A Brooklyn city councilman running for reelection is boasting of a slew of endorsements – that he never received. Campaign literature for Councilman Kendall Stewart (D-East Flatbush) lists at least eight endorsements from elected officials who never gave him their backing, the Daily News has learned.
“Kendall never even asked me for an endorsement,” said Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-East Village), who plans to announce tomorrow she is actually backing Stewart’s challenger, tenant organizer Jumaane Williams.
“It’s very aggravating,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s disingenuous or just sloppy, but either way, it shouldn’t have happened.”
The other officials listed in Stewart’s brochure who told The News they never endorsed him are Council members John Liu (D-Queens), Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-East Harlem), Mathieu Eugene (D-Flatbush), Bill de Blasio (D-Park Slope) and James Sanders (D-Queens), Assemblyman Nick Perry (D-Canarsie), and Senate Democratic leader John Sampson (D-East Flatbush).
It’s the latest charge to hit Stewart, who has 26 open violations at an apartment building he owns, including exposed wires, crumbling floors, mice, roaches and a rat infestation he has failed to clean up for eight years.
An aide to Stewart said the politicians listed on the brochure told the councilman in private conversations that they would support his reelection.
“In the final analysis, this election is not about who endorsed or who did not endorse me,” Stewart said in a statement. “When special interests and their media buddies start to meddle in the affairs of our community the residents will sit up and take note.”
“I stand by my record,” he said. “These petty distractions are simply attempts to subvert the will of the people and install by coercion, character assassination and political innuendo someone who does not know the district or its people.”
But Williams said the phony endorsements are a sign of desperation. “I think his campaign is now floundering,” he said. “I understand because of his record why he would have to manufacture fake endorsements, but to actually do it is beyond me.”
{NY Daily News/Matzav.com Newscenter}
