Union Leader: de Blasio’s Would-Be Challengers Need To ‘Grow A Pair’
During a recent cocktail party a boisterous anti-de Blasio labor leader growled that Comptroller Scott Stringer (and fellow Democrats: Diaz, Adams, James) should “grow a pair [of balls]” instead of waiting for indictments to drop before declaring their intentions. One partygoer offered the scenario of Public Advocate Tish James entering the fray if Stringer runs against Mayor de Blasio. The thinking is James could capitalize on a voter split between the two men. Meanwhile, former Kings County GOP leader Craig Eaton says he’s trying to recruit food and oil magnate John Catsimatidis to run again.
Michael Blake for DNC Picks Up Another Endorsement
Assemblyman Blake tweeted that Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon has endorsed him in his campaign for DNC Vice-Chair. Dillon’s support follows the endorsement of current Vice-Chair, R.T. Rybak, the former Minneapolis mayor. Queens Rep. Grace Meng — NY’s first Asian American Member of Congress — and current Vice-Chair stated in an email that she was seeking re-election to her DNC post.
2017 Candidates for City Council File With CFB
Last Friday, the NYC Campaign Finance Board published the names of candidates who have registered to participate in the public campaign finance program in their runs for City Council. We have compiled a list of such candidates and those rumored [“*”] to be interested in running in the Bronx. The next fundraising disclosure deadline is January 15, 2017. [H/t Gotham Gazette]
City Council District 8 – open seat
Diana Ayala, Democrat
Edward L. Gibbs, Democrat
Edward Santos, Democrat
City Council District 11
Andrew Cohen, Democrat, incumbent
City Council District 12
Andy King, Democrat, incumbent
City Council District 13 – open seat
John C. Doyle, Democrat
Alex A. Gomez, Democrat
John C. Marano, Democrat
Mark Gjonaj, Democrat — says he won’t seek public matching funds
Marjorie Velazquez, Democrat
John Cerini, Republican*
Alex Mici, Republican*
Lucia Grimaldi, Republican*
City Council District 14
Fernando Cabrera, Democrat, incumbent
City Council District 15
Ritchie Torres, Democrat, incumbent
City Council District 16
Vanessa Gibson, Democrat, incumbent
City Council District 17
Rafael Salamanca, Democrat, incumbent
City Council District 18 – open seat
Amanda Farias, Democrat
Elvin Garcia, Democrat
Michael Beltzer, Democrat*
Ruben Diaz, Sr., Democrat*
Manhattan Republican Mounts Campaign In Harlem’s 9th District
Dawn Simmons has filed with the Campaign Finance Board to run in the non-partisan special election for City Council (District 9) in Harlem. Inez Dickens is expected to resign her City Council seat around December 31st before taking office as a Member of the State Assembly. Mayor de Blasio is required by City Charter to call the special election in the first week of January. That special election would likely be called for late February 2017. The winner filling out Dickens unexpired term which ends December 31, 2017.
The regular primary and general elections will be in September and November 2017 for a new City Council four-year team.
Simmons’ career includes work as Wall Street analyst, a social worker, and as a teacher and educator in New York City. District 9 runs from 110th Street to the Southern reaches of Washington Heights and encompasses much of central Harlem.
Bronx Republicans Choose New Leader, Bronx Election Commissioner
Two weeks ago, Bronx Republicans replaced outgoing GOP chairman John Greaney with businessman Michael Rendino. Rendino was most recently the Republican commissioner on the NYC Board of Elections representing the Bronx. Lawyer and former Bronx district attorney candidate Robert Siano was nominated as the new Bronx GOP Election Commissioner. He awaits action by the City Council on his nomination. Congratulations, Mike and Robert.
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