By Mary Alice Miller
With New York City campaigns gearing up and the June 2025 Primary a few short weeks away, Our Time Press was tempted to do a sneak peek at local candidates who submitted petitions to be on the ballot. A person wishing to run for office may be nominated either by a political party or through the filing of an independent nominating petition signed by eligible voters.
The current political parties are the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, and Working Families parties. Any person who is not nominated by one of these parties must file an independent nominating petition at a later date.
Aside from the Mayor, candidates and positions of interest to central Brooklyn voters include Public Advocate, New York City Comptroller, Brooklyn District Attorney, City Council, Judges, State Committee, and Judicial Delegates. The candidates listed are derived from the Brooklyn Board of Elections Designating Petition Ledger as of April 17, 2025.
Current NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams submitted designating petitions for the Democratic and Working Families lines. Jenifer Rajkumar, Marty Dolan, Angela F. Aquino, and Theo Bruce Chino Tavarez also submitted Democratic petitions. Gonzalo Duran submitted Republican and Conservative petitions.
Current NYC Comptroller Brad Lander is running for Mayor, therefore his seat is open. Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine, State Senator Kevin S. Parker, and City Council member Justin Brannan, as well as Ismael Malave Perez, and Lindsey Royce submitted Democrat petitions. Brannan also submitted Working Families petitions. Danniel Maio, Peter Kafalas, and Ronen Noham submitted Republican petitions. Kefalas also submitted Conservative petitions.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez submitted designating petitions for the Democratic and Working Families lines. He is running unopposed.
Borough President Antonio Reynoso submitted petitions for the Democratic and Working Families lines. Khari O. Edwards and Michelle Joni Lapidos also submitted Democratic line petitions. Janine Acquafredda submitted petitions for the Republican and Conservative lines.
Crystal Hudson, a 35th District Council member, submitted petitions for the Democratic line, as did Hector Robertson, Dion M. Ashman, and Kenny Lever.
Benny Z. Rosenberger submitted petitions for the Republican and Conservative lines.
36th District Council member Chi Ajani Osse and Reginald Swiney submitted Democratic designating petitions.
Council member for the 37th District Sandy Nurse and Lindsey Royce submitted Democrat line petitions. Eleanor K. McArthur submitted Republican petitions.
40th District Council member Rita C. Joseph submitted Democratic petitions. She is running unopposed.
41st Council District member Darlene Mealy, as well as Bianca Cunningham, Clifton A. Hinton, Jamell Henderson, Dante Arnwine, Eli Brown, Lawman Lynch,
Christina Serrano and Jammel Thompson all submitted Democratic line petitions.
Chris Banks, 42nd Council member, submitted Democratic designating petitions. He is running unopposed.
Council member for the 45th District, Farah Louis, submitted Democratic petitions.
Hatem A. El-Gamasy and Joshua Elijah Diaz submitted Republican petitions. Joshua Elijah Diaz also submitted Conservative line petitions.
46th Council member Mercedes Narcisse, Dimple Willabus, and Kenny Altidor submitted Democratic petitions. Athera A. Clarke submitted Republican petitions. Dimple Willabus also submitted Conservative petitions.
Susan Liebman and Janice Chen submitted Democratic Party petitions for Judge of the Civil Court – Kings County Vacancy #11.
Marisa Arrabito and Janice P. Purvis submitted Democratic Party petitions for Judge of the Civil Court – Kings County Vacancy #12.
Sheridan Jack-Browne submitted Democratic Party petitions for Judge of the Civil Court – 2nd Municipal Court District – Vacancy #13.
Duane Frankson submitted Democratic Party petitions for Judge of the Civil Court – 7th Municipal Court District – Vacancy #14.
Independent petitions for any elected position are yet to be determined.