James Sanders Jr. was elected to the New York State Senate on September 13, 2012. He represents the 10th Senatorial District in Queens, which includes the neighborhoods of South Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Rosedale, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens and most of the Rockaways.

Senator Sanders is the ranking Democrat on the Civil Services & Pensions Committee. He also serves on the Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business Committee, Banks Committee, Insurance Committee, Labor Committee, Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs Committee, Cultural Affairs & Tourism Committee, and Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committee.

During his time in the legislature, Senator Sanders has been a fierce advocate for working people, families and unions. In his first term in office, he introduced the Fair Wage Act, which would increase the statewide minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, indexed to inflation, and allowing municipalities to set their own minimum wage up to $13.13, understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for places like New York City.

Sanders was one of the chief leaders in the fight for higher pay for airport food servers employed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who had been left out of earlier wage increase negotiations. He was also successful in protecting airport travelers by introducing a bill criminalizing the use of laser pointers directed towards airplanes. John F. Kennedy Airport is located within the senator’s district and this piece of legislation was critical in ensuring that pilots would not have any impairments to their visibility and maintaining the safety of all passengers.

Prior to his time in the State Senate, Sanders served as City Councilman for the 31st District, representing the communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Edgemere, Bayswater, Arverne and Far Rockaway. He was elected in 2001 and served for 12 years before being term-limited out.

As a City Councilman he was unanimously voted chairman of the Economic Development Committee, making him the first African-American in New York City history to hold that post. Immediately having impact in his new role, Sanders oversaw the Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Small Business Services and commissioned a major study that became the basis upon which New York City re-instituted policies of affirmative action and enhanced opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses.

Sanders authored the toughest anti-predatory lending bill in the country and passed legislation criminalizing the sale of ammunition to minors. He rebuilt and updated many of the parks and libraries in the 31st District and led the charge against sexual assaults throughout Queens, forming a coalition of community activists to address safety and other issues affecting women.

A true product of Southeast Queens, Sanders was born in the Hammel Houses, a public housing development. After graduating from Far Rockaway High School, he served in the United States Marine Corps for three years, before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree, in history. He specialized in African-American studies and graduated from Brooklyn College in 1984.

Sanders’ passion for public service and politics began as a young man working for then-United States Congressman, the Rev. Floyd H. Flake. He engineered civic and community projects that aided in revitalizing social and economic opportunities in Southeast Queens.

As a married father of two, Sanders saw first-hand how economic advancement was dependent upon the quality of education within the community, so he began to take an interest in youth and educational affairs, working in the nonprofit sector to organize and assist students and other youth throughout New York City. The senator served on Queens School Board District 27 for ten years, seven as president, – the first African-American to do so.

In his spare time, Sanders has taken a community economic development training course offered by a federally funded program called Neighborhood Works and is nearing completion with only one final paper pending before he is awarded his certificate.

Now in his second term, Senator Sanders, a veteran, lifelong public servant, proponent of education and advocate for working class families, promises to approach this legislative session with a renewed interest in bringing economic opportunities and resources to the people of Southeast Queens.