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CityAndStateNY.com
July 11, 2022
K O BR By Jeff Coltin
R
ODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN’S brief and conflict-filled time as the Brooklyn Democratic leader may be coming to an end. The Assembly member who took the helm of the state’s largest county organization in 2020, told City & State she’s not stepping down right now – but said she’s been busy, and left the door open to giving up power at the party’s organizing meeting in a couple months. “Those are rumors. I’m not stepping down,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “We’ll just see what happens in September.” If she did step down, it might not entirely be her own choice. The faction of progressive reformers aligned with the New Kings Democrats has been emboldened by a strong showing in the June primary. And while they do not have a majority on 44-seat executive committee, there are a growing number of “regulars” who have also grown frustrated with Bichotte Hermelyn and are talking about
starting anew with a leader less eager to pick fights within her own party. “Probably Rodneyse is reading the writing on the wall that she doesn’t have the votes or the numbers to continue being party leader,” said one district leader, who asked for anonymity to talk about private discussions. Now, reformers are talking with county-aligned district leaders about regime change. “There are a lot of people who are happy to work with other people just because they really dislike her. And that’s the reality of it.” However, insiders say there’s no obvious successor to lead the county organization, and it isn’t clear whether any candidate
