Edolphus Towns Throwing in the Towel after 29 Years of Service
It’s time to bid adieu to one long-standing Brooklyn representative. That’s because Edolphus Towns is throwing in the towel after 15 terms in Congress. Mr. Towns announced yesterday that he does not plan to compete in the upcoming Democratic primary set for June 26th.
As he said in a statement,
“After months of long family discussions, I have decided not to seek re-election for my seat in the United State House of Representatives. I believe firmly that we would have won a 16th term had we decided to run.”
Many have been speculating in recent months that Mr. Towns was heading for retirement. Red flags included his low profile in his central Brooklyn district lately, his dogging of debates and skipping endorsement meetings, among other signs.
Certainly, after 29 years in office, Mr. Town’s vacancy leaves an exciting hole for another politician to fill. Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Councilman Charles Barron are now vying for the position. Mr. Jeffries has a much more substantial financial advantage at the moment, as well as endorsements from the Working Families Party, Local 32BJ and the Hotel Trades Council.
In 2006, when challenging Mr. Towns, Mr. Barron actually shows an impressive finish. He finished second behind the incumbent with 37% of the vote. The district includes Bedford-Stuyvesant, Canarsie, East New York, Clinton Hill and Brownsville.
