Jeffries: Towns' Seniority 'A Race Car With No Engine'

Rep. Ed Towns, D-Brooklyn, isn't taking any kind of criticism over his record lying down.

On Thursday, the veteran Congressman's camp sent a fiery response to a snippet of an interview posted on the City and State blog that had insurgent Assembly Democrat Hakeem Jeffries sharply attacking Towns' 30-year tenure in the U.S. House.

"Seniority without action is like a race car with no engine," Jeffries said. "It looks nice on the outside, but then you get inside. And you realize that it’s got no ability to get you anywhere."

The response from Towns was equally forceful.

"My opponent may denigrate the seniority process but he would soon learn if he ever becomes a member of the House of Representatives, that it takes time to prove your worth," Towns said. "My seniority gave me the opportunity to become chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, but you don’t become chairman if you are the type to fall asleep at the wheel."

Jeffries' statement hits to the core of what looks to be his incumbent opponent's main pitch to constituents to return to Washington, D.C. for a 16th term—his powerful status as a member of the Democratic leadership.

However, since the Republican takeover of the chamber in 2010, Towns seemed to have lost some of his luster with party powerbrokers like Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

In a move that raised a few eyebrows among Washington insiders, Towns did not become ranking member of the committee he once chaired, as is customary when a party loses control of Congress.

But as one of the chamber's longest serving members, Towns retains much of his influence, especially when it comes to funding pet projects in his district.

The latest back and forth between the two camps comes as Jeffries prepared to formally announce an endorsement from Communication Workers of America District 1 in front of City Hall on Friday.

The thumbs-up from CWA is the Assemblyman's third major union endorsement in his primary bid against Towns.