Assemblyman Vito Lopez easily won his race against Esteban Duran for District Leader. — Photo by Aaron Short
Democratic Party chairman Vito Lopez won his State Committee race handily over challenger Esteban Duran, by a nearly 3 to 1 margin, in the district he has represented since 1984.
As of Wednesday morning, Lopez recorded about 4,300 votes, approximately 74 percent of the vote, while Duran tallied about 1,500 votes, or 26 percent, out of 5,800 votes cast.
Last year’s City Council primary, an intense and narrowly decided decision, saw about 9,000 votes cast, though the 34th Council District includes several hundred voters from four other assembly districts beyond the 53rd.
Lopez cleaned up in precincts in Bushwick Houses, Rheingold Gardens, on Wyckoff Avenue, and in Italian sections of Williamsburg, though Duran won precincts around PS 19 on S. Third and Keap, near his home where he grew up.
Duran fought off two legal challenges from the Lopez camp to keep him off the ballot, and while these attempts ultimately failed, they took a lot of the young candidate’s time away from campaigning.
Commitee members, aka District Leaders, get to choose their party’s chairman. In Brooklyn, this position also happens to be filled by Lopez.
Details aside, the vote is an impressive mandate for Lopez in his district for a political position. He ran unopposed for his Assembly seat and is expected to advance to victory in November — his 14th term in Albany.
ilybk September 15th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I have to admit vito has done alot of good for our community but he is a str8 up asshole… He talks down to us here at RBSCC and forces us to work weekends for his stupid campaign’s. I do it cause im scared of losing my job in times like today. Basically hes a big baby if he doesnt get his way he throws a fit and we bare the blunt of it here. and even though he has done alot of good for our community he has done alot of shady things to get bushwick where it is today. I dont care about is record if whats wrong is wrong and if your doing shady things you need to be removed. god dont like ugly and what goes around comes around one day all his dirty politics is going to catch up with him.
Andy J. Marte September 16th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
ILYBK is an IMPOSTER!!!
It seems like the Duran/reyna team are bitter that they lost their campaign. So bitter that they are willing to go as low as to claim that they are a RB employee. Whomever ilybk is I can assure you its not a RB employee. And if you are, then be man/woman enough to post your real name.
I am sure this is a Reyna crony (and yes I am a lopez Crony, ill write it before you do) who is utterly bitter about getting ‘trounced’ at the polls. The Reyna/Duran team were so desperate to win that Reyna herself was telling Lindsay Park residents that Vito Lopez was too sick and old and he should give a chance to the youth. That obviously backfired and Lopez won 550 to 30.
Throughout the district, people claiming that they were not campaign volunteers were handing out flyers with the NY Post article and one person at JHS 50 even told me that these copies were made at Diana Reyna’s DISTRICT OFFICE at 217 Havemeyer Street. This same volunteer then ran to the other corner and then put on a Duran T-shirt. THIS IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL–Using government money to do politics!!
However, the news is so focused on RB and Vito Lopez that Reyna and her team are clearly committing illegal acts using Lopez as a distraction.
All in all, I am not here to destroy anyone’s credibility. But I would like to set things straight. ILYBK is NOT a RB employee, I am 200% certain. The Reyna team is bitter and Duran is suprisingly suprised he lost so badly. This is a recipe for desperation, and that’s why they claim to be RB employees.
realbushwick September 16th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Reyna shouldn’t be that bitter about Ridgewood Bushwick though. Her parents, Bienvenido and Maria, live in a house managed by Ridgewood Bushwick. Diana herself claims to live with her sister at 54 Garden Street– part of the Rheingold development constructed by Ridgewood Bushwick. And Diana Reyna has a couple of cousins in the development also. She is trying to destroy the organization that she benefits from by leaking these DOI reports because she wants to take Vito Lopez down. But as the Sapienza article claims one thing has nothing to do with the other.
Nast September 16th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Not for nothing Andy, at what point does any of these articles mention Reyna? Not at any time. She has nothing to do with this, nothing. Sorry man, sometimes these things happen. Last time I checked, Vito was not Jesus, Angela was not Mary, and Chris was not Mary Magdalene.
There is more than meets the eye here. How about you ask Vito or Angela about the offer the Mayor’s office proposed about more oversight (including financial audits) in exchange for not coming out with this report?
I applaud you on acknowledging that you are a Lopez sycophant. He needs smart supporters like you. How about you finish your top-notch education then go to law school. The RBSCC crew is going to need a good lawyer pretty soon. You seem articulate, maybe you can fit that role someday.
On the other hand, If I was you, GET THE HELL OUT OF DODGE!!!!!!
Nast September 16th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Nast September 16th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
http://www.zshare.net/image/80482866fd907e64/
Andy Marte September 16th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
NAST, Why don’t you go ahead and write your name down for transparency purposes.
When I wrote that I am a Lopez crony I wrote it to save you the trouble of bad-mouthing me because I knew you had nothing better to say about me. If by crony people mean someone who truly believes in the work that an elected official does than call me a crony; if by crony you mean someone who blindly follows and who seeks to benefit from another-sycophant–than that I am not.
My parents immigrated from the Dominican Republic looking for a better life here in America and have worked hard to ensure I live a better life than they did–the American Dream. My mother, a single-mother raised me to be respectful of your elders and to appreciate people who are honest and hard-working. This is why I respect Vito Lopez. I’ve researched Bushwick and I’ve asked around and all signs show that Vito Lopez has been and still is instrumental in the revitalization of this community.
Moreover, ask around and do your research and you will know that this is very much Diana Reyna’s doing.
You will have your opinion and I will have mine and that is the beauty of our democracy.
Nast September 16th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Why would I want to do that? It so much fun f-ing with you this way. This is a BLOG man, get a grip. GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE!
G. J. J. September 16th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Ive heard you blast Vito Lopez, Ridgewood Bushwick,and all of there supporters for the last year or so Nast…when you barley have the courage too identify yourself on a harmless blog….Hello Andy, Im a fellow Vito Lopez Crony. Id say I fell into your first definition of the word, But NAST would probably say different…..When the deep and dark fog of aqusations clears the riteous will be vindicated….with out a face …or a name… the that deep dark fog is nothing but accumalated hot breath. Some of the things that are said about this man. Who is more then just a politician in our community, but a figure, a walking talking symbol of
Sacrifice and Survival. Everything I am proud to say I endorse as one of his constituents. Do you remember Bushick in the 80′s & 90′s ??…You people need to show some respect when its due. More then 25 yrs in office…and a few days ago, Our district had a final say in how we really feel about the man. Long Live Vito Lopez !
G. J. J. September 17th, 2010 at 7:10 am
Whats up with Diana Reyna.????…..Rumors are that she gained 85 pounds in a year after literally eating half of her staff…..I mean really Diana ??….Antonio, Will, Esteban……We tried too tell you she would do this too you…She’s attempted too do it too her supporters in the past….Luckily for the residents of Bushwick, Williamsburg and Ridgewood…Vito Lopez was not a man or a name that she could ”fit” inside of her mouth, but don’t quote me on this, its all just rumors. I could never confirm that for obvious reasons, The biggest being that I havent personally seen Diana Reyna within the lines of the district she allegedly represents. Id have a better chance of seeing ”Arron Short” with a girlfriend…or a haircut..haha…..if you’ve ever encountered that wacko, you’d understand what I was saying.(lol)
Nast September 17th, 2010 at 7:41 am
What are a baby? Please take your meds.
Nast September 17th, 2010 at 7:52 am
CORRECTION:
What are you a baby? Please take your meds.
bushwick bill September 17th, 2010 at 9:36 am
well said andy. i find it interesting that someone who once proclaimed to be a 100% vito loyalist,like Diana Reyna,now wants to go out of her way to bring down the name of someone who was the single most important factor in her first elections (district leader in 2000 and city council in 2001, 2003, and 2005). she would argue with people in the street over her loyalty for vito, she would thank him profusely at public meetings to the point where you “almost” saw teardrops. she practically lived at his democratic club. its ok to have a falling out with someone, heck look at the divorce rate in this country, but to try to destroy someone personally and professionally when they have helped you is uncalled for. i also find it interesting that all of these newcomers have the nerve to lambast the work of vito and rbscc when the only reason they are able to walk around safely in the streets of bushwick and williamsburg is due to the renaissance that many of the people that they are apathetic to spearheaded. the loft law, rent control, block associations were not formed by someone that moved into the hood because the rent was “dirt cheap” , could walk to the L/J trains,and were priced out of manhattan.
Nast September 17th, 2010 at 10:36 am
bushwick bill:
Again attacking someone that has not been formally named as an accuser in this matter is just a poor defense of your hero. Again hearsay, conjecture, and “bonchinche” won’t cut it. Let the investigators do their job. I don’t like that this is out in the open because this may be much to do about nothing.
LearnedBushwick September 17th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Bushwick Bill I want to commend you on your comment. I find it disgusting to watch an organization that has done so much good for Bushwick, not to mention thousands of its residents, be attacked by the media. Yesterday was a sad day for Bushwick, not just because of the Tornado, but also because of the continued attacks upon RBSSC. The New York Post and Daily News should be ashamed of the way they publish half-truths and lies. Whatever happened to the media being un-biased? Whatever happened to fact checking stories? The saddest part of this is the potential harm it can cause. I urge everyone who is reading these stories to read between the lines and recognize these stories as the propaganda that they are.
Andy J. Marte September 17th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
NAST, is that the best you could come up with: GO BACK TO SCHOOL? LMFAO!! I’m so hurt.. =’(
Nast September 17th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Andy, look in the mirror and say to yourself, “It’s ok, I can take care of myself. I don’t owe anybody sh*t, I did it on my own merits.” You will be surprised how good that feels. Listen, go to the library and look up Boss Tweed. It always ends up the same, the boss ends up behind bars. FLEE before you get caught up in it too.
Andy September 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Nast, fortunately for you anything I’ve accomplished in my life has been on my own merits and I think I am educated enough to know who Boss Tweed is. Unfortunately for you, I understand who does good work in this community and I know whom in our community genuinely cares about it.
People that try to destroy an institution that has done amazing work for thousands of people are not only harming themselves but they are harming all of the Bushwick residents who benefit from affordable housing, the youth who benefit from amazing programs, and the senior citizens who benefit from senior services.
I will continue to stand by Vito Lopez because I believe in his ideology of community first. I will stand by Vito Lopez because I know he has not done anything wrong, despite what the media believes. And I will stand by Vito Lopez because I know that at the end of the day he will come out of this a stronger individual and a better elected official for our community.