Joan Flowers

A Queens attorney who has been at the center of high-profile controversy in southeast Queens in planning to run for the New York City Council. Joan Flowers, who has worked for Gov. David Paterson, Rep. Gregory Meeks and state Sen. Malcolm Smith, confirmed to The Insider that she is running for the council seat being vacated by term-limited Councilman Leroy Comrie. Ms. Flowers was at one point reportedly the target of a federal probe into the New Direction Local Development Corp., a charity founded by Mr. Smith and Mr. Meeks in 2000 that used the same address as Ms. Flowers' law office. No charges were filed.