INWOOD — Two former Borough Presidents threw their support behind opposing candidates in the State Senate District 31 race this week — opening up old wounds in a longstanding political battle.
Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer announced Wednesday that he was backing Marisol Alcantara, current State Sen. Adriano Espaillat’s handpicked successor.
Ferrer, who is currently serving on the board for the MTA and City University of New York, said although he’s been leading a private life since 2006, it was important to remain active and interested in “who represents us."
Alcantara said she’s worked for women and civil rights’ in the past alongside leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton and the Democratic District Leader in Harlem.
“That’s why I’m here supporting her and reminding the community that in this case, we have an opportunity — unique — to vote,” Ferrer told supporters Wednesday morning at a press conference at 210 Sherman Ave.
Ferrer insisted that his endorsement was a recognition of Alcantara's work in the community, and not related to his history in politics "with regard to others" — a nod to his longstanding feud with Alcantara’s opponent, Micah Lasher.
Ferrer and Lasher, who announced his run in April, sparred in 2001, when Lasher was part of the campaign team for Public Advocate Mark Green, who ran against Ferrer for the Democratic nomination for mayor.
During that campaign Lasher designed a flier featuring a controversial editorial cartoon from the New York Post depicting Ferrer courting favor from the Reverend Al Sharpton that was blasted as “racist, anti-Latino, and anti-black.”
Lasher, who was 19 at the time, later said he regretted designing the flier.
He has since gone on to garner the support of several elected officials, including his former boss, Attorney General Erich Schneiderman, Congressman Jerry Nadler, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Councilman Mark Levine and, most recently, former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger, who previously supported Ferrer’s one-time bid for mayor.
Messinger said in a statement this week that Lasher "will bring a true progressive agenda to the State Senate—on issues from affordable housing to women’s health to environmental protection."
Ferrer said that Alcantara didn’t “parachute” her way into politics, but has “paid her dues at the community level — as a labor activist and organizer and as a political activist and organizer.”
Alcantara added that her history in the community, which dates back more than two decades, makes her the most qualified candidate.
“I represent this community,” Alcantara said. “I’m not someone that arrived yesterday. I have a history of working in this community."
Former councilman Robert Jackson and community activist Luis Tejada are also running to fill Espaillat's seat.
Jackson, who launched his campaign early in February, has received the support of former Mayor David Dinkins, Sen. Bill Perkins, Congressman Charles Rangel, Assemblyman Keith Wright, Assemblyman Denny Farrell, Councilmember Inez Dickens and several unions.
Tejada, founder of The Mirabal Cultural and Community Center in Washington Heights, a Washington Heights-based nonprofit, said his largest support comes from the community, primarily residents his organization has helped throughout the years.
The primaries for the State Senate primaries are Tuesday, Sept. 13.
