Political Briefs 02.08.18

Zeldin Challengers Meet Tuesday

Perry Gershon and Brendon Henry, two of the Democrats hoping to unseat Representative Lee Zeldin in November, will share their views at a forum on Tuesday in Bridgehampton. The third and final forum in a series sponsored by Progressive East End Reformers, it will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Bridgehampton National Bank.

Mr. Gershon, who lives in East Hampton, was one of the first Zeldin challengers to declare his candidacy. A businessman with a background in commercial real estate, he has noted that he has a considerable war chest. Mr. Henry, who hails from Center Moriches, is a bartender who studied political science. 

Also in the running for the Democratic nomination are Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning of Shirley, former legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher of East Setauket, Elaine DiMasi of Ronkonkoma, and David Pechefsky, a Patchogue native. 

Previous PEER forums featured Mr. Pechefsky and Ms. Viloria-Fisher on Jan. 9 and Ms. Browning and Ms. DiMasi on Jan. 23. Past forums were streamed live on PEER’s Facebook page, and Tuesday’s will be as well. 

Browning’s Campaign Cash

Kate Browning, a Suffolk County legislator who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Representative Lee Zeldin, has raised over $300,000 for that effort, her campaign announced on Jan. 31. 

In the fourth quarter of 2017, Ms. Browning raised more than $160,000 to add to the $140,000 already in hand, according to her campaign. The money comes from more than 500 individual donations, including from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representative Steny Hoyer, State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., Legislator Rob Calarco, and Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith. Ms. Browning also received contributions from the Oil and Heat Institute of Long Island, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the Communications Workers of America, and Local 46 of the Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers union.