The red-hot contest for district attorney is spilling over into the Bay Ridge Council race.
Challenger John Quaglione and his supporters ripped incumbent Councilman Vincent Gentile (D–Bay Ridge) for backing Democratic nominee Ken Thompson over sitting DA Charles “Joe” Hynes — who announced on Oct. 8 he would campaign on the Republican and Conservative lines after losing the Democratic primary to Thompson.
Quaglione — who backs Hynes — warned that Thompson is opposed to the controversial practice of stop-and-frisk, wherein police randomly question and search bystanders for guns and contraband, arguing it has made Brooklyn a safer place — under the guidance of 23-year incumbent Hynes.
“Joe Hynes has made Brooklyn one of the safest and most desirable places to live in America,” said Quaglione, warning that the violence and petty crime of the 1980s could return under Thompson. “We will be in tough times for Brooklyn.”
Gentile — who backed Hynes during the primary — defended Thompson as an accomplished former federal prosecutor, and attacked Quaglione for appealing to the lowest sentiments of the crowd.
“Fear-mongering is the worst kind of politics, and I just heard the worst kind of fear-mongering,” said Gentile.
But Quaglione supporters in the audience asked why Gentile was supporting Thompson in the general election, besides the fact that Thompson is the nominee from his party.
“Do you support him because of his record, or do you support him because he’s a Democrat?” demanded Conservative Party activist Liam McCabe.
Gentile struggled to answer, simply repeating that Thompson had triumphed in the primary.
“He won fair and square,” the Councilman said. “The people made their decision.”