Dinowitz is Ben Franklin Club choice

As expected, Eric Dinowitz has earned the endorsement of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, picking up 117 of a possible 143 votes.

That means the club’s resources — including physical office space and volunteers to help with petitioning — will be at Dinowitz’s disposal as he makes a run to replace former city councilman Andrew Cohen. He was elected as a judge to the Bronx Supreme Court last November.

Also receiving votes from the club were  Dan Padernacht, Mino Lora and Jessica Haller — all whom informed the club before the results they were no longer seeking the endorsement. They and others in the council race claimed the Ben Franklin Club changed its voting rules without following its bylaws, and called its decision to not vote on new leadership for the club un-democratic.

Eric Dinowitz is the son of longtime Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who has provided more than $60,000 in campaign funds to the club over the last decade, according to financial filings — more than any other political candidate during that period.

Instead of in-person voting, the Ben Franklin Club allowed members to cast endorsement ballots absentee. Michael Heller, the club’s president — who previously donated to Dinowitz’s campaign — told The Riverdale Press that 163 total ballots were requested, and 143 were returned. None of the ballots were rejected.

Ariana Collado now leading Bronx Dems

The chief of staff to former councilman Andrew Cohen has landed a new gig — executive director of the Bronx Democratic County Committee.

Ariana Collado takes on the role just days after Cohen stepped down to take his seat on the Bronx Supreme Court.

“She is a dynamic, hard-working and tenacious woman who is committed to moving the Bronx forward and stronger every single day,” said state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, the Bronx Democrats chair, in a release. “Ariana is incredibly well-respected and will continue to do amazing things for this borough.”

Collado already began work on creating an advisory board for the countywide party apparatus, Bailey said, intended to help the group in its decision-making.

“Now more than ever it is important that we all work together,” Collado said, in a release. “The past presidential administration left many individuals with a desire to engage in the democratic process, and we need to create opportunities for those who want to participate.”