Assemblyman Jeffries stands in front of over 150 family, friends and supporters to announce his candida cy. ©Patrick Boyle Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-57th N.Y.) joined with supporters on the steps of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall on a bitter cold Sunday to announce his run for New York’s 10th Congressional District now held by Edolphus “Ed” Towns.

Congressman Towns, up for reelection, is seeking his sixteenth two-year term representing a geographic zig-zag cutting through Brooklyn neighborhoods including Williamsburgh, Bushwick, East New York, and Canarsie.

“Washington is broken,” said Jeffries. “Congress is dysfunctional. People are suffering. We deserve more.” Jeffries promised to be a voice in Washington to take on issues including affordable housing, crime, education, and unemployment.

“President Obama is being opposed by Congressional Republicans for trying to address routine matters like raising the debt ceiling. Ronald Reagan raised the debt ceiling 18 times during his presidency and is viewed as a conservative icon,” Jeffries said to laughter and applause.

Jeffries was joined by a diverse number of groups within the 10th Congressional District. Kenneth Thompson, the civil-rights attorney who represented the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault case introduced Jeffries.

“Hakeem has shown tremendous leadership in Albany by addressing the local affordable housing crisis and stopping prison-based gerrymandering,” said Thompson. “It’s time for a change.”

After having lost to Assemblyman Roger Green in previous election tries, Jeffries stepped up to Albany after defeating Bill Batson in 2006. Jeffries’ claim to legislative fame was sponsoring a law prohibiting the NYPD from retaining names of citizens in a database after having been “stopped and frisked.” Governor David Paterson signed the bill into law in July 2010.

Charles Barron, a democratic councilman representing the 42nd District in New York City’s city council, is also vying for Towns’ seat in Congress. A three-way democratic primary will most likely be held in September 2012.