De Blasio, Yassky Replacements Start to Campaign
This morning the Brooklyn Paper has stories about the candidates who are looking to replace Councilmember Bill de Blasio (our next Borough President?) and Councilmember David Yassky (our next Comptroller?). Five hopefuls have already announced their intentions to vie for de Blasio’s seat in the 39th District (which includes Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street,…
This morning the Brooklyn Paper has stories about the candidates who are looking to replace Councilmember Bill de Blasio (our next Borough President?) and Councilmember David Yassky (our next Comptroller?). Five hopefuls have already announced their intentions to vie for de Blasio’s seat in the 39th District (which includes Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street, some of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, and Boro Park), while only three candidates (so far) have said they’re running to replace Yassky as the Council rep for the 33rd District (which covers Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint; parts of Williamsburg, some of Park Slope, and Boerum Hill). Here’s a rundown of the candidates’ bona fides and platforms:
39th District
Craig Hammerman: CB6 district manager; says he’s pushing for affordability, sustainability and livability.
Brad Lander: Director of the Pratt Center for Community Development; focusing on affordable housing and urban planning.
Gary Reilly: Lawyer, member of CGNA, writes nabe blog; wants to focus on improving mass transit.
Josh Skaller: IT director, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats president; chief priority would be education.
Bob Zuckerman: Executive director of the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, CB6 member; pushing government reform.
33rd District:
Steve Levin: Chief of staff to Assemblyman Vito Lopez; focused on affordable housing.
Jo Anne Simon: Democratic District Leader; broad platform includes education and land use.
Evan Thies: Nonprofit adviser, CB1 member; taking on district growth.
Let the races begin.
A Five-For-All to replace DeBlasio [Brooklyn Paper]
Three-Way for Yassky’s Seat in Heights, W’burg [Brooklyn Paper]
Q&A: Brad Lander On His Run for City Council [Brownstoner]
Can we go outside the monastery for candidates? A nice cabal of limousine liberals to complement the mediocrities the meddling ministers will give us in neighboring constituencies!
Historically speaking, a Conservative has a better chance of being elected in Brooklyn than a Republican. Anyone who has read Bill Buckley’s “The Unmaking of a Mayor” will know what I mean.
Well, sometimes R’s run, but often someone needs to be talked into it. Even if someone volunteers to be the R candidate, they very rarely face opposition in the primary, so they don’t need to be out there as early as the guys and gal above.
R’s dont typically run in these races because it would be an absolute wate of time and money – hows that for diversity?
Any R’s running in these races?
I’d vote for Levin. He’s cute. 🙂
Diversity is more than skin tone; at least half of the candidates are Jewish.
Craig Hammerman is the only candidate with facial hair OR glasses.
Yeah…lots of profound diversity in the candidate choices. Wow…