Brooklyn Democratic boss/ Assemblyman Vito Lopez abused his power in a suit against a political opponent according to claims published by the Brooklyn Paper. Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey calls Lopez’s behavior “mind-boggling”:
Brooklyn Paper: Good government groups blasted Lopez (D-Williamsburg) for placing a call to Housing Authority Intergovernmental Affairs Director Brian Honan last week, reminding him to appear in court and bring information regarding the leases of his opponent’s campaign workers.
What’s up with Vito? He doesn’t like his competition for District Leader, Esteban Duran, apparently:
The concerning incident began last week when Lopez, who is also the chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party, sued Esteban Duran, his primary challenger for a district leader position, alleging that Duran’s nominating petitions contained widespread fraud and should be invalidated.
Civil Court Judge Carolyn Demarest subpoenaed Honan, the housing authority staffer, to bring in copies of Duran volunteers’ leases in public housing buildings to verify that those petition collectors actually lived where they claimed to. Honan said the reminder call from Lopez troubled him.
In our 52nd Assembly District Lopez has launched an offensive against current district leaders JoAnne Simon and Alan Fleishman. Running against the incumbents are Lopez minion Councilmember Steve Levin’s staffer/ Juicebox Generation Millenial Hope Reichbach and Levin campaign worker Stephen Williamson.
But really, seriously could someone — a grownup like Mr. Lopez — really care that much about these unpaid, largely unnoticed positions? Youbetcha, say the current district leaders:
Brooklyn Paper: “Actually, he considers us ‘Public Enemy number 1,’ ” said Fleishman, a 27-year resident of the district who has held the post for eight years. “We didn’t support his candidates for Surrogate Court. We fought him when he tried to get an unqualified person on the Board of Elections. And we bucked him when he tried to put Noach Dear on the bench without a judicial screening panel.
“Bottom line? He’s gunning for us because we’re not willing to go along with everything he wants because he’s the county leader,” added Fleishman.
Simon also framed the race as a Vito attack, saying that there was “no reason for [Reichbach] to consider a run” if Lopez hadn’t cajoled her into it.
As for supporters of Reichbach and Williamson:
