Coney Island Community Activist Pamela Harris (D) coasted to victory last night over Republican Lucretia Regina-Potter, becoming the first African-American woman to represent the 46th Assembly District.
According to unofficial Board of Election results, Harris garnered 63 percent or 4,364 votes while Regina-Potter received 37 percent or 2,573 votes in a district that includes Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and parts 0f Bath Beach and Brighton Beach.
“I will continue to do what I’ve been doing. I will continue to do what’s right for our district, not just our community, but our district. I will continue to do what’s right for our unions because we can’t live without them. and I will always continue to do what’s right for our youth because they are our future,” said Harris in her victory speech.
Harris’ road to Albany began with a tense nominating process following the sudden resignation of former Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny over the summer. A retired corrections officer, she has long been a presence in Coney Island running a non-profit which has put scores of teens from the hard-scrabble streets of Western Coney Island on the straight and narrow, and heroically worked to clean up Coney Island following Superstorm Sandy.
Harris’ win also continued to raise the stock of her political mentor, City Councilman Mark Treyger, who fought the powerful Bay Ridge Democratic machine in securing Harris the nomination.
Among those at her victory party last night was Kings County Democratic Party Boss Frank Seddio, who noted that Harris will have to run all over again next year starting with the September primary.
Others at her victory party included State Senator Diane Savino and Senator-elect Roxanne Persaud, Assembly Members Bill Colton, Nick Perry, Latrice Walker and Steve Cymbrowitz, City Council members Treyger, David Greenfield, and Jumaane Williams and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
