Brooklyn and the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political organization last night gave Public Advocate Letitia (Tish) James (D) their overwhelming support in her run for state attorney general.
The Park Slope-based Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn (“LID”), founded in 1978 by a group of Boerum Hill LBGT activists, enthusiastically endorsed James as the right person for the right time.
“Throughout her career, Tish James has been a fearless fighter for all New Yorkers. From her time as a public defender, as an assistant attorney general, as a city council member from Brooklyn and as public advocate, she has always protected the most basic rights of LGBTQ New Yorkers,” said LID President Scott Klein.
Klein said there was some discussion in the endorsement. This included possibly endorsing U.S. Rep. Sean Maloney, a married gay man with three children representing New York’s populous Hudson Valley just north of New York City. The organization did support Maloney in his 2006 attorney general run against eventual winner and now governor, Andrew Cuomo.
There was also some discussion about James being too close to Cuomo, and her abandoning the Working Families Party on whose line she first won her city council seat, Klein said.
But in the end, the club said they know James as an independent person and a hometown Brooklyn Fort Hamilton High School graduate, accomplished attorney and lawmaker.
“In life and in politics these things matter. They should be honored and respected,” said Klein.
James thanked the club. “As Attorney General, I will fight to uphold our most basic constitutional rights and ensure that every New Yorker from Brooklyn to Buffalo is protected,” she said.
In other endorsements, the club tabbed Chris McCreight as their candidate in the upcoming Democratic primary for the vacant 46th District Assembly seat covering Coney Island and Bay Ridge.
McCreight currently works in the office of City Council Member Justin Brannan, and is the president of the Bay Ridge Democrats. He could not be reached for comment at post time.
Klein said the club also interviewed Coney Island activist and educator Mathylde Frontus, who is also running in the primary seat.That they were both qualified candidates, Klein said.
