As expected, 59th District Democratic Assemblywoman Roxanne Persaud cruised to victory last night over Republican Jeffrey Ferretti in the 19th Senate District Race covering Canarsie, Mill Basin, Easy New York and Brownsville.
According to the unofficial Board of Elections tally, Persaud received 88 percent or 6,980 votes to Ferretti’s nine percent or 702 votes.
The seat became vacant with the felony corruption conviction of former State Sen. John Sampson. The district is similar to her assembly district except it adds Brownsville and East New York. Persaud said among her priorities remains to understand and connect to the needs of this newer part of the district including working on such issues as crime and affordable housing.
Persaud also recognizes that she will be moving from the Democratic-controlled assembly to the Republican-controlled senate, but she is up to the task.
“I’ve always gotten along with my Republican colleagues in the assembly and I think that’s not a problem,” she said. “I’m good at crossing the lines and speaking with people and trying to work with them. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and talk with someone else.”
Persaud added that she has always gotten along well with Bay Ridge Sen. Marty Golden (the borough’s only GOP senator), and in fact co-sponsored and worked on bills with him while in the assembly.
Persaud noted, though, that she will not caucus with the Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC), which includes Coney Island Sen. Diane Savino, or caucus with the Republicans like Borough Park Democratic Sen. Simcha Felder.
“I am a Democrat and I am caucusing with the Democrats,” she said.
