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By Colin Campbell 5/31/12 8:22am

brooklyn

New York GOP Chair Ed Cox and Joseph Hayon (Photo: Facebook)

Cymbrowitz’s 2010 Challenger to Run Against Weinstein This Time Around

Joseph Hayon, a Republican activist in southeastern Brooklyn’s Jewish community who did surprisingly well against Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz in 2010, will forgo a rematch and instead run against Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein. Indeed, Mr. Hayon, who also doubles as the head of the Brooklyn Tea Party club, told us that he was “99%” likely to run.

Mr. Hayon is known in Brooklyn political circles as a particularly passionate opponent of the gay marriage legislation signed last year, and he hinted that Mr. Cymbrowitz’s vote against the bill — and Ms. Weinstein’s support of it — factored into his decision-making, in addition to redistricting changing the shape of the map. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/23/12 2:09pm

brooklyn

Charles Barron (Photo: Facebook)

DC 37 Officially Goes With Barron

DC 37, the public employees union with the largest membership in New York City, announced their congressional endorsements this cycle for competitive primaries, which went to Councilman Charles Barron, Assemblyman Rory Lancman, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez. But it is the endorsement for Mr. Barron that stands out the most, as the rest of organized labor has gotten behind Mr. Barron’s opponent, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, as the two battle to succeed retiring Rep. Ed Towns. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/04/12 12:47pm

brooklyn

Jesus Gonzalez (Photo: Facebook)

Jesus Gonzalez Files for Council Campaign

Jesus Gonzalez, an activist who gained prominence by running in a special election for the State Assembly last summer, looks like he’s getting ready to run for term-limited Councilman Erik Dilan’s seat in 2013. Indeed, he just registered a campaign committee for the run today and at Lincoln Restler’s campaign kickoff event last night, he told The Politicker he was getting “closer to making a decision.” Read More

By Hunter Walker and Colin Campbell 4/20/12 2:51pm

brooklyn

Ben Akselrod, left, standing with the Met Council's Willie Rapfogel (photo: metcouncil.brinkster.net)

Ben Akselrod May Challenge Steve Cymbrowitz in The Democratic Primary

Democratic Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz may face a primary challenge from Ben Akselrod, multiple tipsters told The Politicker. Mr. Akselrod, they indicated, might even earn the support of Brooklyn Democratic leader Vito Lopez in his endeavor.

Mr. Akselrod, a politically active local who’s been involved in multiple Jewish community organizations, could have additional appeal in the district’s large Russian-speaking population that is growing into a powerful political force in southeastern Brooklyn. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/12/12 1:16pm

brooklyn

Hakeem Jeffries

Hakeem Jeffries Pulls in $237,000

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries continued to build his war chest and raised over $237,000 in the last three months, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this afternoon. With about $400,000 cash on hand, he has a decent amount of money to work with as he makes his final push for the June 26th primary where he’s seeking to unseat Congressman Ed Towns.

What Mr. Towns’ reports in his filing next week will likely send a clear signal about his surprisingly sleepy campaign operations so far. He has routinely skipped out on campaign events he attended in past reelection efforts and his campaign’s spokesman was most recently spotted declining to speak about campaign-related matters. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/05/12 12:36pm

brooklyn

ed towns getty

Ed Towns’ Reelection Campaign Off to A Curious Start

Congressman Ed Towns is officially campaigning for reelection, sort of.

He hasn’t been showing up at multiple Democratic club endorsements meetings, including some that supported him when he faced serious primary challenges in the past. Most notably, he skipped out on the Vanguard Independent Democratic Association, located in the heart of Bed-Stuy politics.

Bed-Stuy is a neighborhood crucial to victory as he faces the most serious challenge of his career from Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Councilman Charles Barron. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/17/12 12:21pm

brooklyn

Frank Seddio (Photo: Facebook)

Frank Seddio Planning City Council Bid

Frank Seddio is planning a bid to fill Lew Fidler’s City Council seat in Brooklyn’s 46th District.

“I was going to run in 2013 anyway, but I haven’t really begun anything until this week,” Mr. Seddio told The Politicker. “I will be putting together a committee pretty shortly, probably focusing on 2013, but if it becomes open, I’m definitely running.

Yesterday, Councilman Lew Fidler formally launched his campaign to fill the State Senate vacated by Carl Kruger, who resigned before pleading guilty to federal corruption charges.

“Frankly, and I’m not just being coy about it, my main concern right now is that Lew Fidler wins the State Senate seat and we don’t have a second Republican senator in our area of Brooklyn,” Mr. Seddio said. ”If he does win, his seat is probably going to open up in March.

Mr. Seddio is a lawyer, former judge and leader for the Democratic party in the 59th Assembly District who was a close ally of Mr. Kruger’s and is famous for having elaborate, annual displays of Christmas decorations at his home in Canarsie. Read More

By Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke 6/09/11 3:47pm

brooklyn

New Kings Endorse Gonzalez in 54th Assembly Race

On Wednesday night in Greenpoint, a crowd of Brooklyn reformers stood outside the Smolenski Democratic Club, the somewhat rundown headquarters of the New Kings Democrats, waiting for someone to unlock the door.

Keys to the club were stuck on a broken down L train with New Kings’ member and district leader Lincoln Restler, who eventually Read More

By David Freedlander 5/25/11 9:37am

brooklyn

Towns

Smaller Towns Takes On The Big Borough

Ed Towns didn’t bother to show up at the Stars and Stripes Regular Democratic Club in Bensonhurst on a drizzly Wednesday night last week, when party leaders gathered at the Brooklyn storefront to snack on pizza and doughnuts and decide whether to welcome him into their ranks.

He sent an aide instead, who gamely passed Read More