NEW YORK, NY October 21, 2005 —The embattled Brooklyn Democratic Party has chosen a new leader to succeed Clarence Norman, who was convicted earlier this month of violating election law. WNYC's Fred Mogul has more.

Bushwick Assemblyman Vito Lopez easily defeated two other district leaders to assume his local party's top spot. After a two-hour closed door meeting in the Brooklyn Heights diner where the Kings County Democrats do most of their business, Lopez emerged to greet a handful of cheering supporters. He said the party needs to restore its respectability.

He called for regular outside audits, greater fiscal transparency, and a "blue ribbon panel" to vet judicial candidates, whose road to the Brooklyn bench traditionally goes through the party leader's office. He assumes the scandal-tainted office amid allegations that he has improperly billed the Assembly for travel expenses, something he vigorously denies.

The one-time ally of Republican Al D'Amato says his first task is to get voters to the polls on November 8th to elect Democrats and then try to ensure the next Council speaker comes from Brooklyn. For WNYC, I'm Fred Mogul.