Calling for “transparency, reform, and accountability” in Albany, Kate Cucco, the former chief of staff for former Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, announced today she will challenge incumbent Assembly Member Pam Harris in the September Democratic Primary for the 46th Assembly District Seat.
The District in contiguous, as it must be per law, by a strip of the Belt Parkway with Coney Island, Sea Gate and Brighton Beach on one side, and Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights on the other side. Cucco’s base is Bay Ridge and she is close with the Bay Ridge Democrats, while Harris is stronger on the Coney Island side and is a longtime member of Coney Island’s Shorefront Democrats.
“I’m running for State Assembly because I have an insider’s knowledge of government and an outsider’s perspective. Our communities have lost faith in Albany and are seeking new leadership to help bring integrity to the legislature. As a community activist, I have stood hand-in-hand with the people of South Brooklyn and heard their calls for change. Coupled with my experience as someone who knows how to get things done in the Assembly, I can lead the way as we pass legislation that will reform a corrupt campaign finance system that only benefits wealthy special interests,” said Cucco in an emailed statement.
“We will fix Albany and we will improve our communities, passing laws that protect tenants and put an end to illegal home conversions. I will fight to ensure the State finally closes the $4.4B annual funding gap owed to New York City public schools and make sure the State continues its funding levels to CUNY. And I will continue to support our senior-citizens, who have spent their entire lives supporting us. Now more than ever, the people of South Brooklyn need someone who works for them and not a broken political system.”
Separately, longtime Male Democratic 46th Assembly District leader Mark Davidovich, and a member of the Shorefront Democrats, told KCP today he is retiring from politics to spend more time with his family and will not run for re-election.
Davidovich’s retirement opens up the door for an interesting proxy side race for male district leader between City Councilman Mark Treyger, a strong supporter of Harris and Chris McCreight, who comes out of the Bay Ridge Democrats and is likely to support Cucco.
The district is very diverse with a large black community on the Coney Island side and a large white community on the Bay Ridge side. The district also has a mix of Jews, Muslims, Russians and Pacific-Asians.
