Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez Wednesday announced his candidacy for Brooklyn DA–joining a growing list of contenders fighting for the seat in the upcoming election this fall.
Gonzalez became Brooklyn’s Acting DA last October, following the sudden death of late DA Ken Thompson from cancer.
“It has been a privilege for me to have served the people of Brooklyn for the last 22 years,” the top prosecutor said in a statement Wednesday just before officially announcing his candidacy for the seat alongside his wife, mother, and three children.
Gonzalez also gave a nod to Thompson, noting he was honored to have “worked hand in hand with Ken Thompson to make the Brooklyn DA’s office a model for what an effective and progressive prosecutor’s office should be.”
Before Thompson’s untimely passing, Gonzalez rose to second-in-command as Thompson’s Chief Assistant. Prior to that, he had worked as a prosecutor under various DA administrations in Brooklyn over the past 22 years.
“I’m here because I want four more years to continue the important work we started,” the DA hopeful said.
Addressing his supporters Wednesday at Restoration Plaza in Bedford Stuyvesant, Gonzalez also mentioned his recent plans to overhaul the way his office prosecutes undocumented immigrants.
“A low level offense shouldn’t result in a family member, or a member of our community, being torn apart from their community by misguided policies,” he told the crowd, to cheers.
Gonzalez also newly announced an intention to vacate 750,000 summons warrants, so that a 10-year-old warrant for “a $25 fine doesn’t land anyone in jail.”
Despite only just announcing his candidacy, the democrat has already raised nearly $1 million in campaign funds, according to law enforcement sources.
He’s also been heavily endorsed by Thompson’s widow, Lu-Shawn Thompson, who told those in attendance at Gonzalez’s Wednesday announcement to vote for The Acting DA and continue her husband’s legacy.
Public Advocate Letitia James and the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association have also publicly come out to endorse Gonzalez.
Yet Gonzalez’s five months in office have not been without hiccups.
As the Post reported, he dis-invited his predecessor’s mother, Clara Thompson, from a dedication in honor of her son after Lu-Shawn threatened to pull out from the ceremony. Clara and Lu-Shawn have been embroiled in a nasty surrogates court battle over Thompson’s estate since his death.
Gonzalez’s campaign consultant is none other than political spinstress Lis Smith, former gal pal of disgraced ex-governor Eliot Spitzer. Smith was dumped from Mayor De Blasio’s campaign after The Post exclusively published shots of her entering the pad of the then-married luv gov. She’s previously helped elect U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D), and State Senator Marisol Alcantra, among others.
Other candidates for Brooklyn DA so far include Democrats Patricia Gatling, Marc Fliedner, Anne Swern, Vincent Gentile, and Ama Dwimoh.
Arthur Aidala and Arnie Kriss are also rumored to be mulling a run.