Freelance filmmaker and former District 11 City Council candidate, Kevin Pazmino, has confirmed that he is running for office, once again, this time in Assembly District 81, currently represented by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Pazmino ran unsuccessfully on the Republican Party and Conservative Party tickets in the 2021 City Council general election which was ultimately won by now Councilman Eric Dinowitz. Norwood News had reported recently that Pazmino’s name was being floated in the context of the 81st Assembly race but at that point, he had not formally confirmed his candidacy, though a PAC had been created in his name.

The candidate, who holds what many would arguably call controversial views when it comes to science, among other topics, told Norwood News on Friday, May 13, of his latest bid, “Yes, I am running under the Conservative party line. The Parents Party is also petitioning for me to be on their line . I was going to be on the Republican line but there was an issue with the paperwork.”

On April 20, the national Parent Party introduced a group of “Parent Party Democrats” who are running in Democratic primaries in New York who have taken the “Parent Party Pledge,” described as “empowering parents (school choice), empowering citizens (term limits) and supporting local law enforcement (opposing “Defund The Police” efforts).”

According to the Parent Party, political candidates who use the Parent Party fundraising platform can be registered Democrats, Republicans, independents or other third parties. Parent Party candidates agree to the following Parent Party Pledge:

Pledge #1: Educational Freedom and Independence

·         I support educational freedom and independence for parents by having their education funds follow the students based on their parents’ choice of schooling.

·         I support a full audit (academic, financial, and personnel) of the education system and schools to provide parents and the public with full transparency.

Pledge #2: Universal Term Limits

·         I support universal term limits for elected offices.

Pledge #3: Safe streets and schools

·         I support our local law enforcement, I oppose any efforts to defund police and public safety, knowing safe streets and safe schools are paramount to quality education.

In terms of his own campaign agenda for the assembly race, Pazmino said, “If elected, I will be looking to overturn/repeal cashless bail & The Less is More Act. I am looking to work to empower county sheriffs with the power to remove any elected official who doesn’t abide by their constitutional oaths of office, set term limits [for assembly members] and the implementation of a recall mechanism, remove all the mandates and reinstate religious medical exemption.”

He said he also aims to establish strong parental rights in children’s education. “I am for school choice where the money follows the student,” Pazmino said. “I want to audit all State and City government agencies, investigate the handling of the COVID-19 emergency, remove all immunity from elected officials, [and] help NYS recommit to the US constitution.”

Pazmino went on to day that he is opposed to any efforts to defund or underfund the criminal justice system. “I am looking to put a 10-year, up-zoning freeze [in place] with a focus on quality of life, during which time [I will] work with small landlords, corporations and private home owners and figure out a fair deal when building starts,” he said.

Speaking to Norwood News on Nov. 1, Pazmino previously said, “I would say if people are unhappy with the Democratic Party’s leadership, they should vote for change.” He added, “The progressive left has taken over the Democratic Party and are pushing to destroy our constitutional republic. They continue to step on our civil liberties with unconstitutional mandates. Their irresponsible spending.. is destroying our economy. If they (voters) want to bring back accountability to city council, they should vote for me.”

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.