Ossining Candidate Faulted For 'Offensive' Tweets

OSSINING, NY — A candidate running for one of the two open seats on the Village Board is coming under fire for tweets deemed offensive in a growing political backlash. David Kezafrika, who will appear in November on the Working Families Party line, wrote posts with attitude about women, race and rape in the past year, The Northern Westchester Examiner reported.

The article quoted a resident saying the tweets had been circulating among local women upset by "the darkness and rancor."

“Those tweets, as unprofessional as they are, they don’t represent the deep respect I have for my community,” Kezafrika told the paper.

Read the full article on the The Northern Westchester Examiner here.

Kezafrika, 29, is a graduate of Ossining High School. He holds a Bachelors of Science from SUNY Albany and a Masters of Engineering from City College of New York.

Ossining Mayor Victoria Gearity issued a statement:

“I would like to join with my fellow members of the Town of Ossining Democratic Committee and Chairwoman Thomasina Laidley-Brown in denouncing the offensive tweets made by Working Families Party trustee candidate David Kezafrika.

Our community is one of hope, diversity, aspirations and families. We are a village that works together and is stronger because of our diversity. Comments that disparage women and those of different races have no place in Ossining Village government.

I will continue to focus on Ossining’s strengths, and engage all of our community in planning an even brighter future together. I am proud to stand on my record of leading a progressive government that is inclusive, fiscally responsible, and supportive of local businesses.”

Kezafrika is running on the Working Families line with Omar Herrera, a trustee seeking the mayoralty who lost to Gearity in a contentious Democratic primary.

SEE: Kezafrika Announces Run for Ossining Village Board