 During the primary, Major Owens called Yassky a "colonizer", Al Sharpton called Yassky "greedy", and City Council member Albert Vann sent an email to black elected officials stating that "we are in peril of losing a 'Voting Rights' district ... as a result of the well financed candidacy of Council Member David Yassky, a white individual".The area had been represented by black politicians since the election of Shirley Chisholm in 1968.On August 30, 2006, "The New York Times" endorsed Yassky, citing his "stellar record on the Council" and criticizing his rivals for not making a substantial case for their election, and the Democratic leadership within Brooklyn for failing to find qualified black candidates for this seat.