The upcoming 21st Senate District Democratic primary on September 9 is turning ugly.
The race pits three-term incumbent Sen. Kevin Parker against term-limited City Councilmembers Kendall Stewart and Simcha Felder.
The district is in the heart of Brooklyn geographically, covering about 311,000 constituents in the ethnically diverse neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park.
“I want to talk about Senator Parker. After somebody has been in office five and a half years, they should have a record of accomplishment on their own terms,” said Felder.
Felder said that Parker has failed miserably in the three areas that should matter most for any elected official – constituent services, legislation affecting the district and bringing money home from the state to the community.
“He has not been around anywhere. He’s a ghost in the community he represents,” said Felder.
Felder, an Orthodox Jew in a largely Caribbean-American district with about a 20-percent Jewish base, said his record as a councilmember shows he represents everybody fairly.
Everybody who lives and works in the district will get their taxpayer money’s worth of services and will be treated fairly, Felder promised.
“We’re working very hard and campaigning throughout the entire district, and receiving a warm reception whether we are campaigning in Flatbush, Kensington, Victorian Ditmas Terrace and even Borough Park,” said Felder.
Stewart blasted Parker for not showing up for 323 votes in the Senate in the past year.
“I haven’t found anything on his [Parker’s] record. He’s been missing in action, period, because we don’t see him here in the district either and that concerns me,” said Stewart.
Stewart pointed out that as a councilmember he has had strong constituent services in regard to immigration counseling, education funding and eradication of the high rates of asthma in some areas of the district.
Stewart, a Caribbean-American, said he feels well-suited to win the primary, noting that between 60 and 70 percent of the district has a similar background.
Conversely, Stewart said few black residents of the district know much about Felder, while he said he enjoys a good relationship with the Jews in the area.
Responding to these comments, Parker said that the reason for his absences on Senate votes was the death of his father and uncle in the past year.
“Stewart has to make up something because my record speaks for itself,” said Parker.
“The day his staff was indicted [in a slush fund scandal involving city funding to district community based organizations] we held a job fair at the YMCA on Flatbush and Foster [avenues],” he added.
Parker also said he is the Senate minority whip who has garnered endorsements from the Senate’s democratic delegation, and was a crucial legislator in making sure budgets have been completed on time for the past several years.
Parker also pointed out that he is the only of the three candidates who has supported Barack Obama for President and is a delegate for him at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
Additionally, both Felder and Stewart endorsed the mayor’s congestion pricing plan and the increase in property taxes – two taxes that would hurt constituents in the district, said Parker.
“I voted against congestion pricing, they began voting with a tax [property] and ended voting for a tax [congestion pricing],” said Parker.
Parker also said both Stewart and Felder supported Bloomberg for mayor and Stewart endorsed Republican George Pataki over Democrat Carl McCall for governor.
Both are more Republican than Democrat, he said.
City Councilmember Lew Fidler, who is also the Democratic district leader in about a quarter of the 21st Senate district, refused to endorse anybody, but appeared to lean toward Felder.
“The [Senate] campaign really gels between Labor Day and primary day, but anyone who discounts Felder’s chances makes a serious mistake. He’s well positioned, has a good plan and a sellable message,” said Fidler.
“The district hasn’t been well served and Simcha has the reputation of delivering for constituents, and real integrity as opposed to the other two guys,” he added.
