With no Democratic Party candidate on the ballot, the May 5 special election for the open 43rd District Assembly seat covering Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and East Flatbush is looking more and more like a dogfight.
The two Democrat assembly district leaders – Shirley Patterson and Geoffrey Davis – look like frontrunners thus far, but both Working Families Party candidate Diana Richardson, and Republican and Conservative Party Menachem Raitport could slide in if Patterson or Davis falter.
Kings County Politics asked all four candidates the following question and below that are the candidate’s answers:
What initiative(s) have you taken in the last year or two on issues relevant to the district?
Shirley Patterson: “For the past three years, I as you district leader and union delegate, have worked diligently to keep SUNY Downstate Medical Facility open as a full service public school and medical center. Although Brooklyn’s health care facilities have taken a tremendous hit, we have made some victories with Downstate. With the help of our legislators from our district and around Brooklyn, concerned community residents and local clergy, we were able to beat back the language in the governor’s budget that could have allowed for the privatization of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.”
Geoffrey Davis: We have aggressively addressed homelessness with visibly bringing attention to the issue by literally sleeping in a tent for 10 days in front of City Hall on a hunger strike while asking for more funding from the City Council for homeless services. Through the Love Yourself Stop Violence Foundation we have aggressively marched down the streets of the district to show visibility and stand collectively against gun violence. This is our 23rd year of doing this.
Menachem Raitport, who owns and operates the Crown Kosher Meat Market in the district: “I’m involved with the Crown Heights Shomrim (neighborhood watch patrol) and belong to organizations trying to help the poor and people who need help. It’s all about helping other people.
Diana Richardson was not reachable at post time. She is an executive member of Community Board 9.
