Jesus Gonzalez To Officially Kick Off Council Campaign [UPDATED]

Written by Chris Bragg on . Posted in Blog.




This has been speculated upon for some time, but Brooklyn community organizer Jesus Gonzalez passes along a letter this afternoon announcing that he’s kicking off his campaign in eight days for the City Council seat currently held by Brooklyn’s Erik Martin Dilan.

It’s not exactly clear when Gonzalez, an organizer for Make The Road New York who ran a heated and close race last summer for the seat won by Rafael Espinal, will be running for the seat. Dilan is term-limited in 2013, but could vacate the position earlier if he wins his congressional race against Congresswoman Nydia Velaquez.

Gonzalez’s candidacy will likely in some form continue the rivalry between the Working Families Party, which will almost certainly back Gonzalez, and Brooklyn Democratic Leader Vito Lopez. That began during that Gonzalez/Espinal race, and continues in this year’s expected primary between State Sen. Martin Dilan and Jason Otano.

(I should note, Colin Campbell posted this letter a bit before us.)

Here’s Gonzalez’s letter:

Dear XXX,

For many of us the next municipal election still feels like something in the distant future.
For me, it feels just around the corner.
I have been spending my days on the phone, my evenings at the door and my weekends speaking to as many of you as possible about my goal of being elected to New York’s City Council. I want to bring my passion for organizing and my deep love for our neighbourhoods to the City Council.
Please join me in Bushwick next Wednesday, May 30th to officially launch my campaign. 
Guz’s Lounge
Wednesday, May 30th 6:30-8:30pm
1618 Weirfield Street, Brooklyn NY
To RSVP, please email electjesusgonzalez@gmail.com or call: 347.XXX-XXX
Please help me launch this campaign with a strong start by making a contribution to, Donate to Gonzalez 2013.

I hope to see you there next Wednesday, May 30th!

In solidarity,
Jesus
UPDATE: I’ve heard from several sources that a possible Lopez-backed candidate for this seat is Janitza Luna Dilan, who is Eric Martin Dilan’s wife. I reached her by phone this afternoon at her workplace (she does public relations for Wyckoff Heights Medical Center.) But she declined to comment, saying she couldn’t speak a possible Council run while at work.



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  • Maria

    This is not in the council district he is running for. it is in Diana Reyna’s district, i he running for that seat???

  • Ed

    This kid is dumber than he looks, the address and Sports Bar is 16-18 Wierfield in Ridgewood, not Bushwick… our zip code is 11385. What a dumbass….

  • Garth

    The above posters raise an issue that was previously addressed by other political blogs, namely his residence. He stated previously that he resided in Reyna’s district but was planning to move to run. Has he? Has he registered at the new address? Seems like you guys get paid to find information like that out for the reading public.

    Also, it seems that either he is planning on launching his 2013 campaign very early, or some people are rethinking Erik Dilan’s chances against Nydia Velasquez on June 26th.

  • http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com VJ Machiavelli

    Lets not forget that the City Council will be running on “New Lines” in 2013 and you don’t have to live in the district to run.

    Before there was the “Oracle of Delphi” there was Count Vampire J. Machiavelli

    VJ Machiavelli
    Power to the People who “VOTE”

  • Ridgewood is not bushwick!

    Didn’t he have his victory party there too? This guy obviously doesn’t even know bushwick well enough to know that’s not bushwick nor in that district!

    Unless he and his puppeteer, Nydia Velazquez, know something that we dont about this district! She was invited last minute to Quinn’s wedding. Perhaps she made some deal with Quinn in exchange for her support for Mayor!

    Velazquez epitomizes inside politics. She and her allies, like Jesus, need to give up public life!

  • Garth

    1618 Weirfield is not Bushwick and as a result, because its Ridgewood, it isn’t Brooklyn, it’s Queens. Wow.

  • Launch is across the street from district, what’s the fuss?

    It’s a shame that you all are focusing on a ONE block difference. You cross the street and you’re in Bushwick and in the district, on Weirfield and Wycoff. The bigger picture is that the people that go to Guz’s, where the launch is at, are people from the community, from the 37th district, who have historically been denied access to electoral politics and disgusted by the process. they should be aware and engaged. I give him props for taking a stand for his community. he’s someone who lives our struggles and is working hard to represent.

    I hope Dilan’s wife doesn’t have the nerve to run after her husband inherited the seat from his dad. Anyhow, this will be exciting. I look forward to seeing how this all unfolds.
    I used to go to school with him, he’s the real deal. The launch is a few blocks away from our High School.

  • joseph diaz

    This kid doesnt have a chance on winning the council seat he only known in bushwick u gotta think that council seat is not only in bushwick but in cypresshills, east ny, and cityline … really dude u not gonna win whats next he gonna run for district leader or state senate give it up …. and stop using your povety as a excuse the people dont care they care on how you gonna help the community and listen to thier concerns …My vote is for the Community Activist In Cypresshills Jorge Rodriguez He’s a contender and leader

  • joseph diaz

    If it’s true then they have a diaster there’s a young man named Jorge Luis Rodriguez from Cypress Hills He’s a big community activist in EAST NY AND CYPRESSHILLS  his backing is tremdous so it will be a close race between jesus and jorge