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Controversies brewing in Sept. 13 Brooklyn primaries: What you should know

NYC Voter Guide Unveiled

August 28, 2018 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Julia Salazar.  Photo courtesy of Salazar’s campaign
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State primary elections take place on Thursday, Sept 13, and some of the races are getting downright weird.

In the District 18 (Greenpoint, Bushwick) state Senate primary, for example, Democratic incumbent Martin Malavé Dilan is facing self-proclaimed progressive Julia Salazar. Salazar is much in the news recently after creditable reports revealed she is not actually Jewish and not really an immigrant, as she has claimed. Nor has she always been a liberal, apparently, according to a Tablet article outing her past as a right-wing, anti-abortion, pro-Israel evangelical Christian.

All of which could make for a sticky situation with endorsers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (famously a Democratic Socialist), gubernatorial hopeful Cynthia Nixon and Zephyr Teachout (running for Attorney General), all of whom appear to be actual progressives.

Salazar, however, says that she now supports passage of the Reproductive Health Act and wants to see “abortion free at point of service across the state of New York,” Gothamist reports.

Which brings us to the subject of the importance of doing your research before voting in September. Here’s a good place to start: On Tuesday, the nonpartisan New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) released the official NYC Voter Guide.

The guide profiles candidates who are on the ballot and tells where they stand on three key issues, and includes, for the first time, a statement from many of the candidates (but not all).

Salazar gave no statement to CFB, but Dilan did. He says in part:

“I have been fortunate to secure funding for schools and affordable housing. I have fought to protect the rights of voters, immigrants and workers. I have fought for transit funding and social justice. And yet, more must be done.”

Blake Morris, running against Simcha Felder in Brooklyn’s District 17 (Borough Park, Midwood), starts off his statement this way:

“My name is Blake Morris, a real Democrat and a practicing attorney for 30 years. I am running to be your State Senator because I am fed up with our current Senator, Simcha Felder. He SINGLE-HANDEDLY stopped safety cameras that protected our school children …”

Felder provided no statement to CFB.

In addition to providing information about the candidates, the guide allows voters to look up their poll site, view maps of the districts with contested primaries, read news articles from each election and more.

Visit voting.nyc and click on “Read the Voter Guide” to access the guide.

Polls will be open on Election Day, Thursday, September 13, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. In order to cast a primary ballot, voters must registered to vote within a district where there is an election, and must be enrolled in one of the following political parties: Conservative, Democratic, Green, Independence, Reform, Republican, Women’s Equality, Working Families. (If you are registered to vote, but not a member of any party, the Reform party permits you to vote in its primaries in your district.)

Some Races Important to Brooklynites

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is seeking a third term in 2018, but faces a challenge from progressive actress Cynthia Nixon.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is facing challenges from Councilmember Jumaane Williams (East Flatbush), Julie Killian (R) and Jia Lee (G).

Democratic candidates Sean Patrick Maloney, Leecia Eve, Tish James and Zephyr Teachout are all running for Attorney General of New York.

Democratic State Senate races (no Republican Senate races in Brooklyn this year)

District 17 Borough Park, Midwood

Simcha Felder

Blake Morris

District 18 Greenpoint, Bushwick

Martin Malavé Dilan

Julia Salazar

District 20 Crown Heights, Sunset Park

Jesse E. Hamilton

Zellnor Y Myrie

District 22 Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights

Ross Barkan

Andrew S Gounardes

District 23 Sunset Park, Coney Island

Jasmine L Robinson

Diane J. Savino

Brandon P Stradford

The Reform Party will hold an “opportunity to ballot” in Brooklyn District 26, which includes Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill — Anthony Arias is listed on the ballot, but write ins are accepted.

The same applies in District 23, where Diane Savino is on the Reform ballot.

The Women’s Equality Party will hold an “opportunity to ballot” in District 46 (Bay Ridge, Coney Island) Ethan Lustig-Elgrably is on the ballot.

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