City Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Bay Rideg, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) yesterday officially endorsed fellow Democrat Max Rose for the 11th district of New York’s Congressional seat.
While Brannan’s endorsement adds to an already lengthy list of endorsements for Rose, it has better local prominence in that his district is all within the Congressional district in question, which incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-Staten Island, South Brooklyn) now holds. Brannan has a very well-oiled campaign knowledge and presence.
Brannan said he is endorsing Rose because he believes that Rose has the strength to live up to his word of fighting back against special interests.
“This year, I am laser-focused on doing everything I can to help take back the House. That’s why we need people like Max Rose,” said Brannan. “Max has the guts to take on special interests and the backbone to fight like a beast for the middle-class day in and day out.
Brannan said from the first time he met Rose, he knew he was the kind of person that wouldn’t be pushed around by the people in Washington.
“I first met Max many years ago when he was working for my dear friend, the late [Brooklyn District Attorney] Ken Thompson. I knew then that Max was like me – an independent guy who doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to helping everyday people make ends meet. Max won’t take a cent in corporate PAC donations because he refuses to be bought off like everyone else in D.C. these days,” he said.
Rose, of Staten Island is the first post-September 11th combat veteran to seek office in New York City, lives in Staten Island. He served as a U.S. Army active duty officer in Afghanistan from 2012-2013, and earned a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge. He continues his service today in the National Guard as an Infantry Company Commander, and is also Ranger-qualified.
He said he is ready to put those skills, and other, to fight for the district he is running to represent.
“Councilman Justin Brannan exemplifies what it means to be a public official and I am looking forward to working with him to overcome the challenges we face in the 11th Congressional District,” said Rose.
Rose did not hold back in his criticisms of Washington, saying that federal lawmakers have been overlooking his district for years.
“Staten Island and South Brooklyn have either been screwed over or ignored by Washington D.C. and it’s about time we had a representative who will do something about it. Congress has ignored our crumbling infrastructure, raised our taxes, and won’t even debate how to keep our kids safe from gun violence. We deserve better. As a combat veteran, I saw my fellow soldiers do the impossible every day because that’s what was asked of them,” Rose said.
“We need leaders with that same kind of commitment to put country and results over petty politics and that’s the kind of representative I will be if elected,” he added.
Currently, Rose has been endorsed by The Staten Island Democratic Party, The Working Families Party, The Women’s Equality Party, House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Jason Kander, Assemblyman Peter Abbate, Jr, End Citizens United, Future Forum PAC, VoteVets, With Honor, Blue Dogs PAC, BOLD PAC, NARAL, NewDems PAC, The New York State Council of Machinists, The Stars and Stripes Democratic Club, The Bay Ridge Democrats, The Brooklyn Young Democrats, The Muslim Democratic Club of NY, The Lambda Independent Democratic Club, and The Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats.
