Former Coney Island Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny is considering a run for his old seat in the state legislature, though this time as a Republican, the politico confirmed to Brooklyn Paper Monday.
Brook-Krasny, the first Soviet-born member to serve in the state legislature, was first elected to represent southern Brooklyn’s Assembly District 46 in 2007 after defeating now-Councilmember Ari Kagan when former Assemblymember Adele Cohen retired.
He stepped down from his Assembly seat in 2015 to work in the private sector, and was accused two years later of conspiracy and health care fraud. Brook-Krasny was eventually acquitted, and later rejoined the political world when he faced off against Kagan once again, just last year, for his old stomping ground’s open City Council seat.
Instead, the fellow Soviet-born candidate took home the victory, prompting Brook-Krasny to contemplate other options — and change political parties.
Brook-Krasny has yet to officially decide whether he will run for the Assembly seat, but told the New York Post that he left the Democratic party because it’s swung too far left, adding that he doesn’t agree with “cancel culture” or the “defund the police” movement.
“I can’t believe everything that’s going on in the Democratic party, all the calls to ‘defund the police,’ the cancel culture. It goes against my character and my nature,” Brook-Krasny told the outlet.
If he does decide to run — and secures the Republican Party’s nomination — the former Dem will likely go face-to-face with sitting Democratic Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus, who last week announced she would be running for reelection in the 46th AD.
Frontus has been in the post since 2018 after former Assemblymember Pamela Harris resigned in the wake of fraud charges she later pleaded guilty for.
“I am even more excited to confirm that I will be running for re-election and seeking a third term in the New York State Assembly,” Frontus wrote on Facebook on Feb. 3. “Representing my home neighborhood where I have lived for the last 37 years has been the honor of my life and I look forward to continuing many projects and initiatives that my office has spearheaded to improve the quality of life for our Southern Brooklyn communities.”
The 46th Assembly District currently encompasses Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Bath Beach and Sea Gate, as well as parts of Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights — and recent redistricting proposals keep the district largely the same.
