Bay Ridge

Regina-Potter touts district leader role in council race

July 31, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Lucretia Regina-Potter has experience as a political candidate. She has run for office a number of times. Photo courtesy of Regina-Potter
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Republican Lucretia Regina-Potter has run for public office a number of times in recent years, coming up short each time. But the candidate is vowing that things will be different this time. 

Regina-Potter, who is running for the GOP nomination in the City Council’s 43rd District, likes to point out that she is the only woman in the field of Republican candidates. And she is the only political party official in the GOP primary.

Regina-Potter is the Republican district leader of the 46th Assembly District (Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Coney Island).

A district leader is an unpaid political party official, who recruits candidates to run for public office, collects signatures on nominating petitions to get the candidates on the ballot and works to promote a party’s agenda at the grassroots level.

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In New York state, each of the major political parties has a male and a female district leader. The district leaders are also known as state committeepersons, since they serve on the party’s state committee.

She ran for her local New York State Assembly seat four times: in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016, losing each time.

She is a relative latecomer to the City Council race, but is hoping to make a big splash.

“People know that I am innovative, creative, a problem solver and definitely not afraid to stand up and fight for what is right,” she told the Brooklyn Eagle.

She said her long tenure as a grass-roots political manager should impress voters as she runs for the City Council seat representing Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and parts of Bensonhurst.

Regina-Potter is running against Bob Capano, Liam McCabe and John Quaglione in the Sept. 12 primary.

“Born and raised in the district, as well as raising a family here, I attended Bishop Kearney H.S. and graduated Fordham University. I am an active member of the community for many years, and work very hard for everyone as the Republican district leader in my district,” she told the Eagle.

Democrat Vincent Gentile, who has held the Council seat since 2003, is prohibited from running for re-election due to the city’s term limits law.

There are four Democrats running for the open Council seat: Vincent Chirico, Justin Brannan, Kevin Peter Carroll, Rev. Khader El-Yateem and Nancy Tong.

Both the Democratic and Republican primaries will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The winners of the primaries will face each other in the general election on Nov. 7.

Gentile has endorsed Brannan, who is his former chief of staff.

Regina-Potter, who worked for many years as a designer for the Bari Tile Company in Bensonhurst, said she has a deep knowledge of the council district and has been busy talking to voters about issues important to them.

“I have heard countless complaints about the illegal conversion of homes taking place in the area, and the apathy of the current elected officials and the agencies that are responsible for upholding the law. I will change that!” she said.

She also vowed to work to ease the burden on small businesses, who she said are hit by the city with unfair fees and fines.

“As a small business manager, I am well aware that revenues are being raised through fines on local businesses, as well as the imposition of regulation on how we do business, and that needs to be addressed immediately. My agenda is to keep our district affordable, safe, and clean. I will do this through listening and addressing the concerns of the people, and working hard for everyone in the 43rd Council District,” she told the Eagle.

Regina-Potter is the director of communications for the Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Organization and is a member of the National Federation of Republican Women.

 * * *

What Exactly Does a City Councilmember Do?

By John Alexander

 

District 43 (Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst-Dyker Heights) currently has nine candidates running for the City Council seat, which is held by Vincent Gentile.

In fact, two candidates just entered the race within the last two weeks. Gentile has served his term limit and cannot run for re-election. But it seems everyone wants his job.

Of the nine, there are five Democrats running:

  • Justin Brannan

  • Kevin Peter Carroll

  • Vincent Chirico

  • Rev. Khader El-Yateem

  • Nancy Tong

 

And four Republicans:

  • Bob Capano

  • Liam McCabe

  • Lucretia Regina-Potter

  • John Quaglione

 

So what exactly is it that is so appealing about being a city councilmember?

Here’s a brief breakdown of the job and its responsibilities.

The New York City Council has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs.

Brooklyn has 16 City Councilmembers (all Democrats):

  • Inez Barron: D-District 42

  • Robert Cornegy: D-District 36

  • Laurie Cumbo: D-District 35

  • Chaim M. Deutsch: D-District 48

  • Rafael Espinal: D-District 37

  • Mathieu Eugene: D-District 40

  • Vincent Gentile: D-District 43

  • David Greenfield: D-District 44

  • Brad Lander: D-District 39

  • Stephen Levin: D-District 33

  • Alan Maisel: D-District 46

  • Darlene Mealy: D-District 41

  • Carlos Menchaca: D-District 38

  • Antonio Reynoso: D-District 34

  • Mark Treyger: D-District 47

  • Jumaane Williams: D-District 45

 

City councilmembers are elected officials whose responsibilities include ensuring that the city fulfills its duties under the law and exercises its powers.

The Council functions as a parliamentary or congressional style legislative body, proposing bills, holding votes and passing laws to help govern the city.

The City Council has the authority to pass municipal ordinances and budgets, make appropriations and even set local tax rates in some cases.

A city councilmember serves a four-year term and can serve up to eight years.

They generally attend communitywide events and support civic and religious organizations, charitable institutions and various school sporting events within their district.

NYC Councilmembers currently earn a $148,500-a-year base salary. However, they receive no additional compensation for serving as a committee chairperson or any other officer.

 


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