What’s good for the goose ain’t so good for the gander and it’s ruffling the feathers of several male district leaders in Brooklyn’s Democratic Party.
A brouhaha over gender politics is brewing for the Kings County Democratic Party organization after the county’s executive committee – made up of the 42 male and female assembly district leaders – voted to change a long-standing rule that the two top county positions, chair and vice-chair could not be of the same sex.
The 1970s rule was made to break up the old boys club and ensure that one female would also be in a role of power.
But when former chair Frank Seddio stepped down last week to make room for the historic first lady chair Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, the executive committee also changed the one man, one woman rule to accommodate that popular Vice Chair Annette Robinson could also continue in her role.
Now, not only do women have the top two positions, but they also make up the entire executive committee board consisting of Bichotte as chair, Robinson as vice-chair, Arelis Martinez as secretary and Darlene Mealy as treasurer.
While the rule change was overwhelmingly approved it did get some opposition from male 52nd AD leader Josh Skaller (Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, DUMBO).
“My feeling was not so much against having all women there, but that the change was made so that Rodneyse could move in and keep Annette there as well. That the rules were changed to affect a specific outcome. They [rules] should not be changed just becuase you want to replace a specific leader.”
Skaller said he asked what would happen if in the future the leadership becomes all men again and he was told they would just change the rule back again. “That [rule change] does not keep me up at night. I’m fine with the outcome, but we should change rules in a forward-moving way and not a backward moving way,” he said.
But Female 44th AD Leader Lori Citron Knipel (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Ditmas Park) said she is thrilled with the change.
“To me [the rule change] is a no brainer. It’s historical and a sign of the time. Never before has a woman been able to come forward and become the county chair and to have the vice-chair as well. That’s why they used to call it an old boys network,” said Knipel.
But male 55th AD District Leader Anthony Jones (Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, East Flatbush) said while he understands the importance of the change he does not want to be left out of the historic change as a male.
“We – both male and female district leaders – made her [Bichotte] story a reality. When a release was sent out on her being named the chair there were a lot of different quotes from women, but no quotes from males and we were left out of that process,” said Jones.
“If it was good for women, it should be good for men and I want to see myself reflected on the executive board,” he added.
Jones noted that Bichotte is the interim chair and must be elected for a two-year term in September after the district leader elections and that he hopes Bichotte shows more of a willingness to be open in regards to gender and cultural equality.
Bichotte did not return several calls or texts at post time.
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