Griffith Says Bed-Stuy Residents Overwhelmingly Want to Replace Vann

Mark Winston Griffith (photo) points out that more than 70 percent of voters in the Democratic primary voted for someone other than Al Vann, the incumbent Councilman.

That fact helped convinced Griffith that he could take on Vann and win in the general election this November.

Yes, Vann will be on the Democrat line and, yes, an incumbent always holds an enormous advantage, being able to turn out hundreds whose jobs are linked to the sitting official.

(Recall the former Councilmember who said an incumbent in New York can totally "fuck up" the job, and he will still be elected.)

Calling himself a "Democrat" who will be on the Working Families Party line in November, Griffith says he believes Bed-Stuy guys and gals (okay, those are our words) want change, which is a word that Griffith uses very prominently and frequently.

Herewith, in fact, we offer you Griffith's "Open Letter to People Seeking Change in Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant," announcing his candidacy.

Comments

[Souther California Senior Caregiver]

Glad I stumbled here. I don't know much about Brooklyn politics, but like what you present. Seems many similar issues are across the country about incumbents vs. new blood. Thanks for posting.

[Michael Corley]

Incumbency doesn't appear to have the same benefit it did in 2007 for elected members of the City Council.

Then again, Barack Obama was contemplating a run for the highest office in the land.

Once that long shot paid off, all bets were off for Incumbents, whether they supported Obama or not.

The whole CHANGE mantra became staple in every upstart's platform and still has weight amongst an electorate in need of something different.

While the 36th CCD tends to produce a low voter turnout, this promises to be a one for the history book.

I predict at least double the turnout from the primary, however, I wouldn't be surprised if the Northern section of the district decided to retire an Incumbent who only drove through their part of the district.