Brannan staffer Kayla Santosuosso wins Council District 47 race

Kayla Santosuosso with Councilmember Justin Brannan following her victory. Photo courtesy of Councilmember Justin Brannan’s Facebook page

SOUTHWESTERN BROOKLYN — DEMOCRAT KAYLA SANTOSUOSSO represents another historic win in Brooklyn’s City Council District 47, which stretches from Bath Beach to Gravesend, Coney Island and Sea Gate, reported City & State. She will become the first woman to represent District 47 in the City Council in January.

Santosuosso served as chief counsel to outgoing Councilmember Justin Brannan, who was term-limited. She has experience working in the Arab American community (and received her degree in Middle Eastern studies in college), and will represent an ethnically-diverse district which has historically significant Irish, Italian, Greek, Arab, Chinese, Arab, Puerto Rican, Black, Jewish and Russian populations. Last year she was elected president of the Bay Ridge Democrats, which Brennan founded with State Senator Andrew Gounardes.

Even though her opponent, Republican-Conservative George Sarantopoulos, raised significantly more funding, Santosuosso had the support and endorsements of several prominent unions, among them 1199 SEIU, the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY, District Council 37, the New York Immigration Coalition and the United Federation of Teachers.

Santosuosso’s win also reflects a trend in which council staff members run for their boss’ seats, usually with their support, as City Councilmembers are limited to two consecutive four-year terms.

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