Assemblymember and Kings County Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) on Tuesday was easily reappointed to a two-year term as the Kings County Democratic Party Chair at the party’s organizational meeting held virtually.
Also re-elected to their posts were female Democratic District Leaders Annette Robinson as vice-chair and Nancy Tong as secretary.
The Kings County Democratic Party Executive Committee comprised of the borough male and female Democratic District leaders and sources said the vote was unanimous with several abstentions from the newly elected district leaders that had the support of either the New Kings Democrats or the Democratic Socialists of America.
“They all claim to be progressive, but abstained from voting for two Black women and the only Asian elected official, who is also a woman, in the entire borough,” said one source.
In a release, the County Democratic Party organization and Bichotte said business conducted at the meeting also included providing an update on the faulty absentee ballots distributed across the borough and amending the county committee rules due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The following is verbatim portions of the release:
“In New York, each party has a county committee that is entrusted with performing basic tasks for the party organization. In Kings County, the party elected 2,300 members. Due to the pandemic, the party has had to find new and innovative ways to make itself both inclusive and transparent, while also mitigating health risks that would be inevitable if an in-person meeting were called. Rules for governance of the county committee were amended at the meeting due to these issues.
“A 2,300-person virtual meeting would have compromised the integrity of the voting process and left out some elderly members, persons with disabilities and minority community members facing challenges with internet access in the digital divide.
“Therefore, a proxy voting process was established and voted on. Through the vote, a consensus was reached among the overwhelming majority of district leaders, that they should act as the voice of county committee members and cast votes on their behalf for the purpose of the annual organizational meeting occurring during the Covid-19 public health crisis. This is similar to the use of proxies at the party’s August judicial convention. Under the temporary rules, members still have the right to assign any individual they wish to cast their vote as a proxy holder for this meeting.
“The rule change represents a progressive improvement from past practices, where the party chair controlled hundreds of proxy votes from across districts, not only their own. The new rules divest power from one, to many. It is a reform that many have sought for decades.”
In the release, thanked the Kings County Democratic Executive Committee for re-electing her as Brooklyn Democratic Party leader.
The release also touted how since she took over the helm of the party in January, Bichotte has been instrumental in passing election reform legislation and policies; instituted judicial reforms; saved the party from near financial collapse; expanded Party inclusivity by creating a Task Force on Gender Equality; responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by keeping members up to date with the latest information and resources; and mobilized county clubs to support progressive candidates in innovative and unprecedented ways.
The release also noted Bichotte’s goals are to continue to support district leaders’ involvement in the party, encourage voter participation and drive up civic engagement.
