For one thing, the special election is to fill the remainder of the term of Clarence Norman Jr., who was found guilty in September of soliciting illegal campaign contributions. Because of his conviction on various felony counts, Mr. Norman, who also led the Brooklyn Democratic Party for 15 years, was required to vacate both his position as the borough's Democratic leader and his Assembly seat.
New Uncertainty About Democrats Holding Seat in Assembly
In a typical local election in Crown Heights and Flatbush, Brooklyn, there is little for the Democratic candidate to worry about. But this year’s special election for a vacant Assembly seat is far from the typical election contest.
For one thing, the special election is to fill the remainder of the term of Clarence Norman Jr., who was found guilty in September of soliciting illegal campaign contributions. Because of his conviction on various felony counts, Mr. Norman, who also led the Brooklyn Democratic Party for 15 years, was required to vacate both his position as the borough’s Democratic leader and his Assembly seat.
A committee of party officials in the 43rd Assembly District selected the Rev. Karim Camara as the Democratic candidate to succeed Mr. Norman. Mr. Camara, 34, is the executive pastor at the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, whose senior pastor is Clarence Norman Sr., the father of the former assemblyman. Mr. Camara is also the director of fund-raising for the Cush Campus Schools, a private elementary and middle school in Brooklyn.
Mr. Camara is facing Geoffrey A. Davis, 42, who is running on the Independence Party line. What gives the Davis campaign more weight than the typical third-party candidacy is the fact that his family name is well known in the district. His brother, James E. Davis, represented the area in the City Council until he was killed two years ago in City Hall.
Mr. Davis was the Democratic candidate in the special election to succeed his dead brother, only to lose to Letitia James, the candidate of the Working Families Party.
At the heart of the Davis campaign is an effort to portray Mr. Camara as a product of the Democratic machine and especially of the former assemblyman.
“He has no experience doing anything in the community,” Mr. Davis said of Mr. Camara. “He is running purely as the representative of Clarence Norman Jr. and his father to keep the Assembly power in their hands. He’s simply not qualified.”
Mr. Davis added that a number of voters in the district might well vote for him in Column C, where the Independence Party is positioned on the ballot. He said that a large number of Democrats in the district would vote there for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who is on that ballot line in addition to the Republican line.
And in a reference to the Council race won by Ms. James in 2003, Mr. Davis said, “It’s clear that people in this area have no trouble not voting on the Democratic line.”
Mr. Camara said the fact that he preaches at the same church where the Norman family worships should not disqualify him for public office. In fact, a group of civic leaders and ministers held a news conference last week in which they urged voters not to view Mr. Camara as a clone of Mr. Norman. He has been endorsed by Borough President Marty Markowitz, Councilwoman James and several large unions, most prominently 1199/S.E.I.U., the health care giant.
Mr. Camara said that among his priorities if elected would be to work to abolish state control over certain rent guidelines for New York City and to develop programs that would assist small businesses.
Most officials in the area contend that Mr. Camara will prevail, although the candidate himself said he was taking nothing for granted.
