A third candidate just threw his hat into the ring to fill the empty seat vacated by a disgraced Coney Island pol who stepped down from her post in April months after the Feds charged her with stealing money from storm-recovery agencies.
Bay Ridge Democrat member Chris McCreight, who is now chief of staff to newly elected Councilman Justin Brannan (D–Bay Ridge), announced this week he’s vying for the Bay Ridge-to-Coney Island seat after former assemblywoman Pamela Harris (D–Coney Island) — who pleaded guilty to four counts in federal court on June 12 — paved the way for a heated Democratic primary when she resigned too late following her indictment to allow for a special election.
McCreight, who lost to Councilman Mark Treyger (D–Coney Island) for the unpaid position of district leader in 2016, said he wants to hit the ground running to bring back representation to a neighborhood that no longer has it, with a focus on dealing with subway problems, over-development, and overcrowding in schools.
“I’m running because I want to make sure that everybody in the district — no matter what neighborhood, how much money they make — I want to represent everybody equally and fairly,” he said.
McCreight, who worked in Trump Village before taking the taxpayer-funded gig in Brannan’s office, said he’s still working for the councilman but will step down if needed as the campaign heats up.
“I’m doing everything in line with Council rules right now. Whether I decide to take a leave at a certain point I’ll decide that a little later,” he said.
McCreight faces Coney Islander Mathylde Frontus as well as Ethan Lustig-Elgrably — who recently received the support of assemblymembers Peter Abbate (D–Bensonhurst), and Steven Cymbrowitz (D–Sheepshead Bay), and Borough President Adams.
The winner of the Democratic primary on Sept. 13 will go on to face the only Republican in the running now, Steve Saperstein — who lost to Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D–Sheepshead Bay) in 2017 — in November.
Frontus has $4,439 in her campaign coffers, and neither McCreight or Lustig-Elgrably have yet to file any contributions with the state board of elections.
Saperstein’s war chest is also empty, according to state records.
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The Ridge-to-Rock congressman — whose re-election campaign was just boosted by President Trump — and the former convict looking to take back his old seat butted heads during a 77WABC Radio debate this week.
The convicted felon who once represented the bi-borough district before Rep. Dan Donovan (R–Bay Ridge) told viewers that the incumbent had implored President Trump to pardon him.
But Donovan said he was only passing along the request on behalf of a former friend, and pointed out that President Trump had no interest in helping out the convicted tax cheat because the guy who asked for the felon’s pardon — former Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari — didn’t support Trump’s campaign for president.
“I told him that a fellow marine Guy Molinari was looking to seek a pardon for Michael. And the President asked, ‘did Guy Molinari support me?’ and I said, “No, he was a never-Trumper,’ ” Donovan said on live television. “The President didn’t care to hear this — his staff said to tell him to call the pardon office.”
But the former pol fired back, accusing Donovan of lying.
“I’ll let everyone else decide Danny, you look like a fool right now,” he said.
