Vito Lopez won re-election overwhelmingly last night but signaled that this could be his last term in office.
Assemblyman Vito Lopez coasted to re-election last night, fending off a challenge from Republican stand-in Richy Garcia, but he signaled that it might be his last term in office.
The embattled legislator had already lost his coveted housing committee and Brooklyn Democratic Party chairmanships this summer when news broke of allegations that he sexually harassed four female staff members.
Lopez thanked his supporters on Election Night, saying that he overcame “three hundred negative articles, hundreds of attacking blogs, and media attacks,” but that he would evaluate plans to seek another two-year term in the coming months.
Below is the full press release:
From the desk of Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez…
I would like to thank the voters of Bushwick and Williamsburg (53rd AD) for their overwhelming support in today’s election. With their support, I have proudly served the residents of Bushwick and Williamsburg for approximately 30 years bringing needed housing and social services to the 53rd Assembly District. In the last three years, there have been over three hundred negative articles, hundreds of attacking blogs, media attacks, etc. Despite this, over three hundred community residents and leaders obtained over 7,000 signatures for my candidacy, more than almost any other candidate in the city. It is because of this strong and continued support of the residents of my district that I am emboldened to continue to fight to bring needed programs and services to the community I represent.
The voters of the 53rd Assembly District have spoken. I am committed to serve them. While I will continue to advocate fiercely for the residents of the 53rd Assembly District through this term with the commitment, dedication and devotion I always have, over the next few months I will be evaluating my plans to seek re-election to the NY State Assembly.
