Longtime Brooklyn District Leader Jacob Gold To Step Down

PARK SLOPE, NY — The longtime Democratic district leader for Park Slope, Jacob Gold, announced he would step down from his post after news broke that he used campaign funds for soccer tickets, car payments, cigars and perfume.

Gold — who has held the unpaid position representing Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington and Ditmas Park for more than 40 years — maintained he did not misuse campaign money but would not seek re-election this year to "avoid any further distractions" in the race.

"My ability to continue to support these progressive values have been disparaged by an attempt to question my integrity," Gold said in a statement. "I assure you that I have never done anything illegal, immoral or even remotely unethical.

To avoid any further distractions from the genuine issues in the coming campaign, I am choosing not to seek re-election," Gold added.

The announcement came days after the New York Post reported that Gold spent more than $41,000 in campaign funds from 2007 through 2017 on car payments, clothing, perfume, New York Cosmos tickets and more.

Campaign records show Gold, a real-estate agent and retired teacher, used $16,652 in campaign money from 2008 to 2013 for payments on a Honda.

A district leader is an unpaid volunteer position who faces re-election every two years but doesn't have term limits. They advocate for resident's needs to elected officials, register voters and hire Election Day workers, but their real power comes in nominating judicial candidates to the State Supreme Court.

Gold, who was born in Poland and moved to Brooklyn from Israel, has held the position since 1975 and previously told Patch he viewed the post as a service to the city.

"I'm happy with what I'm doing, I've never in all of my years ran for public office," said Gold. "This city's been good to me and it's my way of giving back."

In his announcement, he cited his early support for Borough President Marty Markowitz, helping elect Assemblyman Jim Brennan and his role in getting Judge Debra Silber elected to Brooklyn Supreme Court — the first openly LGBT justice in the borough — as among his accomplishments since he took office.

Gold faced a challenge in this year's election from Park Slope lawyer Douglas Schneider, who said he wants to reform the local Democratic party and open it up to new voices.

"I want to thank [Gold] for his decades of service to our community and I wish him well," Schneider said in a statement.

"I am running for Democratic District Leader to build a reform, progressive Brooklyn Democratic Party. I am looking forward to spending the summer engaging our Party's grassroots across Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope and Victorian Flatbush and helping Democrats win elections up-and-down the ticket."

Gold dropping out of the race leaves Schneider running unopposed for the Sept. 13 election, but there's still a little time for another candidate to throw their hat in the race.

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