Brooklyn Democrats, the largest county party in the country, is still rudderless as infighting continues in courts over who the next elected county chairperson is and what authority they have moving forward.
This Tuesday, Oct. 6, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who has opted not to run for re-election as Brooklyn’s party boss, appeared opposite New Kings Democrats-backed Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, both armed with lawyers.
At the last county committee organizational meeting, on Sept. 23, members technically named Velázquez, who was the vice chair at the time, as replacement party boss since they failed to put another candidate on the ballot. Bichotte Hermelyn announced she was not going to seek re-election and instead supported Assemblymember Nikki Lucas as her successor on Sept. 28. Meanwhile, the appellate court tossed out the controversial rule changes Bichotte Hermelyn made that set the chaotic feud in motion and slapped a temporary injunction on a party chair vote slated for Sept. 29.
As of Oct. 2, Velázquez was ruled in Kings County Supreme Court as the sole power over the party and its attorneys. Through her power, she fired the party’s long-time law firm, Abrams Fensterman, according to City & State reporting.
Despite this, Bichotte Hermelyn called a committee meeting on Sunday night, Oct. 4, forcing a vote for Lucas to be the new chair under the “party’s governing bylaws.” Also “elected” were First Vice Chair Kenesha Traynham-Cooper, Second Vice Chair Félix W. Ortiz, Secretary Donald Day, and Assistant Secretary Chris Durosinmi.
“I am deeply honored by the vote of confidence from my fellow District Leaders and our Executive Committee,” said Lucas in a statement. “Brooklyn is the powerhouse of the Democratic coalition in New York, and our party is at its strongest when we are united, transparent, and rooted in our neighborhoods.”
Lucas’s victory was short-lived as the factions returned to court this week. Immediately after the hearing, Bichotte Hermelyn was served contempt papers because of the night meeting she called to elect Lucas.
“I just got served with a contempt order signed by a Judge for invoking my constitutional rights. Punished for the 5th. Ignored for the 14th. Erased for the 13th. #Justice is on Life Support — and somebody’s pulling the plug. #haters,” posted Bichotte Hermelyn.
The contempt hearing is set for Oct. 19.
