Geoffrey Davis, the male Democratic District Leader for the 43rd Assembly district, brought together several dozen Democratic County Committee members from the district last night, showcasing by example what a unified assembly district can bring to the table.
The meeting held at the Jon Hus Moravian Church, 153 Ocean Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, formerly known as Flatbush, came at a time when the New Kings Democrats political club and other progressive minded Democrats in the borough have started an initiative called “Rep Your Block,” which seeks to recruit county committee members to fill vacancies throughout the borough.
This has led some district leaders to allege political gentrification, but Davis has taken a proactive stand and decided to start holding monthly meetings among county committee members in his district to air out differences and let active Democrats know that there is more power in unity.
“We can agree to disagree, and we won’t agree on everything, but if we work together and get to know each other and communicate, we will have a lot more power,” said Davis.
Among the county committee members were several who belonged to the New Kings Democrats, and some questioned Davis recent decision to use proxy votes of committee members to vote for Kings County Democratic Party Boss Frank Seddio and his slate for the executive committee at the last County Committee meeting.
Davis replied he was one person, but if the county committee members from the district met regularly and show unity, than not only would he be beholden to these members, but he could get Seddio and other county leaders to come to these meetings and address the district members. With numbers and unity there is power, he said.
“But just like I am responsible to you, you are elected officials yourself and are responsible to your election districts [ED]. If there are shootings, or streetlights are out, or garbage isn’t picked up in your ED, it’s your responsibility to let other county committee members and local elected officials know what is going on and to get things fixed,” said Davis.
Among those in attendance was Earnest Skinner, a longtime Brooklyn Democratic progressive and who has a Democratic Club in the 42nd Assembly district named for him.
Skinner noted that Davis’ call for regular meetings with county committee members from the district is extremely important work as it is democracy at its most basic grassroots level. He noted that there are a number of district leaders throughout the borough that don’t even attempt to work with the local county committee members.
Before adjourning, county committee members of the 43rd district vowed to hold meetings every other month.
