Civil Court Race Update: Gonzales Swamped

Friday, September 16th, 2011

Cheryl J. Gonzales, a Housing Court Judge for the past 6 years, lost big in the borough-wide race for Brooklyn Civil Court Judge. A candidate of the reform/independent Brooklyn Democratic clubs and endorsed by the NY Times, Daily News, Kos, and Daily Gotham, she was swamped by her opponent, Sharon D. Hudson, a court attorney at the Red Hook Community Justice Center, who got 62% of the 35,000 votes cast.

Ms. Hudson was either Democratic Party Leader Vincent Lopez’s hand-picked candidate or won with his  surreptitious support. Either way, according to Mole333 inThe Daily Gotham, the election was a “progressive fail”:

Vito Lopez did almost nothing for Weprin in the end…but his machine sure helped (either behind the scenes or openly) two other candidates: Hudson for judge and Espinal for Assembly. ….

re Brooklyn Civil Court Judge race: Here, to give credit where credit is due, Vito Lopez, all behind the scenes, exerted his biggest influence:
…Progressive, reform, pro-gay rights candidate Cheryl Gonzales, who, while running for office took time off to try and address the recent spate of rapes in Brooklyn (didn’t hear any of Vito’s people do that!), was endorsed by the New York Times, most local papers and most local reform clubs. She was trounced by the Vito Lopez candidate, Hudson. Now either Lopez put infinitely more effort into this (again, all behind the scenes) than he did for Weprin (TAKE NOTE NATIONAL DEMS…VITO LOPEZ DOESN’T HELP YOU), or Brooklyn as a whole is far more willing to vote for someone named “Hudson” than “Gonzales” since most people just saw their names.

Either way, the progressive grassroots and the New York Times got trounced by Vito Lopez acting behind the scenes.”

Both candidates, by the way, are black:  Ms. Gonzales was born in Trinidad.

Comments Off

Tags: Democratic primary: Civil court judge;
Posted in Election, News |

Democratic Primary Here: Civil Court Judge

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

First I heard of a primary here was reading The New York Times endorsement today for Cheryl Gonzales for Brooklyn Civil Court Judge. It’s a 10-year term and covers small claims court (up to $5,000); other civil conflicts up to $25,000; housing conflicts—including commercial. It also offers mediation, other services and a local office in Red Hook. Her opponent is Sharen D. Hudson.

According to The Daily Gotham’s run down of endorsements, Ms. Gonzales, currently a housing court judge, is well regarded by tenant groups and very sympathetic to marriage equality.

Polls are open until 9 p.m. Turn out so far is light. (Only 6 by noon.) As The Daily Gotham says,  “These are critical races and the candidates endorsed…are excellent folk who deserve your vote.”

You can also say hello to Kensington Beat Cop Officer Samuel, who is on duty at the PS 230 entrance table.

Comments Off

Tags: 66 Precinct, Democratic primary: Civil court judge;
Posted in Community Event, Election, Local Politics, News |