Hikind backs Thompson for district attorney

July 31, 2013 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Calling him the “best choice for the Jewish community,” Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind endorsed Ken Thompson for Brooklyn district attorney over the incumbent, Charles Hynes.

Hikind (D-Borough Park-Midwood), who represents a district with a large number of Orthodox Jews, has always had a reputation for being a political maverick. He announced his support for Thompson at a press conference in Borough Park on July 30.

Thompson, a former federal prosecutor, is running against Hynes in the Democratic Primary on Sept. 10. Hynes, who first elected in 1989, is running for his seventh term in office.

“I am proud to endorse Ken Thompson because he is the best choice for the Jewish community and all the people of Brooklyn to be our next district attorney,” Hikind said.

“It’s time for a change. As a prosecutor and attorney in private practice, Ken has a proven track record of fighting for one standard of justice. Ken is a true friend to our community who honors the cultures that make Brooklyn great. I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding district attorney,” Hikind said.

Hikind’s endorsement also comes on the heels of recent endorsements for Thompson from US Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights) and US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant), and political clubs like the Bay Ridge Democrats, Lambda Independent Democrats, Brooklyn-Queens NOW PAC and the Muslim Democrats of New York.

“I want to thank Assemblyman Hikind for his support,” Thompson said. “We are building the strongest, most diverse coalition in this race, and that is what it will take to bring change to the district attorney’s office. Together, we will make our communities safer and ensure that there is one standard of justice for all the people of this borough,” said Thompson said.

While Thompson has Hikind, Clarke, and Jeffries in his corner, Hynes has numerous high-profile elected officials and former politicians supporting his bid for re-election, according to his campaign website, which list more than a dozen prominent backers of the DA.

Among those who have endorsed Hynes are Borough President Marty Markowitz, former mayor David Dinkins, former congressman Ed Towns, City Council members Letitia James (D-Clinton Hill-Fort Greene), Lewis Fidler (D-Canarsie), Erik Dilan (D-East New York), Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bensonhurst) and Mathieu Eugene (D-Kensington), state senators Eric Adams (D-Crown Heights-Prospect Heights) and Martin Dilan (Bushwich-Williamsburg), and Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny (Bay Ridge-Coney Island).

Hynes, a former New York City fire commissioner, has also been endorsed by both the Uniformed Firefighters Association and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

Hynes recently filed 58,378 petition signatures with the New York City Board of Elections for his reelection campaign. It represents the highest number of petitions filed by any candidate in the borough, according to his campaign website.

“Our long record is obviously resonating with voters. I am so grateful to all our supporters for their tireless efforts,” Hynes stated.