Posted on 06/21/2002 5:23:56 AM PDT by areafiftyone
(New York-AP) -- A state senator who switched to the Republican Party months ago is suing members of the Bronx Democratic County Committee because they're trying to oust him from his old party.
Pedro Espada Junior says his First Amendment rights were violated when the party decided to try to eliminate him from eligibility in the Democratic primary. But the Democrats were upset that Espada had switched allegiances to the Republican caucus and now sits with the G-O-P in the chamber.
Espada filed his lawsuit today in U-S District Court in Manhattan. In it, he says he joined the Republican majority after concluding that it was the best way to help his district -- one of the state's poorest.
He says that since doing so in February, he has brought (M) millions of dollars to his district for existing and new programs.
The lawsuit says the committee had notified Espada that he'll be subject to a party loyalty hearing that could lead to his dismissal from the Democratic Party.
It said Espada was being treated unfairly in a state in which legislative candidates are frequently cross-endorsed by parties other than their own.
Espada served in the Senate from 1993-96, was ousted by Democrat David Rosado in 1996 and won back the seat after a 2000 primary rematch.
He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Bronx borough president last year.
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