CITY HALL – THE CITY COUNCIL last week approved the nomination of former Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio as a commissioner on the embattled city Board of Elections, reports The City. While Seddio – the most “senior person in Brooklyn politics” – ultimately received the unanimous vote of the Council’s Democratic caucus, several progressive councilmembers had earlier reportedly expressed opposition to his nomination, including Brooklyn’s Lincoln Restler, Shahana Hanif and Chi Ossé, along with advocacy groups including Citizens Union and Common Cause New York, who argued that the selection of a Democratic insider would send the wrong message to voters. Supporters contended that his decades of experience made him an ideal pick for the role. Seddio is a longtime party member and former surrogate judge who has previously strongly opposed its more left-leaning faction.
The city’s Board of Elections includes a Republican and a Democrat from each borough, for a total of ten members. The board wields control over the city’s elections and makes hiring decisions about elections staff. Seddio has said he wants to bring greater transparency to its functions and to add language translator workers at poll sites.
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