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Brooklyn Republicans, conservatives unite behind former marine, NYPD sergeant as state senate candidate

February 22, 2024 Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Steve Chan is running for the seat of New York’s 17th State Senate District (representing parts of Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Kensington and Dyker Heights).
Photos: Arthur De Gaeta/Brooklyn Eagle

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BENSONHURST — A former U.S. Marine and retired NYPD sergeant has announced that he is throwing his hat in the political arena, and taking on incumbent State Sen. Iwen Chu for the seat of New York’s 17th State Senate District (representing parts of Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Kensington, and Dyker Heights).

Steve Chan, running as a Republican, is looking to face off against Chu, who is a Democrat and the first Asian-American woman elected to the New York State Senate. Should Chan be victorious, he would be the first Chinese American Republican in a Senate seat.

The announcement was made at a campaign kickoff press event Tuesday afternoon at Howong Seafood Restaurant, located at 6718 Bay Parkway, to a crowd of approximately 75 community members and supporters.

“I’m here today to tell you that I’m running for New York State Senate District 17, and will be the next senator for this district,” Chan confidently told his supporters. “I love America, I love New York, I love my city and I love my neighborhood. But I’m here not as a politician, but as a fighter for our community.”

Chan went on to say that as a New York City police officer, he fought crime in the streets for some 27 years — and it is still a major concern among residents in the district.

Second from left: Alec Brook-Krasny, assemblymember, 46th District (representing Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Georgetown and parts of Marine Park); Lester Chang, assemblymember, 49th District (representing Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Dyker Heights); Steve Chan; Fran Vella-Marrone, chair, Kings County Conservative Party; and Richie Barsamian, chairman, Kings County Republican Party.

“Our city is in shambles right now,” he said. “Crime in the streets, the subways, schools — our pedestrian sidewalks; things are not safe. We have undocumented people walking through the border every day, who also commit crimes. They get arrested, but then get let go. That said, one of the things I intend to address if elected is bail reform; I want to dismantle that.

“I also want to stop wasteful spending of our tax dollars, so that our hard-working families can live, work, and conduct business easier and seamlessly.

From left: Lester Chang, assemblymember, 49th District (representing Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Dyker Heights); Fran Vella-Marrone, chair, Kings County Conservative Party; Steve Chan, making a point; and Richie Barsamian, chairman, Kings County Republican Party.

“My ultimate goal is to help preserve the good values of our community, our city, and our state. I fought crime in the streets, and now I want to fight crime from Albany.”

Chan said whether Republican or Democrat, he is “genuinely interested in talking to everybody.”

“I want to hear their concerns. I’m not working for me, I’m working for my community.”

Steve Chan (center) with community members and supporters.

Richie Barsamian, chairman, Kings County Republican Party, who was also in attendance at the event, pointed out that “We are here for the future of our children and our grandchildren — in the city that we love, in the state that we love — and we demand a change. And that change will come when we make New York City and New York State a better and safer place. And that happens by voting for Steve Chan as your next New York State Senator in Senate District 17.”

Richie Barsamian, chair, Kings County Republican Party.

Lester Chang, assemblymember from the 49th District (representing Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Dyker Heights), explained that “Both Steve [Chan] and I are cut from the same cloth: we work hard.”

From left: Lester Chang, assemblymember, 49th District (representing Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Dyker Heights); and Steve Chan.

Chang added that it is imperative that the current seat in the Senate be changed.

Fran Vella-Marrone, chair, Kings County Conservative Party, said that District 17 needs someone like Chan because “he knows what it’s all about.”

“He has served our city, and served our country, and I know he is going to win in November,” Vella-Marrone said.

From left: Fran Vella-Marrone, chair, Kings County Conservative Party; Steve Chan; and Richie Barsamian, chair, Kings County Republican Party.

“It’s not going to be easy, but we have to take our city back,” Alec Brook-Krasny, assemblyman of the 46th District (representing Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Georgetown, and parts of Marine Park) pointed out.

From left: Steve Chan; Lester Chang, assemblymember, 49th District (representing Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park and Dyker Heights); Alec Brook-Krasny, assemblymember, 46th District (representing Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Georgetown and parts of Marine Park); Fran Vella-Marrone, chair, Kings County Conservative Party; and Richie Barsamian, chair, Kings County Republican Party.

Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, immigrated to the United States at the age of 11 with his family, originally calling Bay Ridge his home. He later served as a U.S. Marine for six years; and upon returning from service, moved to Bensonhurst in 1992. Chan joined the NYPD in 1993, retiring as a sergeant in 2020. He is married with two daughters.