Influential former Brooklyn Democratic Get together boss Frank Seddio is abandoning Mayor Eric Adams and backing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, he informed The Submit Thursday.
Seddio — who’s the legislation companion of Adams’ political adviser and former Metropolis Corridor chief-of-staff Frank Carone — mentioned he doesn’t see a path for embattled mayor to win re-election.
“I really like Eric. I supported him for all his races — for state senate, borough president and mayor,” Seddio mentioned.
“I’ve been mates with Eric all these years. However wanting on the circumstances, I don’t see a path the place Eric might win.”
After turning from Adams, Seddio, a average Democrat, mentioned Cuomo is the clear alternative — although the previous governor hasn’t introduced he’s operating but.
“Andrew is the very best of all the opposite candidates. He has the managerial expertise and expertise to run the town,” Seddio mentioned.
Seddio — who was not too long ago authorised because the Brooklyn Democrat commissioner on the town’s Board of Elections — mentioned his Thomas Jefferson Democratic Membership will probably be formally endorsing Cuomo on Tuesday.
He mentioned the opposite left-of-center candidates operating within the June Democratic mayoral main aren’t worthy of main Metropolis Corridor.
“The progressives operating are nothing however hypocrites. They had been for defunding the police and now rapidly they are saying we’d like extra cops,” mentioned Seddio, who was chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Get together from 2012 to 2020.
Seddio, 78, is also carefully allied together with his successor, Brooklyn Democratic Get together chief Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, who has been a staunch Adams supporter.
The politico additionally has lengthy ties to Cuomo and his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo. He supported Andrew’s runs for state legal professional basic and governor and Mario’s runs for governor and mayor.
He mentioned the Metropolis Council has swung too far to the left.
“However I believe Andrew can present the management with the general public the place the Metropolis Council should listen,” Seddio mentioned.
Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 over sexual misconduct accusations he denies, is predicted to announce his comeback bid for mayor on Sunday.
Seddio predicted that Cuomo would make a comeback, although not essentially operating for mayor, when the three-term Democrat visited Seddio’s political membership in 2023.
Adams was indicted final September on expenses he allegedly accepted greater than $100,000 in unlawful marketing campaign contributions and journey perks from a Turkish official and others looking for to purchase affect whereas he was Brooklyn borough president.
He has pleaded not responsible and long-maintained his innocence, and says he’s looking for re-election regardless of his unpopularity in polls.
The Justice Division moved to dismiss his case after President Trump took workplace.
However a federal choose dominated final week that he desires to listen to from an unbiased lawyer earlier than deciding whether or not to toss Adams’ corruption expenses altogether.
Adams skipped a mayoral discussion board Wednesday hosted by the town’s largest municipal union, District Council 37, on the recommendation of his protection attorneys.
Different candidates operating within the Democratic main embrace state Sens. Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, state Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani, ex-Assemblyman Michael Blake, former Metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer and financier Whitney Tilslon.
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams additionally filed papers to enter the race for Metropolis Corridor.
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is the declared Republican candidate for mayor.
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