department of Sanitation New York (DSNY) and New York City parks for additional cleaning and pickups in business corridors, public parks, plazas, and areas prone to illegal dumping.

Supports funding for older adult centers and public locations like the Lefrak City library and Lost Battalion recreational center.

Supports investing in necessary upgrades and restorations in every neighborhood.

- Supports properly funding the Department of Sanitation New York (DSNY) and New York City parks for additional cleaning and pickups in business corridors, public parks, plazas, and areas prone to illegal dumping.
- Supports funding for older adult centers and public locations like the Lefrak City library and Lost Battalion recreational center.
- Supports investing in necessary upgrades and restorations in every neighborhood.

Supports universal childcare and free, high-quality after-school programming for all NYC working families.

Supports providing proper funding for public schools to meet class size requirements and avoid busing children to schools in other communities.

- Supports universal childcare and free, high-quality after-school programming for all NYC working families.
- Supports providing proper funding for public schools to meet class size requirements and avoid busing children to schools in other communities.

Supports increasing the supply of "truly affordable housing" that considers the cost of living and other necessary metrics to ensure affordable rents.

Supports strengthening rent control and tenant protection laws, and expanding household income eligibility for housing programs, such as rent freezes, rental assistance, and legal representation.

Supports increasing funding for entrepreneurship opportunities through incubators, start-ups, and partnerships with organizations like the Queens Chamber and QEDC.

- Supports increasing the supply of "truly affordable housing" that considers the cost of living and other necessary metrics to ensure affordable rents.
- Supports strengthening rent control and tenant protection laws, and expanding household income eligibility for housing programs, such as rent freezes, rental assistance, and legal representation.
- Supports increasing funding for entrepreneurship opportunities through incubators, start-ups, and partnerships with organizations like the Queens Chamber and QEDC.

Opposes "Operation Restore Roosevelt" for focusing on sex workers instead of sex trafficking.

Supports expanded access to work permits for street vendors and sex workers.

Supports creating a citywide Know Your Rights campaign to educate immigrant communities about protections against unlawful search, seizure, and deportation.

Opposes ending sanctuary city policies and enforcing civil immigration laws.

Supports establishing a round-the-clock mental health response service with unarmed, trained professionals to de-escalate crises.

Supports additional funding to combat sex and labor trafficking.

- Opposes "Operation Restore Roosevelt" for focusing on sex workers instead of sex trafficking.
- Supports expanded access to work permits for street vendors and sex workers.
- Supports creating a citywide Know Your Rights campaign to educate immigrant communities about protections against unlawful search, seizure, and deportation.
- Opposes ending sanctuary city policies and enforcing civil immigration laws.
- Supports establishing a round-the-clock mental health response service with unarmed, trained professionals to de-escalate crises.
- Supports additional funding to combat sex and labor trafficking.

Supports increasing MTA funding for more frequent bus services and additional routes in East Elmhurst and Corona.

- Supports increasing MTA funding for more frequent bus services and additional routes in East Elmhurst and Corona.

Supports increasing funding for healthcare facilities and programs, including Elmhurst Hospital, Gotham Health clinics, and NYC Care insurance.

Supports providing additional funding for health and gender-affirming care to all ages.

- Supports increasing funding for healthcare facilities and programs, including Elmhurst Hospital, Gotham Health clinics, and NYC Care insurance.
- Supports providing additional funding for health and gender-affirming care to all ages.

Supports protecting and restoring parks and green spaces, and plans to invest in upgrades and restorations in every neighborhood.

- Supports protecting and restoring parks and green spaces, and plans to invest in upgrades and restorations in every neighborhood.

Erycka Montoya

Yanna has a degree in graphic design from the Alto de Chavón School of Design. She has also studied urban management and policy. She is originally from the Dominican Republic.

Yanna is the program director for the Dominico-American Society of Queens.

As of May 9, 2025, Yanna Henriquez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports small businesses and street vendors.

- Supports small businesses and street vendors.

As of June 8, 2025, Yanna Henriquez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports restorative justice in schools to replace punitive discipline with conflict resolution.

Supports expanding after-school programs in arts, technology, and sports.

- Supports restorative justice in schools to replace punitive discipline with conflict resolution.
- Supports expanding after-school programs in arts, technology, and sports.

Supports expanding Community Land Trusts, empowering tenants to buy their buildings, and incentivizing developers to convert vacant properties into affordable homes.

- Supports expanding Community Land Trusts, empowering tenants to buy their buildings, and incentivizing developers to convert vacant properties into affordable homes.

Plans to establish Trauma Recovery Centers to provide victims of violent crime with mental health support, legal aid, and financial assistance.

- Plans to establish Trauma Recovery Centers to provide victims of violent crime with mental health support, legal aid, and financial assistance.

Yanna Henriquez

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

Passes laws and regulations for your city

This ballot may not list all local party officials on your official ballot. These individuals serve only within their political party and do not hold public office.