While almost all of Brooklyn’s political eyes will be on the Presidential Primary come Tuesday, there will be some focus on the 59th Assembly District special election where Democratic favorite Jaime Williams is going against Republican Jeffrey Ferretti for the assembly seat left open when former Assem,bly Member Roxanne Persaud moved up into the state senate.
The district includes Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach and Mill Basin.
“I feel very positive about this campaign,” said Ferretti, who ran against Persaud for the assembly seat before and then against her for the open senate seat last year. “My name recognition is out there more from the other two races. Actually people on the street are coming up to me and saying, ‘I’m voting for you.'”
Ferretti, whose family in the district goes back four generations to 1952 and who owns an insurance business on Avenue N, said all the local small businesses in the area have also been very supportive.
“I’ve personally been to all the civic associations in the district including in the Gerritsen Beach, Bergen Beach and Marine Park Civic Associations as well as the Key Food Shopping plaza in Gerretson Beach and all the local parishes,” Ferretti said.
Williams has also been running hard, although, having the strong organizational and financial backing of both Kings County Democratic Party Boss Frank Seddio and the powerful Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club eases an almost assured path to victory next Tuesday.
Williams previously served as Persaud’s Chief of Staff and has paid her dues as a loyal club member in helping out in all the other elections and club business. She came into politics through running a non-profit domestic violence prevention program, and after receiving a master’s degree from Fordham, all while raising three children.
