Lincoln Restler
Member of the New York City Council
from the 33rd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
Preceded byStephen Levin
Personal details
Born (1984-03-19) March 19, 1984 (age 39)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBrown University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Lincoln P. Restler (born March 19, 1984) is a politician and civil servant from New York City, who is a member of the New York City Council for the 33rd district which covers Greenpoint, parts of Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and other Downtown neighborhoods in northern Brooklyn. Restler co-founded reform political club, New Kings Democrats, and was a New York State Democratic District Leader. He held several positions in municipal government before running for City Council.

Early life and education

Restler grew up in Brooklyn Heights[1] on Pierrepoint Street with an older sister.[2] Restler is Jewish and attended the Reform Brooklyn Heights Synagogue in his youth.[3]

He attended the Packer Collegiate Institute[4] and graduated from Brown University in 2006.[4][5][6] He was schoolmates with future political adversary and eventual Council predecessor, Stephen Levin.[7]

Career

Restler became involved in politics while in undergrad with the Providence, Rhode Island City Council re-election campaign of David Segal,[6] and in the 2008 presidential primary supporting Barack Obama.[5][8]

He worked for the City of New York as an employee at the Department of Small Business Services and Department of Consumer Protection.[9] Restler co-founded reform club New Kings Democrats in 2008, and worked in the Bill de Blasio administration.[1][4][5][10] He worked on the de Blasio campaign and as senior policy advisor to the mayor.[9][11]

In 2020, Restler resigned from the de Blasio administration and joined the St. Nicks Alliance.[12]

Elected office

Restler was elected District Leader in the 50th Assembly District in 2010 when he was 26.[8][13][14] His run was largely a rebuke of former Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez's attempt to shut reformers out and hold onto power while facing sexual harassment allegations.[15] He was supported by U.S. Representative Nydia Velasquez and then-City Councilmember Tish James.[14] Restler lost the seat in 2012 to Chris Olechowski, a community organizer backed by Lopez, by 19 votes.[13]

In 2021, Restler defeated seven other candidates to win the Democratic nomination, and ran in the November general unopposed.[16] He received endorsements from State Senators Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport, the Working Families Party, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Velasquez.[17] In the 7th round of ranked choice voting, he prevailed over closest candidate Elizabeth Adams 63%-37%.[18]

Election history

Location Year Election Results
NYC Council
District 33 		2021 Democratic Primary √ Lincoln Restler 50.3%%
Elizabeth Adams 21.7%
Victoria Cambranes 7.3%
Sabrina Gates 5.7%
Toba Potosky 5.6%
April Somboun 5.2%
Stu Sherman 4.1%
Ben Solotaire 2.1%[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Glesby, Laura (June 13, 2021). "Crowded Field Competes to Represent Brooklyn Waterfront in City Council". Gotham Gazette.
  2. ^ "My Story | Lincoln Restler for City Council".
  3. ^ Silow-Carroll, Andrew (2022-02-09). "How this Jewish politician in Brooklyn wins friends among progressives and the haredi Orthodox". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  4. ^ a b c Richardson, Clem (October 2, 2008). "Brooklynites write a new chapter on giving back". New York Daily News.
  5. ^ a b c Rock, Michael (2 October 2020). "Lincoln Restler Runs for City Council". politicsny.com.
  6. ^ a b Yurdin, Seth; Bass, Dan; Luna, Miguel; Sperber, Elizabeth; Restler, Lincoln (December 1, 2005). "How Segal fights for the local community". Brown Daily Herald.
  7. ^ Short, Aaron (February 17, 2011). "Bedfellows! Rival pols Levin, Restler battle — together and apart — to move MTA bus depot • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com.
  8. ^ a b Cole, Williams (August 1, 2012). "Bucking Brooklyn's Machine LINCOLN RESTLER with Williams Cole". The Brooklyn Rail.
  9. ^ a b Barkan, Ross (March 11, 2014). "Lincoln Restler Joins de Blasio Administration". The New York Observer.
  10. ^ Barkan, Ross (March 11, 2014). "Lincoln Restler Joins de Blasio Administration". Times Union.
  11. ^ Tracy, Matt (November 17, 2016). "De Blasio Adviser Will Not Be Fired Over Protest Sign Dissing White People". Tribeca-FiDi, NY Patch.
  12. ^ Richling, Billy (May 25, 2021). "District 33 Council Candidates Have Big Plans for Climate Resiliency". Bklyner.
  13. ^ a b Silva, Daniella (October 17, 2012). "Recount Ousts a Brooklyn District Leader by 19 Votes". The New York Times.
  14. ^ a b Stewart, Henry (October 15, 2010). "At the Lincoln Restler Victory Party: North Brooklyn's Obama?". The L Magazine.
  15. ^ "Critics Say Assemblyman Vito Lopez Is On Blatant Power Grab". CBS New York. September 6, 2012.
  16. ^ "Lincoln Restler". Ballotpedia.
  17. ^ Shahrigian, Shant (January 10, 2021). "Local liberal stars endorse Lincoln Restler for NYC Council". New York Daily News.
  18. ^ Hoeffner, Melissa Kravitz (July 6, 2021). "Lincoln Restler Wins District 33 City Council Primary". Greenpointers.
  19. ^ "2021 Primary Official Ranked Choice Rounds, DEM Council Member 33rd Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
Categories