In an exclusive KCP interview, Bensonhurst/Coney Island City Councilman Mark Treyger, one of the borough’s political rising stars, offered glowing support for Assemblyman William Colton‘s possible run for the 11th Congressional seat straddling Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn.
Treyger, who was elected co-chair of the city council’s Brooklyn delegation yesterday, started in politics working as an intern in Colton’s office as a Russian speaking aide. He also has real world experience having been a teacher in New Utrecht High School where he taught World History, Government, and Economics for eight years. He is the first Russian speaking member of the City Council – having been born here, shortly after his parents immigrated from the Ukraine.
“No one has done more in southern Brooklyn to build up and strengthen than Democratic Party then Bill Colton. Within the past couple of years we’ve seen the products of the labor he put in on mobilizing the emerging communities that are now more visible and growing in Southern Brooklyn,” said Treyger, adding it was through Colton and his club, the United Progressive Democrats, that he was elected as the first Russian speaking City Council member, and that Democratic District Leader Nancy Tong became the first Chinese-American elected public official in Brooklyn’s history.
“We’ve seen (through Colton) the growth and emergence of a Democratic organization that is very inclusive and tolerant of these communities in Brooklyn, who have collected over 5,000 signatures urging him to run. We have a responsibility to serve people and empower people and bring them into the political fold to support Colton as a candidate that works hard and who reflects hard-working middle class values.”
Treyger said the upcoming Congressional race is one of the outer, outer boroughs that has unique local issues such as fighting the dangerous waste transfer station that affects Democrats, Republicans and independents alike.
“You can’t just ask someone to say vote for me because I’m a Democrat,” said Treyger. “He (Colton) has a track record that reveals a real viability for his candidacy and a credibility in the community.”
