As the contentious race for the open 46th Assembly District goes into its final weeks, candidates from both sides of the aisle are racking up last minute endorsements.
Mathylde Frontus, the Democratic candidate, received some local support in the form of City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach) yesterday as he officially endorsed the local insurgent.
“I sat down with her. We spoke for quite a while and it’s important that we don’t take anything for granted, even in an area that’s solidly Democratic. You know the Republicans know we’re coming for them and they’re coming for us, and I am going to do everything that I can to make sure she wins soundly in November,” said Brannan.
Frontus narrowly won her primary race last month against Ethan Lustig-Elgrably, to become the Democratic nominee to oppose Republican nominee Steve Saperstein for the South Brooklyn Assembly District.
According to official reports from the Board of Elections (BOE), after counting all absentee and affidavit ballots, Frontus won the Democratic primary by a margin of 55 votes in a diverse district that includes Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and a portion of Brighton Beach.
Democrats are hoping to keep the seat on their side and that both the assembly and senate will have a Democratic majority in next year’s term.
The Brooklynite is hoping to use her background as a community organizer and leader to bring back faith in local politics to the area, and focus on passing legislation that matters to the people.
“I think Brannan’s endorsement shows solidarity that we are working together and that we both have to work as a team. What excites and what I’m looking forward to is becoming his colleague in government. There is a lot to do, it’s about the people and nothing else matters,” said Frontus.
Meanwhile, Saperstein, who grew up in the district, received the endorsement of Queens City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood, Woodhaven, Woodside). Holden came to office as a civic leader, who beat the Queens Democratic machine candiadte incumbant Elezabeth Crowley last year.
Holden based his support on Saperstein’s community and educational work, and his ability to work with everybody in a nonpartisan way.
“Steve’s work as a teacher is based in his desire to help others succeed. His candidacy to represent the people of the 46th Assembly District in Brooklyn is another example of that. Regardless of party lines, Steve has shown that he is willing to work with every member of his community in an honest and transparent way to help everyday New Yorkers live better lives,” said Holden.
Saperstein, a teacher and attorney whose first language was sign language as both his parents are deaf, strongly supports working with Holden and other like-minded leaders to find solutions to New York’s toughest problems including improving the state school system, fixing the mass transit system and ending corruption in Albany.
“I am honored to have the support of one of the rare voices of reason in our government, Councilman Robert Holden. It’s time we end the divisiveness in our city and state politics and start finding ways to work together to make New York work for everyone. We need more cooperation between both parties and less rhetoric and division that only hurts our great state,” said Saperstein.
The two candidates will look to replace disgraced former Assemblywoman Pamela Harris who pleaded guilty over the Summer in U.S. Federal Court on felony corruption charges.
The general election is Nov. 6.
