Jackie Gordon Steps Down From Town Council To Run For Congress

TOWN OF BABYLON, NY - Jackie Gordon officially stepped down from her position as Town of Babylon councilwoman and will also be retiring from her job as a guidance counselor this month in order to focus on her run for Congress.

Gordon (D) made the announcement at the most recent town board meeting last Thursday. She is running for the second congressional district seat currently occupied by longtime U.S. Rep. Pete King, who announced in November he will not be seeking re-election this year. The district covers Levittown, North Wantagh, Seaford, South Farmingdale and Massapequa. Suffolk County communities include Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst, Gilgo, West Babylon, Wyandanch, North Babylon, Babylon, Baywood, Brentwood, Brightwaters, Central Islip, Islip, Great River, Ocean Beach, Oakdale, West Sayville, Bohemia, West Islip and Ronkonkoma.

The Copiague resident told Patch she found it necessary to step down after serving since 2007, because found she it difficult to both run for Congress and have another job at the same time.

"Fortunately for me I'm at a stage in my life I can retire and run [for Congress]," she said.

According to Gordon, the law doesn't specify that a candidate must be employed, but rather states that a candidate must have an independent source of wealth.

"It's not impossible, but its quite difficult," she said. "But I'm opting to do this so I can focus on this congressional race and make sure I can win so that I can give the residents in the second district the best representation."

Former Suffolk Legislator Duwayne Gregory, will be leaving his position to take Gordon's place on the Babylon Town Board. He will officially be appointed on Jan. 15. So far, Gordon says she has been receiving positive feedback from the local community, even having one "die-hard" Bernie Sanders supporter tell her "you have my vote," she told Patch.

"Everyone that I have encountered been extremely supportive," she said. "I've represented the Town of Babylon for 13 years and was involved in the community prior, so they know me. They know who I am as an individual so they know that I have their best interest at heart.

Gordon also says that as an immigrant, black woman, single mom and veteran, she has experiences that her opponents might not have had.

"I've had a wealth of experiences from my different careers over the past three decades," she said.