Longtime Red Hook Assemblyman Felix Ortiz breezed to victory past his first serious challenger in years on Tuesday night in the primary.
The 10-term incumbent Ortiz trounced opponent Ceasar Zuniga handily in the 51st District race despite Zuniga having the backing of an ascendant neighborhood councilman and the United Federation of Teachers. Ortiz bagged 2,190 votes, more than double Zuniga’s 906, with 91 percent of results tallied. The victor demurred during his primary night celebration at Hometown Barbecue on Van Brunt Street, saying he is at the service of the people.
“This was not about Felix,” he said. “This is about everyone who believes that this community needs to continue moving forward.”
Ortiz’s supporters were less polite when it came to the subject of Councilman Carlos Menchaca (D–Red Hook), who bucked Mayor DeBlasio and his one-time mentor Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D–Bushwick) to endorse Zuniga. One attendee took to the mic to joke that Menchaca has no testicles.
“There’s a Mexican breakfast dish called machaca con huevos,” said Cuban-American actor Tony Plana, referring to a meat-and-egg recipe.
“Now we got Menchaca sin huevos!” he said, using the slang form of the word “huevos” to mean the councilman is a eunuch.
Plana is known for his role as the father of the titular character on the American Broadcasting Company show “Ugly Betty.” Ortiz laughed along with the jabs but said he is ready to let bygones be bygones.
“The bottom line is that politics are in the past,” Ortiz said. “ It’s time to work for the future.”
Both Menchaca and Zuniga are Mexican-American, while Ortiz is Puerto Rican, as is Sara Gonzalez, the 10-year incumbent councilwoman Menchaca unseated last year.
During the campaign, Menchaca refused to attack Ortiz or his record in his endorsement, instead emphasizing Zuniga’s liberal policy bent and the fresh approach he would bring to the Assembly, according to reports. Menchaca congratulated the assemblyman in Spanish on Twitter after incoming results confirmed the victory.
When Zuniga’s fate was sealed, he sent out a statement thanking his supporters and said he hoped his challenge would keep Ortiz on his toes.
“I ran because I believed — and still believe — that our community deserves better from our elected representatives in Albany,” Zuniga said. “I hope that a challenge like this will only spur our assemblyman on as he re-enters the service of our district.”
Zuniga is director of research at an early childhood education program and has been a member of Community Board 7 since 2009, according to his campaign website.
Ortiz spent just $2,612 in the month before the primary, leaving unspent a remaining war chest of $270,739. Zuniga spent $7,290 in the month before the primary and had $20,537 left on hand on election day.
Ortiz has no challenger in November, meaning he has effectively been voted into his 11th term.
