Vote 2017: 43rd District Democratic primary

<p>Five Democrats are facing off for the open 43rd District City Council seat.</p>

News 12 Staff

Sep 6, 2017, 10:18 PM

Updated 2,429 days ago

Share:

Vote 2017: 43rd District Democratic primary
Five Democrats are facing off for the open 43rd District City Council seat.
The seat is currently held by Councilman Vincent Gentile, whose term limit is up. Gentile is running for Brooklyn district attorney.
Running to replace Gentile is his former chief of staff, Justin Brannan, who wants to increase funding for city schools, improve quality of life by keeping parks and neighborhoods clean and advocate for the city to take charge of MTA buses and New York City Transit, which operates the subway.
Vincent Chirico, the former board chair of a nonprofit, is running on a platform to connect youth to opportunities through personal responsibility workshops, combat the opioid crisis by focusing on prevention and suing pharmaceutical companies, and redirect funds for capital projects like the Second Avenue subway for immediate subway repairs.
Also in the mix is Kevin Carroll, a staffer for Councilman Stephen Levin. He plans on fighting to change the governance system of the Department of Education to give the mayor less control, supporting a rent supplement plan for low-income New Yorkers and advocating for more ADA-accessible subway stations.
Nancy Tong is the lone woman in the race, serving as the female Democratic district leader of the 47th Assembly District. Her main focus is to alleviate school overcrowding by building extensions to schools or converting nearby buildings into schools. She also wants to crack down on illegal home conversions, in which homeowners turn single- or double-family homes into multi-occupancy complexes. And she wants to help seniors by supporting a plan to give tax exemptions to senior homeowners.
Rounding out the Democratic nominees is Rev. Khader El-Yateem. His housing plan is to expand rent freezes for seniors and low-income families. For transit, he too is a proponent of immediate repairs over fancy capital projects. And to address the opioid crisis, he wants to launch various programs for counseling and diversion.
The 43rd District covers Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach.
Primary Day is next Tuesday, Sept. 12.


More from News 12
4:14
'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

1:35
Summerlike weather returns to NYC with temps in the 80s; cooler weather for the weekend

Summerlike weather returns to NYC with temps in the 80s; cooler weather for the weekend

2:03
New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

0:32
NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

0:23
Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

2:28
Stony Brook University officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

Stony Brook University officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

1:51
RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

1:46
Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

1:38
Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

1:27
Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

0:34
FBI arrests Brooklyn man in Mount Vernon robbery, homicide

FBI arrests Brooklyn man in Mount Vernon robbery, homicide

1:53
Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

0:31
Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

2:19
Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

1:54
Funeral held for DJ Mister Cee in Downtown Brooklyn

Funeral held for DJ Mister Cee in Downtown Brooklyn

1:48
Mayor's administration awards $12.3 million emergency contract to run migrant shelter in Brooklyn

Mayor's administration awards $12.3 million emergency contract to run migrant shelter in Brooklyn

1:51
Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day