‘$hady’ B’klyn Dem quits after 43 years

A Democratic district leader in Brooklyn has decided not to seek re-election after 43 years on the job — four days after The Post revealed he spent campaign funds on car payments, perfume, cigars and clothes.

Jacob Gold, who has held the low-level party position since 1975, is dropping out of this year’s race because “it doesn’t take much to get a 73-year-old guy to conclude that he doesn’t need the aggravation,” said Howard Graubard, his political consultant.

In a statement, Gold said he was ending his longtime elective stint even though he had “never done anything illegal, immoral or even remotely unethical.”

“My ability to continue to support these progressive values have been disparaged by an attempt to question my integrity,” he wrote. “I assure you that I have never done anything illegal, immoral or even remotely unethical. To avoid any further distractions from the genuine issues in the coming campaign, I am choosing not to seek re-election.”

District leaders are unpaid representatives of their political party, but the position often serves as a stepping stone to higher office.

Records show Gold spent $132,432 in campaign funds from 2007 through 2017, including $16,652 in payments for his Honda; $2,876 on clothing; $536 at a Bensonhurst perfume retailer; more than $15,000 on meals and $102 for cigars.

Loose election rules allow spending on any “campaign-related” expenses but not on personal expenses.

Gold insisted he obeyed the rules, saying the car expenses were “nothing out of the ordi- nary,” the perfume was a door prize at his political club and most of the meal money went to a diner where much of his political work was done.

“This is an obvious witch hunt deposited at The Post’s door as a political hit,” Gold said when his spending habits were disclosed Tuesday.

A real-estate agent and former schoolteacher, Gold had been expected to compete in this year’s Democratic primary against a political newcomer, Park Slopebased lawyer Douglas Schneider.

With Gold out of the race, Schneider has no opponent.

Schneider on Friday said he wanted “to thank Jake Gold for his decades of service to our community and I wish him well.”

Although state law allows for wide latitude on campaign spending, there are limits.

In March, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas was arrested and charged with stealing campaign funds for personal use. He pleaded not guilty Friday.

I have never done anything illegal, immoral or even remotely unethical. — Brooklyn Democratic district leader Jacob Gold (left)