The leading Democratic candidates vying to succeed retiring Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel in Congress said Police Commissioner Bill Bratton should resign in the wake of police corruption scandals.
During a debate sponsored by NY1 Monday night, the seven candidates were asked point blank if Bratton should go.
Sen. Adrian Espaillat, Assemblyman Keith Wright and former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV all said without hesitation that Bratton should step down.
Powell said his displeasure with Bratton goes beyond the NYPD corruption arrests announced earlier Monday.
“Bratton has been difficult in changing misdemeanor offenses to violations. The corruption arrests just adds fuel to the fire,” Powell IV, whose father preceded Rangel in Congress, said after the 90-minute debate at Hostos Community College.
Two other candidates hedged. Clyde Williams and Suzan Johnson Cook, said a Bratton exit should be considered.
But Assemblyman Gullermo Linares was the only candidate who stood by Bratton, giving a terse “no” to his ouster.
Afterwards, Linares said Bratton has done a good job and it was wrong to judge him based on a few arrests.
“To take a slap like that is unfair. He’s doing a good job in keeping the city safe. We’re the number one target for terrorism,” Linares.
“You have to look at the entire forest, not just one tree. It’s about safety.”
The seventh candidate, Mike Gallagher, deferred to Mayor de Blasio.
Rangel, 86, first elected to Congress since 1971, is retiring at year’s end.
The 13th congressional district is a Democratic stronghold taking in norther Manhattan and the portions of the western Bronx. The winner of the Democratic primary on June 28 will be a shoo-in to be the next congressman.
Espaillat, who narrowly lost to Rangel in two previous primary challenges and Wright, who is backed by Rangel and much of the party establishment, are considered the leading candidates.
Powell, the former East Harlem assemblyman and councilman, also ha s strong name recognition.
Williams, a former aide to Bill Clinton and President Obama who ran for the Rangel seat in 2012, has been a strong fund-raiser.
Johnson Cook the only woman in the race, is a former ambassador who served in the Clinton and Obama administrations.
In other matters, the candidates were asked if they ever voted for a Republican.
Powell said he supported former Mayor Rudy Giuilani’s re-election in 1997. Williams said he backed former Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s re-election.