Accusations Fly after Cucco's Bitter Loss

Brooklyn Daily Photoi

One thing is clear about the 46th AD Democratic District Committee meeting on Tuesday night: Bay Ridge lost out to Coney Island.

At the nomination meeting, Coney Islander Pamela Harris beat out Bay Ridge residents Cody McCone and Kate Cucco to take the Kings County Democratic nomination in the November 3 special election for former 46th AD Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny's seat.

But from there, things get very murky.

Local Democratic insiders, bitter about Cucco's loss, blame Harris' nomination on 46th AD District Leader Dilia Schack, who although she was absent due to ill health, is nonetheless credited with directing Cody McCone, eliminated in a first-round vote, to release his votes to Harris in the second round, giving Harris the majority over Cucco.

Bay Ridge Democrats who backed Cucco accuse Schack, a Bay Ridge Resident, of calling McCone and making a last-minute deal for him to quit the race and pass his votes to Harris.

Interviewed by Brooklyn Daily, Schack denied both calling McCone and urging him to give Harris his votes.

Also interviewed by Brooklyn Daily, McCone backed up Schack by saying that a third party, a "former elected official", had made the call to her and handed him the phone.  He denied that Schack had asked him to release his votes to Harris, saying he gave his delegates free rein to vote as they chose in the second round.

Harris, also contacted by Brooklyn Daily, waffled her response.

According to Brooklyn Daily, the ailing Schack will decline to run again for the District Leader position.

The Brooklyn Daily article.