Rev. Khader El-Yateem officially launched his run for the 43rd District Council seat in Brooklyn on Sunday, Feb. 26. (Photo by Gabe Carroll for Voices of NY)
Rev. Khader El-Yateem has taken the lead in fundraising for the Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights City Council seat race, according to New York City Campaign Finance Board figures reported in Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Kings County Politics.
Paula Katinas, writing in Brooklyn Daily Eagle, noted that “the pastor of Salaam Arabic Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge and a first-time candidate for public office, has raised an impressive $81,611.”
El-Yateem, a Democrat, said the CFB figures demonstrate that there is widespread, grass-roots support for his candidacy.
“We raised this money without the support of PACs, special interest groups or big corporations. My donors are deli owners, cab drivers, health professionals, teachers, parents and students, who are investing in a new political reality where all people in our district can thrive and live with dignity,” El-Yateem said in a statement.
Kings County Politics quoted El-Yateem as saying:
“I have to thank God for the great support. The [Arab] community have been waiting so long for somebody like me to support, and people are excited about my campaign in both my immediate community and the community at large,” said El-Yateem, Pastor of the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge.
“I have been serving this entire community for so long and I’m going to focus on the issues that are important to the entire community and represent the district to the best of my ability in the city council,” he added.
Runner-up and fellow Democrat Justin Brannan has raised $73,000 while Democrats Kevin Peter Carroll and Nancy Tong, have raised $26,701 and $4,170, respectively. Liam McCabe heads the pack of Republican candidates with $45,420.
The candidates are running to replace Vincent Gentile, who has held the 43rd District Council seat since 2003.