By Kings County Politics News Service
Community Board 3 chair Tremaine Wright yesterday held off Community Activist Karen Cherry to win the 56th Assembly District left vacant by the retirement of Assemblywoman Annette Robinson.
According to unofficial totals Wright received 59 percent or 3,679 votes to Cherry’s 41 percent or 2,577 votes.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who dedicated time, energy, talent, and funds to this effort. You all built a movement and I am excited to continue to work with you. I must extend a special word of thanks to my church family, sorority, block association, Vanguard Independent Democratic Association family, BGR crew, my mom and, sisters and brothers,” said Wright.
“For the last 14 years our community has been served by Assemblywoman Annette M. Robinson. She has worked tirelessly to secure resources for our community. I am thankful for her service and her willingness to offer guidance and support to me along with a host of younger people looking to serve their communities. I am honored and humbled. I pray that our community continues to work together to protect and improve Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant,” she added.
“I want to take a moment and pause and say thank you, because she has been a tremendous support and mentor to me during this process. She has worked to open doors for me,” Wright reportedly said.
Besides being chair and longtime member of CB 3, Wright helped found the Brooklyn Alliance for Safer Streets, and owned the Common Grounds coffee shop on Tompkins Avenue, which she closed last year to gear up for the assembly run.
While Wright is a member of the politically powerful and hard-working Vanguard Independent Democratic Association (VIDA) political club, Cherry is also no stranger to organized politics as she was a longtime aide to former Congressman Ed Towns and current works as a community liaison for Assemblyman Erik Dilan.
Also, in Tuesday’s primary, Assemblywoman Latrice Walker cruised to unexpectedly easy re-election victory over term-limited City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy in the 55th Assembly district covering Brownsville and parts of East New York, East Flatbush and Canarsie.
According to the unofficial tally, Walker received 74 percent or 4,153 votes to Mealy’s 26 percent or 1,420 votes. Mealy did retain her unpaid Democratic district leadership position, however, as did Anthony Jones as the male Democratic District leader.
“I am grateful to the voters of the 55th Assembly District who re-elected me to represent them in Albany. Their overwhelming mandate is proof that my constituents want leadership that works,” said Walker.
“During my first term in office we have launched Solarize Brownsville, brought $700 million for a new and improved health care delivery system, fought for truly affordable housing, and increased the minimum wage to $15. This is only the beginning. In partnership with the residents of the 55th AD, I pledge to continue improving the quality of life for everyone in the district.”
State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery also won handily in defeating challenger Michael Cox with a commanding 69 percent or 10,006 votes to 31 percent or 4,471 votes for Cox in the 25th Senatorial district race. The district includes Bedford-Stuyvesant, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens.
State Sen. Roxanne Persaud also scored a decisive win over challenger Mercedes Narcisse , garnering nearly 76 percent or 9,986 votes to Narcisse’s 24 percent or 3,160 votes in the 19th Senatorial district. Persaud had the strong backing of Kings County Democratic Party Boss Frank Seddio, while Narcisse had the backing of Assemblyman Charles Barron and his wife, City Councilwoman Inez Barron.
The district includes Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin and Gerritsen Beach.