Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio, yesterday, proposed endorsing Assemblywoman Roxanne Persaud as the Party’s nominee to succeed convicted felon Sen. John Sampson in the November special election for the 19th Senate District.
That according to a source who attended last night’s meeting at a Mill Basin pizzeria that Seddio called for all Democratic District Leaders, whose assembly districts are either wholly or partly in the 19th Senate District to attend.
The district includes East New York, Canarsie, Mill Basin, a sliver of Marine Park and a square of Sheepshead Bay.
Also in attendance was Persaud, who expressed interest in the senate seat at the meeting as well as Assemblymember Charles Barron (who is also a Democratic District Leader). Among the other elected legislative lawmakers at the meeting were Assemblymembers Helene Weinstein, and N. Nick Perry, and City Councilman Alan Maisel.
While one source said Seddio proposed Persaud, another source said it was more like a mutual feeling that Persaud would make a good candidate – especially as an alternative to Barron, who lobbied strongly that he should get the Party nod.
Barron noted that the district has a black majority, but he would represent the white minority as well.
“Barron was so confident that he said he would run with or without county support,” said one white source.
Conversely, one black source familiar with the meeting said they feel Persuad is Seddio’s hand-picked person and that many Caribbeans would prefer a more independent voice such as Samuel Pierre, a former Bloomberg administration official.
Neither Seddio or Persaud returned phone calls at post time.
While it appears that Persaud now has the inside track to the Democratic Party nod, no firm decision was made yet, and more meetings are expected.
