First Lady Chirlane McCray has officially decided to not run for Brooklyn Borough President, which she has flip-flopped on for years, reported NY1.
McCray would have been a prominent Black woman candidate, and as recently as last week, her office told KCP she was still on the fence and cited statements she made in June about not knowing “what the future holds.”
However, with McCray no longer a contender, Brooklyn’s own Assemblymember Joanne Simon (D-Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, DUMBO) and Reverend Kim Council are seemingly neck and neck.
Simon confirmed to KCP that she was running back in September. Council, originally slated to run for City Council in the 37th District, also decided to join the BP race back in September, she told KCP.
“I prayed a lot and had a conversation with God. So much has changed since I started with the council this year and right now. After deliberating I decided that Brooklyn is in a situation that it has never been in before. There are so many people who are hurting, that are grieving, uncertain about what’s going to happen with their housing and jobs, and so I just saw it as an opportunity to serve all of Brooklyn,” said Council.
Council, who is a minister and has a large church following, said Brooklyn needs someone who can unify the borough in these challenging times. “We’ve never had a woman or an African American female be borough president so I’ll bring that to the table. I’m not someone that shouts out a bunch of rhetoric, but likes to listen to all involved in the process. I’m a solutions oriented person,” said Council.
Pearlene Fields is also making a bid for BP.
“The First Lady surprised the Mayor and public when she first expressed interest in running for public office more than a year ago. But the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life as usual, exposing deep social and economic inequity, which the First Lady is focused on to help our City come back stronger. As a nationally recognized mental health champion, she has developed policies, programs and resources like 1 888-NYC Well to help connect New Yorkers to mental health services. Her decision not to run reflects her commitment to improve the lives of New Yorkers now and beyond this Administration,” said Chanel Caraway, City hall spokesperson.
McCray hasn’t responded to requests for comment on whether or not her husband, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s, plummeting reputation over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises is the motivating reason for her pulling out.
