Petitions aren’t even in yet, and the race for the male Democratic State Committee (also known as District Leader) in the 46th Assembly District is already showing signs of being a great side show to the main stage fight between freshman incumbent Assembly Member Pamela Harris and Kate Cucco for the actual assembly seat.
The latest salvo came early today when candidate Chris McCreight accused his opponent City Councilman Mark Treyger of being a carpetbagger candidate who has moved several times in areas of Brooklyn to run for office that he deems winable.
“When I found out Mark was running against me, I thought it was odd because I knew he had just moved into Bensonhurst to run for City Council a few years ago. Call me old-fashioned, but I think you should actually live in the district you want to represent. I’m calling on Mark to do the right thing: move into the district or stay where he lives and run there,” said McCreight.
McCreight noted that in 2013, Treyger legally had until election day to move into the council district he currently represents. Campaign finance records indicate that he lived in Bergen Beach, miles outside the district, only months before that September election.
The position of district leader has similar requirements, and McCreight says the position should be setting an example, not skirting rules.
“At a time when corruption and back-room deals are constantly in the headlines,” says McCreight, “a candidate for District Leader—and a City Councilman—should aim for higher than ‘technically legal.’ One of the main reasons I’m running for District Leader is because I believe the Democratic Party needs to take the lead in rooting out corruption at all levels.”
Treyger shot back that he has been a resident of Southern Brooklyn his entire life and he’s proud to stand by his record of accomplishments in the greater community.
“We all know that the way Albany draws district lines nonsensically divides communities, but that shouldn’t stop us from electing the best representative with the strongest track record as our Democratic State Committee member,” he said.
The 46th Assembly district includes Coney Island, Bay Ridge, part of Dyker Heights and a sliver of Brighton Beach.
