NYC Primary Election 2020: Danielle Brecker Looks To Unseat Nolan

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — Democrats in western Queens will get to cast a ballot this month in a collection of local, state and federal primary races — including the 37th Assembly District, where state Assembly Member Catherine Nolan will defend her seat against challengers Danielle Brecker and Mary Jobaida.

Brecker, a resident of Dutch Kills, is a lead organizer for Empire State Indivisible, the local chapter of the progressive political organization Indivisible. She previously worked as an advertising executive for more than two decades. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Drexel University.

The 37th Assembly District includes Astoria, Long Island City, Ridgewood, Sunnyside and Woodside.

• READ MORE: Catherine Nolan Defends Assembly Seat

The primary election, slated for June 23, is open to registered Democratic voters. All New York voters may request a mail-in ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ballots must be postmarked by the date of the election for the vote to get counted.

For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from June 13 to June 21.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the primary election to create these profiles. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Danielle Brecker

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

50

NYC neighborhood of residence

Dutch Kills

Position Sought

State Assembly

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

No

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Drexel University, B.S. Business Administration, 1993

Occupation

Advertising, 1994-2019

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Co-Leader, Empire State Indivisible

Campaign website

DanielleForAssembly.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

As co-leader of Empire State Indivisible, we focused on defeating the IDC [Independent Democratic Conference] and took back our State Senate for the people.

With a true blue Senate we started fighting for long stalled bills to finally get passed in Albany. There was success but it was a long, difficult fight and there was much that did not get done - often as a result of a complacent Democratic Assembly who was unwilling to stand up and fight for the progressive policy that they long said they supported.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Social, political, and economic inequity and injustice because it is at the root of all issues

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a fighter who will use my policy knowledge and proven organizing ability to making change and move us away from status quo, politics as usual thinking on the ground in district and In Albany.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Incumbent is complacent. For years [she was] the chair of the education committee but our public schools are still owed over $19 million in foundation aid per AQE [Alliance for Quality Education], our classrooms are overcrowded and we need more teachers, and schools. The district has been overrun by development, incumbent called for a moratorium on development but didn’t organize in district to make that happen and takes donations from real estate including REBNY in this cycle. Incumbent tacitly says she supports but does stand up and fight for public housing, infrastructure, to tax the wealthy, police and criminal justice reforms, healthcare.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Taxing the wealthy to fund education, healthcare, housing and more,. Ending economic development that incentivizes wealthy corporations and real state. Reforming our democracy to get big moneyed special interests out and more people in.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I helped build a grassroots activist organization from the ground up to hold our elected leaders to account and get progressive policy passed. An organization that successfully defeated the IDC and advocated for voter access, criminal justice reform, congestion pricing, tenant protections, and climate change action.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about spread the message, engaging and advocating for change every way possible.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a novice boxer.