Critic of Mayor Bloomberg gets nod from group linked to him

Jesse A. Ward for New York Daily News

Brooklyn Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries has won support of StudentsFirstNY.

ALBANY ? A new education reform group with ties to Mayor Bloomberg is backing Brooklyn Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries in a congressional primary ? even though he has often been at odds with Hizzoner.

In its first foray into electoral politics since being created this year, StudentsFirstNY has launched a six-figure ?independent expenditure campaign? in support of Jeffries, who is running in a Democratic primary to replace the retiring Rep. Edolphus Towns.

Making an independent expenditure allows a group to avoid a lower donation limit as long as it has no direct involvement in the candidate?s campaign.

Jeffries is battling City Councilman Charles Barron ? himself an outspoken Bloomberg critic.

Jeffries sued to stop Bloomberg?s appointment of Cathie Black as schools chancellor and sought a moratorium on school closures. But the group cites his

support of charter schools and other student-choice options. It plans district mailings on his behalf, and possibly radio ads, leading up to the June 26 primary. A mailing set to go out Monday touts Jeffries? effort to ?create more quality school options for Brooklyn families.?

The race is also the only Democratic congressional primary in the city where the powerful city teachers union is not backing a candidate.

?While others try to punish Assemblyman Jeffries for putting children?s interests first, we are making it clear that legislators like him will have support,? said Micah Lasher, StudentsFirstNY?s executive director, who was formerly Bloomberg?s chief Albany lobbyist.

klovett@nydailynews.com

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