The Brooklyn Chapter of the Working Families Party last night endorsed Haitian American Caucus Executive Director Sam Pierre in the upcoming special 19th Senate District election, according to knowledgeable sources.
But WFP NYC Political Director Britney Whaley said it remains far from certain that Pierre will get their nod. “The screening committee had an intense deliberation. It’s definitely too early to predict where we’re going to end up given that our process is ongoing,” she said.
Pierre, who has a fundraiser tonight, said he will not be deterred whether he gets the WFP support or not. “I’m in it to win it. I’ll fight hard on the pavement line,” he said.
The seat opened up with the recent felony conviction of 18-year incumbent State Sen. John Sampson. The district includes Canarsie, East New York, Mill Basin and a square of Sheepshead Bay.
If Pierre makes it on the ballot, he will face Assembly Member Roxane Persaud, the choice of both Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio and the equally powerful Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, in what could be a raucous and mud-slinging affair.
Pierre is the former TJ Club Vice President of Filed Operations, and has often said Seddio is his political father and mentor. But the two had a falling out when Seddio supported Persaud to move up from the assembly for the senate run instead of endorsing Pierre.
After it was reported that Seddio would back Persaud, Pierre made comments how hurt he was and that he would run anyway. To which, Seddio replied to bring it on.
Pierre, a cousin to Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, has indicated it is time for more Haitian elected officials, but Persaud, who is Guyanese, said race or ethnicity shouldn’t matter as much as qualifications.
“I’m going to form a broad coalition around progressive leadership,” said Pierre, noting there are 21,000 Haitian-Americans in the district, and that although Persaud is a black woman, she doesn’t represent true progressive values.
“Why didn’t she just stay in her (assembly) seat and support another black leader,” said Pierre.
If Persaud wins, it will likely set up another power struggle over who will get her current 59th District Assembly seat. Seddio, who once held that seat and controls the majority of district committee members, said he will worry about filling that vacancy once it becomes open.
But Pierre said all his options remain open including a possible run at Persaud’s assembly seat if she moves to the senate. “Sam Pierre is not going anywhere,” he said.
