This column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared on BrooklynReporter.com, the Home Reporter and Spectator dated June 23, 2023
Primary election season is upon us. Early voting began June 17 and runs through Sunday, June 25, with primary election day on Tuesday, June 27. 2023 elections are limited to judicial contests and City Council races. With every incumbent, Democratic councilmember in Southern Brooklyn running unopposed in the primary, the only race this June is for a newly created district.
Last year’s redistricting established the new 43rd council district in Southern Brooklyn. The district covers most of Bensonhurst and the predominantly Asian portion of Sunset Park, as well as portions of Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, and Borough Park.
With a majority-Asian demographic, it was drawn to create an Asian-opportunity district. Asian Americans are the largest growing ethnicity in Brooklyn, accounting for nearly 14 percent of the borough’s population.
It is no surprise that the Democratic field of candidates in the 43rd consists of three Asian-American candidates, but beyond that, there are clear differences between Wai Yee Chan, Stanley Ng, and Susan Zhuang, who voters will find on their ballot.
Chan previously led the Brooklyn branch of the Chinese-American Planning Council for more than 20 years, served as the Community Engagement Director for Councilman Brannan, and is currently Executive Director of Homecrest Community Services and a member of the mayor’s Asian Affairs Advisory Council.
Ng, a retired programmer, previously served on the District 20 Community Education Council and the Citywide Council on High Schools. He also lists community volunteering efforts as part of his resume.
Zhuang previously worked as Assemblyman Colton’s Chief of Staff. She has been the subject of multiple controversies over the past few months that have been reported by local media.
“My ideas are the ideas of the Republican party.”
English translation from recording of Council District 43 candidate Susan Zhuang’s words to a resident whom she door-knocked while asking for their vote
Just recently, the New York Post ran a story on June 17 titled, “Susan Zhuang running for NYC ‘Asian opportunity’ seat caught claiming GOP values.” The reporting included a doorbell camera video recording of Zhuang’s interaction with a resident while asking for their vote in the Democratic primary.
In the video, which The Post had translated from Mandarin into English, Zhuang is recorded telling the man, “My ideas are the ideas of the Republican party.” When asked why she is not running as a Republican, Zhuang said that is because her former boss and current supporter, Assemblyman Colton, “is a Democrat, so … it is not easy for me to run as a Republican.” Zhuang went on to say, “At the time [I decided to run for office], I chose the Democratic party. In the future, I can do both the Democratic and Republican parties.”
Even prior to The Post sharing this video recording, the Daily News ran a story in February about how Zhuang and Ng may not be committed to their party. In that article, Chan stated that she was a Democrat and only a Democrat but accused her competitors of being open to running on the Republican line. Neither Ng, nor Zhuang, would make the same firm commitment to only running as a Democrat that Chan made.
In March, The Post ran another story that included a video of Zhuang. In that recording, while addressing the Brooklyn Young Democrats club members, she detailed COVID-related efforts she claimed to have spearheaded here in Brooklyn during the early days of the pandemic, including stating, “I did get 80,000 masks for all the hospitals in New York City.” However, the Post confirmed that the number of masks was 8,000 and they went to Indiana, where Zhuang moved to when the pandemic began and remained until 2022. They had not gone to Brooklyn, as she had claimed.
Southern Brooklyn has recently seen multiple Democrats switch parties to the GOP. Alec Brook-Krasny did so last year and won the 46th assembly seat. He has been embroiled in controversy the past week for statements in which he unapologetically states that he believes the “LGBTQ+ community and even “pride” itself is inherently sexual.” Also making the same switch, Ari Kagan became a Republican ahead of this year’s council election.
Wai Yee Chan is the only candidate in the district 43 Democratic primary who clearly will not abandon the party whose nomination she is running for in a district in which more than half of registered voters are Democrats. Independent of these serious concerns about whether the other Democratics candidates will leave the party if it helps them win election, as well as the concerning videos that have revealed one candidate will seem to say anything to get elected, there is only one qualified candidate for this job.
Wai Yee Chan has dedicated herself to community service since arriving in the states 27 years ago, having held high-level positions for community non-profits and as a council staffer. She is immensely qualified and ready to handle the responsibilities of a council member on day one, advocating for the constituents of this new district.
