Brooklyn Dem boss says he’ll oppose effort to remove Felder
Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman Frank Seddio said Tuesday he’ll oppose any move to oust rebel state Sen. Simcha Felder from the party.
Felder, who represents several largely ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn, is considered a traitor by some party activists for caucusing with Republicans when they were in control of the Senate. Last year, he was the deciding vote that kept the GOP in power.
But Democrats won back the majority in November and the new Senate leadership in Albany has refused to let Felder return to the Democratic fold.
Based on complaints from some party members, Seddio is researching whether the Brooklyn party has the legal authority to boot Felder.
But if it does, he said he’ll oppose any resolution to kick him out.
“We can’t be dictatorial about who can be part of our party. I don’t think we can tell somebody he can’t be a Democrat,” said Seddio.
“Why is Simcha Felder any different as a conservative Democrat than a social Democrat? We’re all encompassing. We accept all people. We don’t always agree.”
Seddio said ultimately the matter of representation should be decided by the voters.
Felder was elected to the state Senate in 2012 after serving in the City Council.
Source: Read Full Article