Okay; so Congressman Ed Towns may fire me from the present campaign after he reads this column; that’s not my intent, but I have always been one to call a spade a spade and at this stage of my life I don’t see that changing. In the 40th Assembly District both Congressman Ed Towns and New York City councilmember Charles Barron have done someone wrong. And it didn’t start with this year’s race. The person wronged is Kenneth S. Evans.

Does this mean that I no longer support Ed Towns for re-election: hell no. Towns is the superior candidate this year; and it isn’t even close. That’s the main reason why I accepted his offer to join his campaign this year. From my qualified position, he is the better candidate: period. Kevin Powell is not ready. Plus; during these fiscal hard times do you really want a rookie in Congress? Ed Towns has brought home billions of dollars for Brooklyn over the years; he will continue to do so: Powell is not the answer.

Look, it is tough to work on campaigns during the “silly season”, while at the same time trying to maintain your blogging integrity. It could become a juggling act. Sometimes people will want you to stay off the hard stuff. But you know me, I give it straight with no chaser. I guess that’s why I am “persona-non-gratis” in some political circles. They won’t hire me but they sure love to read my columns; some of them just can’t get enough of my funky stuff.

Okay, let’s start with Ken Evans. He is the former head of what some say is the oldest civil rights group in the country: the Urban League. Today, many years after his tenure there, programs which he started in the district back then, are still in existence. He has been a political activist all his life. He is the father of three kids (one son and two daughters). One of his daughters is an attorney and heading for a PHD; the other is a doctor; his son is still a kid. He has done a wonderful job with his kids. He once served on the board of the Police Athletic League; he has great ideas for youth development; he also has great ideas for community development, and education, and health care, and affordable housing, and senior citizens; and you name it.

He is a very intelligent man. He graduated from Seton Hall Law School. He is calm, cool and respectable. But he has a flaw (in my estimation) and it has to do with trust. He will tell you straight that he doesn’t trust politicians. He is highly suspicious of their true motives and intent. And although his position-take isn’t totally irrational, I think it does cause him problems, and that politically it might have cost him dearly in the past. Plus he is very reserved.

You see to me, you must take your chances and trust people. Some will disappoint you, others will betray you, and others yet still will hurt you (emotionally and otherwise). But that is life and that is living. You learn and you grow. Sometimes you even forgive. When people sense your distrust they return the favor ten fold. It’s a no-win for you.

Two years ago, while working on his last campaign (Director of Field Operations), I went to a church in the district (East New York) and heard a reverend -who hadn’t seen him for umpteen years- singing his praises. The reverend spoke freely about how Evans and his dad were marching for civil rights when Ken was just a teenager. I was impressed; this guy has dedicated his life to political activism. It’s admirable. I am told that the prominent and eminent Reverend Gardiner Taylor is his adoptive father. He is from good stock.

Ken works well with people of all religions, races, nationalities and ethnicities. I have heard blacks, whites, Jews, Hispanics and others, speak highly of him and his ability to problem-solve. He is well liked by those who get to know him, but he is guarded with himself. He is a very private person and I don’t know if politics is the game for his type of reservedness. People he has helped and done wonderful things for, sing his praises highly. There are many.

One of the many hats he wears is that of a recruiter for colleges, medical schools, law schools , nursing schools, etc. he has helped many youngsters get into these and other professions. Many of them live in the 40th district; hopefully some of them will take time off from their jobs and come help him get elected here.

Ken is an attorney and a health care expert. He has sat on the board of directors of many hospitals in New York State. He is a policy wonk who knows the in and out workings of government, exceptionally well. He has lived in Starrett City for about three decades. Back in 1994, he rose up to challenge Assemblyman Anthony “Big Tony” Genovese and the famous Jefferson Political Club. He filed petitions against one of their members, State Senator Howard Babboush. After he filed at the Board of Elections, Ken found words painted on his door threatening him to get out of both Starrett City and Carnarsie. He faced death threats and intimidation from folks unknown, faceless and nameless. When he went to court to face the perfunctory legal challenges to his petitions, he was confronted by a battery of about fifteen lawyers. He was dragged through the mud (court system). Eventually he was kicked off the ballot based on something called: “methodology”. Back in those days it was much harder to make the ballot than it is today. Now Ken Evans is a petition expert; ask Charles Barron -he knows.

Ken’s challenge to Howie B opened up the way for another black to challenge and eventually whip the incumbent, in an area where the demographics had changed over time; making the district a majority-minority one. The incumbent had the worst attendance record in Albany for years. The incumbent is now deceased; he was very sick for quite some time, missed many votes and was even charged with corruption. In 1996, Evans was shafted by some of the district leaders in areas that touched the senate seat. Two well known leaders (who will remain nameless for this piece) gave him a list of political operatives he had to dole out money to, if Evans wanted to secure their support. He was given names of lawyers he had to use, people he had to hire and political clubs he had to grease (if you know what I mean). Evans -being the strong independent man he is- didn’t play ball. He essentially told them what part of his anatomy to kiss. He is a man of my ilk. Lovely.

In the end these same leaders and a few elected officials, came up with a neophyte named John Sampson, behind whom they threw their support. Sampson was a late entrant to the race and he won. I supported John Sampson that time (I didn’t know Ken well enough then). I had worked with John on a political campaign a few years earlier, and he was -and still is- a very likeable young man. It was neither the first nor the last time that Evans was shafted in politics.

In 1997, when insurgents were lining up to support Charles Barron over the NYC councilwoman (incumbent) Pricilla Wooten, I brought Ken Evans along. Evans supported Barron all the way from there to his 2001 victory. In fact he was the petition co-coordinator for Barron’s successful campaign. He charged Barron zero dollars for the harrowing and tiring job.

From 1997 thru 2001 insurgents got together to plan out strategies for reforming Brooklyn’s politics, in a series of bi-weekly meetings. I headed the effort. Included in this group were folks like James Davis (deceased), Julia James, Stanley Kinard, Ken Evans, Pam Miller, Charles Barron, Wellington Sharpe and many many others. We all agreed to support each other whenever we run against these inept incumbents. The hope was that we could build a movement that would reform Brooklyn’s political cesspool.

In 2002 Ken Evans challenged Diane Gordon (incumbent/ 40thAD) for the first time: Charles Barron refused to support him. He didn’t support him in 2006 either; even when Diane had been indicted for attempted bribery and such; even when there was videotape evidence of Diane’s indiscretions and proclivities. Last April, Diane Gordon was found guilty. She has been sentenced to up to six years in prison.

In 2002, Barron was deathly scared that Diane Gordon would run against him the following year, so he shafted Ken. It was a selfish decision based on cowardice and survival. When I claimed that it was a cowardly decision -in an article I did a couple years ago- some of Barron’s people called me a fool. To this day many in his camp have frozen up on me; people I worked hard and long with to get Charles elected in 2001, 2003 and 2005. And yet Barron has never disputed my claim. I am ready willing and able to debate this issue with him, and also bring as many witnesses as needed to back up my claim: any day, anytime and anyplace.

Barron claimed that Ken was too close to Ed Towns/LMAO. He also claimed that Ken started the challenge too late, and that he was going to lose the race anyway. He further interjected that he hardly ever saw Ken involved in community affairs. He said he never saw him at community board meetings, or out on issues like police-brutality etc. For Ken’s part, he has been out on issues all his life.

Then this year Charles Barron supports and endorses Kevin Powell for Congress; a man who has never been out on anything, or been anywhere, or done anything in the political trenches of Brooklyn, besides chasing cameras for self-aggrandizing reasons. And as you see I am stating this loud and clear and without fear. The truth is the truth. Let Barron come up here and deny all this. Now this year Barron runs his wife instead of supporting Ken Evans (again) -but then Ken hasn’t asked Barron for his support since 2002.

Look; it’s Barron’s prerogative to run his wife; she is highly educated and quite capable of handling the job as assemblywoman. If Ken Evans doesn’t win this race then Inez Barron will fit the bill; the only thing is that in such an event: Charles will never shut up again. As to the race itself, I think it is between Earl Williams (2to1), Inez Barron (3to1) and Ken Evans (6to1): this is my idea of the top three and their probable odds of winning. The other three candidates will not be there at the finish.

So how does Ed Towns come into all this? For years whenever I asked Ed Towns to support Ken Evans for the 40th Assembly District, he was always quick to tell me how far back they go. He always promised to support Ken. He even told many people that he was supporting him; but he never has. Both Ed and his son Darryl have told me personally, that “Ken Evans is like family”. And yet, Ed has never endorsed Ken in any race he has ever run. Barron has repeated a mantra, in order to appease his conscience: “Ken Evans is one of the many people that Ed Towns controls in this district”. It’s a lie. Ken is a very independent person. He is chip from my block. We strive for independence, while willing to work with anyone in the best interest(s) of the community.

I believe that Ed knows fully well that Ken is by far the best qualified candidate in this race this year, but instead of breaking with tradition and going against the old district leader: he falls right in with the old machine politics. It is understandable on a certain political level; but to me, it is personally disappointing. Just last week the congressman told we that whenever Ken runs for public office, all he needs to do is run on his record, qualifications and accomplishments; maybe the next time Ken runs (if he doesn’t win this race) the congressman will build the support for him; from the clergy, to the unions, to the fundraising, and to the public and elected officials: he owes Ken one.

Okay; so the congressman may get angry when he reads this column, but I wanted him (and many others) to know how I feel: and now he does. By the way, I am e-mailing this directly to him. As I always say: I give it straight with no chaser.

Stay tuned-in folks; I am not finished with this race in the 40thAD as yet. It is still a long way to Tipperary.

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