Brannan, Quaglione win Bay Ridge council primaries
Cumbo, Menchaca, Reynoso also victorious in their races
Justin Brannan and John Quaglione, who both spent many years working as aides to elected officials in Bay Ridge, now have a chance to become lawmakers themselves after posting stunning victories in Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican primaries in Brooklyn’s 43rd Council District (C.D.), setting up a major showdown against each other in November.
Democrat Brannan, a first time candidate and former chief of staff to outgoing Councilmember Vincent Gentile, topped his closest rival in the Democratic Primary, the Rev. Khader El-Yateem, earning 3,561 votes to El-Yateem’s 2,879 votes, according to election results posted on NY1.com.
The Southwest Brooklyn primary was one of the most closely watched races in the city due partly to the fact that nine candidates were running an open seat with no incumbent in the contest. Gentile, a Democrat who has represented the 43rd Council District for 14 years, is term limited and cannot run for re-election. Gentile endorsed Brannan. The victorious Brannan garnered 38.8 percent of the total number of votes cast. El-Yateem, also making his first try at public office, earned 31.3 percent.