At left: KAMILLAH M. HANKS: A favorite among police unions At right: ERIC GONZALEZ: Gets PBA nod for full term
Three NYPD unions last week endorsed candidates in upcoming City Council primaries in Brooklyn and Staten Island.
A fourth union, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, endorsed Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzales for re-election and also announced additional endorsements.
The coalition of the Detectives Endowment Association, the Captains Endowment Association and the Lieutenants Benevolent Association noted that it was not making any endorsements in races in Manhattan.
In The Bronx, the coalition endorsed State Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr., who is seeking the City Council seat held by Annabel Palma, who is term-limited.
In Staten Island, the coalition endorsed community activist Kamillah Hanks over incumbent Deborah Rose. It also supported two Staten Island Republican incumbents, Steven Matteo and Joseph Borelli.
In Brooklyn, endorsements went to Tommy Torres, who is challenging Antonio Reynoso, and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who is challenging Carlos Menchaca. Four incumbents were endorsed: Rafael Espinal, Alan Maisel, Mark Treyger and Chaim Deutsch.
The coalition also supported John Quaglione, a Republican who is seeking the seat of term-limited Vincent Gentile, and Kalman Yeger, who is running for the seat David Greenfield is vacating to become executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.
Queens Endorsements
In Queens, the coalition endorsed Adrienne Adams to fill the seat of Ruben Wills, who was convicted last month of stealing public funds, and Francisco Moya, who is seeking the seat being vacated by Julissa Ferreras-Copeland. The unions also endorsed incumbents Paul Vallone, Peter Koo, Costa Constantinides, Barry Grodenchik, Karen Koslowitz, Elizabeth Crowley and Eric Ulrich.
The PBA said Mr. Gonzalez, who succeeded the late Kenneth Thompson on an acting basis, “has demonstrated a clear commitment to justice and fairness, as well as an understanding of the difficult and unique nature of a police officer’s duties.”
It also made additional endorsements for City Council:
The Bronx: Fernando Cabrera, Ritchie Torres, Andrew Cohen and Rafael Salamanca, all running for re-election, and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, seeking the seat held by the term-limited Jimmy Vacca, and State Sen. Díaz.
Staten Island: Ms. Hanks.
Queens: Incumbents Grodenchik, Vallone, Koo and Daneek Miller, as well as Ms. Adams and Mr. Moya.
Manhattan Choices
Manhattan: Corey Johnson and Ben Kallos, seeking re-election. Keith Powers, seeking the Council seat of Dan Garodnick, who cannot run because of term limits.
Brooklyn: Alan Maisel, Chaim Deutsch and Robert Cornegy, running for re-election; Henry Butler, seeking to replace term-limited Darlene Mealy, Mr. Quaglione and Justin Brannan, a Democrat, who both want to replace Mr. Gentile, and Mr. Yeger.
Earlier, the PBA had endorsed City Council incumbents Elizabeth Crowley, Felix Ortiz and Robert Rodriguez.