7 BRONX WEEKLY June 21, 2020 www.BXTimes.com
Everything you need to know for the June 23 primary
from Page 2
ator Jeffrey Klein, who served in
the position for 13 years. She is
currently the chair of Ethics and
Internal Governance Committee.
Prior to running for offi ce,
Biaggi was an advocate for the people
of New York, working in a legal
capacity to ensure that working
families had access to affordable
housing and helping small businesses
and municipalities who had
been affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Her challenger, Gisondi, is an
attorney who served for two terms
as a State Committeeman in the
80th Assembly District. The Bronx
resident graduated from the CUNY
School of Law.
State Assembly
District 78
Areas: Fordham-Bedford, Kingsbridge
Heights, Bedford Park, and
Belmont
Jose Rivera, the incumbent
has been in offi ce since 2001 and is
running for reelection in the 78th
Assembly District. He has served
as deputy majority whip and assistant
majority whip.
Newcomer Francisco Spies is
looking to dethrone Rivera.
“It’s time for a change. We’ve
been idle for 30 years and I need
your support to bring a real voice
to Albany,” Spies said on his Youtube
page. “Let us stop the status
quo. The change is now, elect me as
your next State Assemblyman because
I will fi ght for you. Our community
is lacking a strong voice
to solve our problems, and I am
that person to provide that strong
voice. The voice of the people will
be heard!”
State Assembly
District 79
Areas: Concourse Village, Morrisania,
Melrose, Belmont, Claremont
and East Tremont
Assemblyman Michael Blake is
vacating this seat as he is running
for Congress in the 15th District.
There are six newcomers hoping
to fi ll the void: George Alvarez,
Cynthia Cox, Chantel Jackson,
Dion Powell, Elvis Santana and
Eric Stevenson.
Alvarez served as vice-president
of the Democrats in the
Heights and is a member of the
Coalition for a New Future in the
Bronx, Coalition for a New Future
and Child for a Violin. Alvarez was
also a 2016 candidate for District 17
of the New York City Council.
Cox is a minister and has served
as District Leader of the 79th District
since 2008. Cox serves as DC
37 union member and delegate,
member of the National Council of
Negro Women (NCNW), a member
of the NAACP and active NAACP
Bronx Branch member, a chairperson
of the Neighborhood Advisory
Board and a board member of
a number of charities and business
groups.
Jackson is a United Federation
of Teachers member, a licensed social
worker, a college professor and
a published author. She went from
being a teen mom to helping young
adults.
Powell helped start the Bronx
Young Democrats and became the
chair of the Caucus of Color for the
New York State Young Democrats.
Powell was the community liaison
to the Bronx for Assemblyman
Blake for three years.
Santana, born and raised in
Morrisania knows the struggles
the community is facing.
In 2015, he was the fi rst and
only to be chosen from the White
House Reach High Initiative by
Michelle Obama to talk about his
own accomplishments and how his
involvement with the community
matters.
Santana has helped over 3,000
young men and women fi nd employment,
while also creating relationships
with local businesses that
have helped reduce the low-income
poverty rate in New York.
Stevenson, a former assemblyman,
spent three years in prison for
pocketing bribes and helping developers
open adult day care centers.
He served in the Assembly from 2011
to 2014.
He was a community coordinator
and liaison to Community Board
3 for Borough President Fernando
Ferrer and worked as a legislative
researcher for the City Council
Speaker.
State Assembly
District 81
Areas: Kingsbridge, Norwood,
Riverdale, Van Cortlandt Village,
Wakefi eld and Woodlawn
For the fi rst time in 25 years, Assemblyman
Jeffrey Dinowitz is facing
a democratic challenger,
Dinowitz has served since the
81st Assembly District since 1994.
He chairs the Assembly Committee
on Judiciary. He also serves on the
Rules, Health and Election Law committees.
Dinowitz previously chaired
the Committees on Corporations,
Authorities and Commissions, Consumer
Affairs and Protection, Aging
and Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
Newcomer George Diaz hopes
to knock him off. Diaz is a former
staffer to former Councilman Oliver
Koppell and a law clerk.
State Assembly
District 82
Areas: Co-op City, Throggs Neck,
Westchester Square, City Island,
Country Club and Pelham Bay
This race features incumbent
Michael Benedetto against Egidio
Sementilli. Benedetto has represented
District 82 for 15 years. Benedetto
was a teacher for 35 years and
as a legislator, has focused on educational
and child protection issues
and has been an ardent supporter of
union rights.
Sementilli’s experience includes
work as a community representative
for the U.S. Department of Commerce,
the publisher and founder
of The Bronx Advocate and the director
of the Pelham Bay Home Improvement
& Safety Organization.
State Assembly
District 85
Areas: Soundview, Clason Point,
Longwood, and Hunts Point
As Bronx Democratic Chair Marcos
Crespo announced he would
not seek reelection to the 85th Assembly
district this year, a door is
open for two new coming candidates
— Kenny Burgos and William
Moore.
Moore has previously ran for city
council in 2017 on the Reform Party
line, losing to Ruben Diaz, Sr also attempting
to upset Crespo for the 85th
AD during previous year in 2016.
His prior work experience involves
press and speechwriting work
for many major NYC politicians,
such as Mayors David Dinkins and
Rudy Giuliani.
Meanwhile Burgos has just
turned 25-years-old and is jumping
into his fi rst major election.
He has managed to secure the endorsement
of Borough President Ruben
Diaz, Jr. and even poked some
fun at what has been an unorthodox
campaign.
This nicely sums up campaigning
in 2020. pic.twitter.com/rIReaUTE78
— Kenny (@KennyBurgosNY)
June 15, 2020
State Assembly
District 87
Areas: Van Nest, Parkchester,
Castle Hill, West Farms, Unionport,
and parts of Westchester Square
Karines Reyes has held the
87th Assembly District seat has
since Luis Sepulveda transitioned
to the senate some time ago.
Reyes, previously a registered
nurse at the Montefi ore Einstein
Hospital oncology department is
facing another primary in the 87th
District — this one coming against
progressive candidate Garfi eld
Holland.
Holland comes in on the issues
of medicare for all, housing as a
human right, as well as tight gun
control and immigration reform.
Reyes takes a similar stance to
many of these issues, also earning
an endorsement from fellow Bronx
politician Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.
.@aoc, I am truly humbled
to have your support for my reelection
and to continue fi ghting
for justice for our community.
#singlepayer #PassNYHealth
#GreenNewDeal #MedicareForAll
#NY4ALL pic.twitter.com/rM1Cs-
1RA6X
— Karines Reyes (@Karines-
ReyesNYC) June 10, 2020
She has spent almost 20 years in
the Bronx, participating in various
labor unions also serving as inspiration
to run while promoting accessible
healthcare and support for
small businesses.
Other Candidates
Visit vote.nyc to see a complete
list of candidates who will be on
the June 23 ballot.
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