Cuomo Backs Activist Brown as Party Chief

Democratic Party activist Ronald H. Brown pocketed endorsements Wednesday from New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo and New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley in his bid to become the party’s next national chairman.

Cuomo, who once taught Brown at St. John’s University Law School, said his former student would be “superb” as head of the Democrats. Bradley said Brown would bring “even-handed, fair and strong leadership in the years ahead.”

Neither Cuomo nor Bradley has a vote in the election to choose a new party leader next February, but both are influential with Democratic National Committee members from their own states and are well-known nationally.

Shortly after Cuomo issued his endorsement, New York Democratic Chairman Laurence J. Kirwan, an ally of the governor, said he would vote for Brown.

Brown is one of five contenders in the race to replace outgoing party Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. The others are Michigan Democratic Chairman Richard Wiener and former Reps. James R. Jones of Oklahoma, Michael D. Barnes of Maryland and James V. Stanton of Ohio.

Brown is best known for serving as the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s top aide at last summer’s Democratic National Convention, but he has also worked for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and was active in Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis’ presidential campaign.