A longtime Woodside resident is planning to challenge Assemblywoman Marge Markey for her Queens seat next year.

Brian Barnwell, a 29-year-old attorney who has spent the last two years working for Astoria Councilman Costa Constantinides, said working in the councilman’s office opened his eyes to the many challenges residents face on a daily basis.

Those include high taxes, quality-of-life concerns such as graffiti and, perhaps most importantly, skyrocketing rents and tenant harassment that are making it impossible for many to continue to afford to live in New York.

“We have to do more to help the middle class,” he said last week. “They simply can’t afford to live here anymore.

If elected, Barnwell would also like to reform the teacher evaluation system to give more decision-making ability back to local education leaders, and offer more corporate tax breaks for local businesses, which would in turn allow them to raise wages.

Barnwell walked District 30, which includes potions of Woodside, Sunnyside and Maspeth, working with the Democratic Party to gather signatures to get their slate of candidates on the ballot.

“I know the issues that residents are facing,” he said. “I was out there going door to door talking to people.”

Barnwell plans to leave his post with the councilman in September to concentrate on running his campaign full-time. His first fundraiser will be on August 12 at 7 p.m. at The Brewery, 49-18 30^th Avenue.

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