The elephants crushed the donkeys again this year in a literal political tug-of-war at Fort Hamilton on May 6.
The two sides — led by bitter rivals state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) and Councilman Vincent Gentile (D–Bay Ridge), respectively — lined up along a rope and pulled for the second annual event at the Bay Ridge Community Council Picnic, which also featured an antique car show, volleyball, and horseshoe-tossing. The Dems hoped to avenge their loss at last year’s festivities and capture the newly-minted Vincent Kassenbrock Trophy, named after one of the founders of the Council that has been a leading civic group in the neighborhood for 60 years.
Gentile’s team struggled valiantly despite being outnumbered 10 to eight, but ultimately fell to the overwhelming force of Golden and his Republican allies.
Golden spokesman John Quaglione said the trophy will soon be on display in the senator’s office, and added that he’s hoping the Republican triumph will carry into November.
“Republicans have been picking up election victories all through South Brooklyn. We hope winning the tug-of-war marks the start of a good year for the Republican Party,” he said.
Gentile, possibly still soaking his rope-burned hands, could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Will Bredderman at (718) 260–4507 or e-mail him at wbredderman@cnglocal.com. https://twitter.com/#!/WillBredderman
