NYC comptroller candidate boasts 70 endorsements from faith leaders — but some have never heard of him
City comptroller candidate Justin Brannan's campaign boasted about the 'major show of grassroots support' from bishops, pastors and reverends in a since-deleted social media post last Wednesday, but some religious leaders immediately wondered how they even ended up on the list.
'This man is unknown to me and I did not grant permission for my name to be listed. I'm not endorsing ANYONE!' Bishop E.M. Davis – who was listed as Pastor Joon Davis – posted on Facebook.
3 Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) is term-limited and running to be the NYC Comptroller.
Paul Martinka
'This endorsement was made without my permission,' Rev. Diamond Clinton-White – who was listed as Rev. Diamond Clinton – posted in an Instagram story.
Roughly a dozen religious leaders said they had been listed as supporting Brannan — who is now a member of the City Council — to be the next fiscal watchdog without being contacted by the campaign.
The Post spoke to four of the faith leaders upset that their names were used to endorse a candidate without their permission.
'It's just awkward and I felt violated,' Bishop Davis said.
3 The social post has since been taken down.
3 The campaign stumble comes as Brannan tries to make up ground with a large swatch of undecided voters.
Tyshaun Brown/Facebook
Pastor Louis Bligen, who only learned he was on the list when contacted for comment, felt like the comptroller was being forced onto him.
'I don't appreciate that. Let me make my own decision,' Pastor Bligen said.
A spokesperson for Brannan's campaign blamed the gaffe on an external vendor who was tasked with drumming up support for religious leaders.
The endorsement announcement has since been taken down and the campaign is trying to verify who had and hadn't voiced support for Brannan, the spokesperson said.
'This happens. We have big support among faith leaders, but the tweet is down for now while we update the list,' the spokesperson said.
The news comes with just over a week left in the Democratic primary as Brannan, who is term-limited, tries to win over the nearly one-third of undecided voters.
The frontrunner, current Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, polled at 44% compared to Brannan's 14% in a Honan Strategy Group poll from June 11. Brannan also dropped an internal poll last week that had him trailing Levine by 11 percentage points with 44% of voters still undecided.
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