Velázquez, not Bichotte Hermelyn, leads BK Dems, judge rules
Reformer Julio Peña III could be elected to take over the county party next week – if the courts don’t intervene yet again.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez isn’t planning to lead the county party for long. But for now, it’s hers. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn's tenure as leader of the Brooklyn Democratic Party has drawn to a close, according to a Supreme Court judge.
And that could clear the way for Julio Peña III, the leader of the reform faction, to take over the party.
In a new order issued Friday evening, Supreme Court judge Lisa Lewis ruled that Bichotte Hermelyn’s term as chair of the Brooklyn Dems’ executive committee ended last week at the conclusion of a raucous organizational meeting on Sept. 23. And as the party’s leadership vote was delayed under a separate court ruling on Tuesday, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, an ally of the reformers, is the party’s reigning authority in the interim.
Velázquez was elevated to chair of the county committee at last week’s organizational meeting after party leadership neglected to put their own candidate on the ballot. While Bichotte Hermelyn and allies are likely to appeal the ruling, the mistake appears increasingly costly.
Velázquez tested her newfound power Wednesday by firing Bichotte Hermelyn’s lawyers with the firm Abrams Fensterman. And Lewis ruled today that Velázquez did so legally.
“The court determines that Respondent Velázquez, as the sole officer presently vested with party-wide executive authority, is empowered to act on behalf of both the new County Committee and the Executive Committee, including retaining counsel to represent their interests,” Lewis wrote.
Mark Hanna, a district leader and lawyer representing reformers, contends that the ruling means Velázquez could call the meeting to vote for a new party leader as soon as Monday. After an appellate panel confirmed a lower court’s decision to toss out the controversial rules changes pushed by Bichotte Hermelyn, reformers appear to have a majority on the executive committee again. Hanna said Peña has the support of 26 of the 42 district leaders.
“When Rep. Velázquez calls our executive organizational meeting, a new day for the party will begin and we can get to work for the November elections,” Peña said.
Bichotte Hermelyn declined to comment.