Gentile to headline McCreight fundraiser

August 16, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Supporters of Chris McCreight will gather at a Bay Ridge restaurant for a fundraiser Wednesday evening. Photo courtesy of McCreight

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Councilmember Vincent Gentile and other key supporters of Chris McCreight’s will host a fundraiser for the district leader candidate in Bay Ridge on Wednesday.

The fundraiser will take place on Aug. 17 at Cebu Bar & Bistro, at 8801 Third Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. The minimum campaign donation is $75. For ticket information, contact [email protected].

McCreight, a political consultant making his first try at a party leadership post, is running in the Democratic Primary on Sept. 13 for Democratic district leader of the 46th Assembly District (Coney Island-Dyker Heights-Bay Ridge) against City Councilmember Mark Treyger.

McCreight served as Gentile’s campaign manager when the councilmember ran for re-election in 2013.

Treyger represents the 47th Council District (Coney Island-Gravesend-Bensonhurst). There is nothing prohibiting a lawmaker from seeking a post as an unpaid party official.

Justin Brannan, founder of the Bay Ridge Democrats political club, and his wife Leigh Holliday Brannan, co-owner of the Art Room, are among the co-hosts listed on the invitation to the fundraiser. Other co-hosts include Joanne Seminara, Democratic district leader of the 64th Assembly District; Ilene Sacco, former president of the 68th Precinct Community Council; and Community Board 10 members Steve Harrison and Scott Klein.

“Chris and I have spent the better part of a decade in the trenches together, working hard to elect Democrats to keep our neighborhood moving forward. Now, after many years spent helping others run for office, Chris is running for an unpaid, somewhat arcane but important, volunteer position known as district leader — think of it as the street-level liaison to local elected officials and Brooklyn’s Democratic Party,” Brannan wrote in a message on the invitation.

Brannan also quoted a previous statement from Gentile who noted that no one is southern Brooklyn has worked harder in the past to help get Democrats elected than McCreight.

“Since one of the main — and most obvious — responsibilities of a Democratic district leader is to help elect Democrats, this seems like the perfect time to make it official and give Chris the title he has earned,” Brannan wrote.

Meanwhile, Treyger continued to garner endorsements from elected officials in the race.

On Tuesday, the Treyer campaign announced that the councilmember had secured the support of 21 lawmakers and Democratic Party officials. That’s on top of the 33 officials who announced their support for Treyger last week.

The elected officials announcing their support for Treyger included Public Advocate Letitia James and U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Hakeem Jeffries.

“Nobody fights harder for South Brooklyn families than Councilman Mark Treyger. Mark is a tireless advocate for his constituents, advocating for new boilers in public housing and air conditioners for our schools. Mark Treyger is the kind of Democrat we need as our district leader,” James said in a statement.