Sherman Steps Down As District Leader, TJ Club Readies For Primary War
Kings County Democratic Party Boss Frank Seddio announced last night that Roberta Sherman, his longtime female counterpart as the Democratic District Leader in the 59th Assembly District, is stepping down and being replaced with longtime Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club member Sue Ann Partnow.
Partnow’s naming came two days after KCP reported sources saying that Sherman would step down and State Sen. Roxanne Persaud would replace her.
The announcement came at a raucous TJ Club Meeting, in which Seddio rallied the club’s troops as they are facing several local primary challenges, most notably from Mercedes Narcisse, who is running both against Persaud for the senate seat and against Partnow for female district leader.
Butler Gets Central Brooklyn Support
Vanguard Independent Democratic Association President Henry Butler drew a lot of Bed-Stuy love at his fundraiser this week at the Vodou Bar, 95 Halsey Street.
Among those in attendance were Public Advocate Letitia James, City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr., State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblyman Walter Mosley, Assembly candidate Tremaine Wright and District Leader Olanike Albi.
Butler, the Community Board 3 District Manager and former TWU Local 100 representative and subway train motorman, is heading to Democratic National Convention as a Hillary Clinton Delegate next week.
Additionally, friends and family are urging Butler to run for the 41st City Council District seat, which will open up either this year or next depending on how current term-limited City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy d0es in her bid to unseat Assemblywoman Latrice Walker in the Sept. 13 Democratic Primary.
McCreight Survives Petition Challenge, Bashes Treyger
Chris McCreight, candidate for Democratic State Committee (also known as District Leader) in the 46th Assembly District (Coney Island, Bay Ridge), announced that, despite recent efforts by his opponents, he will be on the ballot in September.
On July 11, McCreight filed over 3,000 signatures with the Board of Elections, which is six times over the required minimum. Virtually every signature was gathered door to door to ensure that only registered Democrats signed.
McCreight’s opponent, City Council Member Mark Treyger, filed almost 1,000 fewer signatures. McCreight did not challenge his opponent’s petitions.
“Challenging your opponent’s clearly valid petitions is the absolutely worst message anyone should be sending to Democrats in Brooklyn after what happened at the Board of Elections in April,” said McCreight. “There were certainly irregularities with my opponent’s petitions, but I believe that democracy is best served when there are at least two candidates. I think everybody is better off when voters have a choice. Now that the challenge to my ballot status has ended, I look forward continuing to campaign on issues like protecting our neighborhoods, fighting for Democratic values and fixing our broken political system here in New York.”
While two candidates are on the ballot now, only one actually lives in the 46th Assembly District. McCreight lives in Bay Ridge, which is in the district in which he is running to represent. However, Treyger lives in the Bensonhurst part of the 47th Assembly District.
“My opponent is currently exploiting a loophole that technically allows him to run for a position without living in the district. Haven’t we had enough of politicians exploiting loopholes? This isn’t complicated. Mark should just be upfront with his intentions regarding his residency issue,” said McCreight.
Treyger is reportedly in the process of closing on a house in the district.
Billy Thai Makes Ballot, Set To Battle Charlie Ragusa
Chinese-American insurgent Billy Thai survived his petition challenge and made the ballot to run for the Democratic Leadership position in the 47th Assembly District against incumbent Charlie Ragusa.
Ragusa is a part of Team Colton led by 47th District Assemblyman Bill Colton and female District Leader Nancy Tong in a Bensonhurst and Bath beach district that is becoming increasingly Pacific Asian-American.
Thai and his mentor, Warren Chan, maintain that the district needs an independent Chinese-American voice.
“The Chinese community has always been receiving the short end of the stick for many years because we lack political power. I will continue to build up more Chinese voters and enroll the Chinese voters into the Democratic Party to further the Chinese influence in New York City politics,” said Thai.
“By increasing the Chinese voices and Chinese voting power in New York City, we can translate this into more fundings and government opportunities for the Chinese community. I hope you all can help me on this quest to further increase the Chinese political power in New York City,” he added.
