Gentile Kicks off Re-Election Campaign

According to a March 7 media alert from Bay Ridge Democrats, Vinnie Gentile, who has served southwest Brooklyn's 43rd District -- Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst -- on the City Council for 20 years and been a fixture in local politics since 1996, has announced his campaign for re-election and launched and online fundraising campaign.

Backed by Bay Ridge Democrats, of which he is an ex officio member, Gentile, who has cast himself as an advocate of small business and the middle class, faces competition this year from John Quaglione, deputy chief of staff and press secretary for Conservative/Republican State Sen. Marty Golden, and Conservative activist Andy Sullivan, an opponent of "entitlements".

Marty Golden, Quaglione's boss, began his political career by defeating the incumbent Gentile for a seat in the State Senate in the aftermath of last decade's redistricting cycle. Gentle later won a special election to replace Golden on the City Council.

Bob Capano, Gentile's last Republican opponent in 2009, lost by 20 points [Brooklyn Paper.]

Gentile's Republican challenger, John Quaglione, says he can do a better job than Gentile [Brooklyn Daily.]