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The Race ...

City Council
District 4

Midtown East, Murray Hill, Stuyvesant Town and The Upper East Side

Know something we should know? Let us know at campaign05@gothamgazette.com

Election Results ...

General Election Results

Dan Garodnick

Primary Results

Dan Garodnick

Candidates...

The Incumbent:
There is no Incumbent posted for this race.

General Election Challenger(s):
Dan Garodnick
Jak Jacob Karako
Patrick Murphy

Primary Election Challenger(s):
Meryl Brodsky
Dan Garodnick
Jak Jacob Karako
Jack Lester
George N. Spitz

(Candidate Biographies below)

Feature Articles ...

District 4 General Election Update: Declarations of Independence on the East Side

October 23, 2005

Residents of this area on Manhattan's East Side have elected many Republicans over the years. Patrick Murphy, a marketing consultant who has been involved in local and national issues, hopes they will again.

But today its council member, state legislators and member of Congress are all Democrats. Democrat Daniel Garodnick hopes the next council member will be too. (One of his opponents may agree – Libertarian Party candidate Jak Jacob Karako first ran in the Democratic primary and recently indicated his support for Garodnick.)

Patrick Murphy, who is also the Liberal Party candidate, and Daniel Garodnick, who also has the endorsement of the Working Families Party, have each raised about $190,000, with Murphy holding a slight edge. Both men point to a list of prominent supporters. And both vow to be independent, a characteristic they say is prized in the district. After all, the current councilmember Eva Moskowitz, who did not run so she could try - unsuccessfully - for Manhattan borough president, has broken with her party on occasion, endorsing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's re-election this year and harshly criticizing the teachers union.

Both Daniel Garodnick and Patrick Murphy hasten to declare their support for much of what Bloomberg has done, although they said they opposed the now defunct plans for a West Side football stadium. They are less enthusiastic about the city council.

"I think this mayor's done a great job," Patrick Murphy said. "But the council has its head stuck in the sand." (Click here for a transcript of a candidate debate)

Daniel Garodnick said he would seek to reform the Democratic bastion through such steps as putting limits on mailing privileges and reducing the number of committees; there are now 32 for 51 members. (Jak Karako would go even further, reducing the number of council members to 10 or so.)

Patrick Murphy and Daniel Garodnick both portray themselves as fiscally responsible. Murphy wants changes in benefits for city workers. "All of the things that have happened in the private sector in the last 20 year haven't happened in the city sector," he said, calling for the city to change its pension system and have municipal workers contribute to their health insurance. Calling himself a "fiscally responsible Democrat," Garodnick thinks the city must get its debt under control, partly by using some of the budget surplus to reduce it.

Patrick Murphy emphasizes his independence. As a member of the board of Log Cabin Republicans, a gay group, he fought the Bush administration on its efforts to ban gay marriage and joined the organization in its refusal to back the president's re-election last year. For his part, Daniel Garodnick distances himself from the New York Democratic Party, refusing, for example, to say whether he backed Fernando Ferrer or Michael Bloomberg in the mayor's race.

Primary Election: Silk Stocking Campaign
-July 18, 2005

The Upper East Side of Manhattan, nicknamed the Silk Stocking District for its wealthy (silk wearing) residents, has a history of electing Republicans to office. For much of the late 20th century, socially liberal but fiscally conservative officials represented Manhattan's most affluent, and racially homogenous, area.

In recent years, however, Democrats have beat out Republicans in races for local office.

This year, Democratic Councilmember Eva Moskowitz is giving up her district 4 spot to run for Manhattan borough president. Five candidates - four Democrats and one Republican - are vying for the position.

Given the district's political history, Patrick Murphy, the lone Republican, is confident about his chances.

"This district is the most independent minded district of anywhere in the city," said Murphy, a business executive and former President of the New York City Log Cabin Republicans. "They vote for the candidate, not the party."

Regardless of party affiliation, the candidates tend to agree on many issues - like housing, development, education, and quality of life issues - and how they should be addressed.

HOUSING

Democrat Dan Garodnick, a litigator who has the endorsements of U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and other Manhattan council members, touts his connections to the district's affordable housing developments, Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town.

"I have roots in the district. I was born here, and I've lived here my whole life," he said. "My parents still live in the same rent-stabilized apartment that I grew up in."

Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town date back to the late 1940s, when it was constructed to provide rent-stabilized, affordable housing for returning World War II veterans. Today, when tenants move out of the development, the apartments are no longer subject to rent stabilization rules, and rents are raised to market rates. The space is now marketed as "luxury apartments."

"We're driving out middle-income people that maintain a stable, demographically enriched environment," said Jack Lester, a former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney's office, who has been endorsed by the Working Families Party and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields.

Lester said all new development must include affordable housing space. "At least 25 percent of units should be for middle-income tenants," he said.

DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SPACE

Candidates also agree that public space and light is a paramount concern.

Consolidated Edison, which currently owns nine acres of highly valuable land between 35th and 41st Streets along the East River, intends to sell the property to a developer who plans to build high-rise luxury apartments and office buildings.

Area residents and all five candidates are concerned that large scale, high-rise buildings would put whole neighborhoods into shadow, blocking out already scarce light.

"My position would be to scale down the buildings. This project is slated for ten years, but right now is the stage where the public has to have their say," said Democrat Meryl Brodsky, a political analyst and economist for the offices of the mayor and governor of New York.

"This is the last large parcel of land under development in this district, and it's vital that we balance community needs for open space, waterfront access, and affordable housing," said Patrick Murphy.

Jak Jacob Karako, a financial analyst for AXA Financial, defined ConEdison's real estate activities as "land speculation." "This is top-valued real estate that they've been sitting on for years, and suddenly releasing it to the private domain… will have a negative impact on the neighborhood."

"The only incentives left are for luxury high rises," said Karako, who feels City Council should work to create economic benefits for mid-size development.

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations' planned renovation is another district development issue. The organization must find an alternate space while work is done to the Turtle Bay headquarters. One of the proposed sites for developing the interim accommodation is the Robert Moses playground, located at 42nd Street and 1st Avenue.

"They should not be permitted to impinge on scarce open space without providing comparable and equal park land and space to local residents," said Jack Lester.

Before the United Nations can move forward with development, however, the plan must gain the approval of the New York State Legislature, which is unlikely to occur. Without approval, a temporary move to Brooklyn - sure to negatively impact the district's economy - is increasingly probable.

EDUCATION

All candidates cited education as their top priority.

Patrick Murphy thinks both teacher pay and promotion needs to be based on merit, not tenure. "We've got to make it easier to promote good teachers faster and give principals the power to get rid of bad teachers," he said.

Looking within the district, Meryl Brodsky called for new school buildings. "The population increase has caused an over-extension of what schools can do. We need new schools," she said. Brodsky would like new schools to accommodate local residents, as opposed to serving students throughout the city.

On vouchers and charter schools, the candidates are split. Jak Jacob Karako, the only candidate who supports vouchers, argued, "It's an appropriate time to experiment."

"I think vouchers are an admittance that you'll never be able to fix the public schools, and I'm not ready to give up that fight yet," said Patrick Murphy.

Karako and Murphy do agree with one another on charter schools, which they, along with Dan Garodnick, support.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town have also created a unique issue in the campaign - not only because rents are increasing - but also because residents are wary of a plan to replace locks with a photo ID, electronic keycard system.

MetLife, which owns the housing development, insists the system is necessary for increased security. All of the City Council candidates, however, say the issue is privacy.

It is "an intrusive and overly burdensome system," said Dan Garodnick. His Web site describes the keycards as a "big brother system" that impacts "individual rights and freedoms."

Jak Jacob Karako, who has run previously as a Libertarian, is concerned about "the mismanagement of funds in city government caused by archaic regulations."

"We have cops called dance inspectors who go to bars to monitor violations of outdated cabaret laws…[which,] in effect, say you have to have a permit to allow people to dance if there are more than three people present," said Karako, who teaches tango in his spare time. He feels issues of monetary mismanagement should be a high priority for the next council member.

THE CAMPAIGN

By the mid-July campaign filing date, Dan Grodnick lead with $207,000, more than the $150,000 spending limit set by the Campaign Finance Board. Patrick Murphy followed with $112,000 and Jack Lester and Meryl Brodsky had each raised around $60,000. Jak Karako had raised $33,000.

Voters may find that the candidates are not easily distinguished by party affiliation. When asked about the differences between the Democrats and himself, Republican Patrick Murphy offered only his self-defined "fiscal responsibility" and his support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who lives in the district.

"The mayor needs more allies in City Council who will support his non-partisan agenda," said Murphy, who runs his campaign from the damp basement of the posh Metropolitan Republicans Club. "I believe he's doing the right things for the city."

The mayor has been reciprocal in his support. The mayor recently made an appearance at a fundraiser for Murphy.

The Democrats, however, are intent on continuing their recent streak of wins in the district.

Candidate Bios ...

The Incumbent:

There is no Incumbent posted for this race.

Challenger(s):

Meryl Brodsky | Dem |
Meryl Brodsky is a policy analyst and economist for the offices of the Mayor of the City and the Governor of the State of New York. She also serves as a Democratic District Leader, a member of the 14th Congressional Caucus, a member of  the boards of the Turtle Bay Associaition and the Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, and a member of Community Board 8.

Dan Garodnick | Dem | WFP |
Dan Garodnick has served as president of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club and as a public member of community board 6, Gramercy Park Neighborhood Associates, the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, and the Turtle Bay Association. A litigator at the New York law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison LLP, Garodnick spent two years working for the New York Civil Rights Council. Prior to joining the firm he served as a law clerk to a judge of the United States District Court for the southern district of New York.

Jak Jacob Karako | LBT |
Jak Jacob Karako is a financial analyst for Equitable Life / AXA. He is an active member of Turtle Bay Association and the Friends of Dag Hammerkskold Plaza. He also serves on the American Friends of  Turkish Jewry strategic planning board and is a board member of Assembly of American Turkish Association.

Jack Lester | WFP |
Jack Lester is an attorney and former prosecutor in the District Attorney's office. He has served as counsel to the New York State Senate Finance Committee as well as the Joint Legislative Commission on Health Care Financing. He served as a member of community board 8 and as Democratic District Leader in the Yorkville section of the Upper East Side. He has represented the Turtle Bay Association, the Tudor City Association, the Carnegie Hill Neighbors Association, the East 79th Street Block Association, the East Midtown Coalition for Sensible Development, and the Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association.

Patrick Murphy | Rep | LIB |
Patrick Murphy is a business executive and community activist. He interned for Senator John Chafee. He serves on the marketing committee of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and is a member of the Carnegie Hill Neighbors, Civitas, and the Dignity Coalition. In 2001, he was selected to participate in Leadership New York, a civic training program. He has raised funds for the Nature Conservancy and is a former advisory member of the Miracle House board. He is the former vice president and director at Digitas.

George N. Spitz | Dem |
George Spitz is a retired auditor for the New York State Department of Social Services. He is a former shop steward, newsletter editor and delegate to the New York City Central Labor Council, representing the Public Employees Federation. He has run for public office in the past.

Campaign Trail ...

Below are the latest Campaign Trail items for the District 4 race. For the full Campaign Trail archive, go here

Democrats Win Council Races

November 9, 2005
Republican candidates for City Council seats had hoped that the popularity of the Republican mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, would bring them votes in yesterday's election. But the mayor's coattails did not extend to local races, as several Republicans he endorsed went down to defeat.
(New York Times)

'Partisan Paradox' Dogs Upper East Side Races

November 3, 2005
This year, it has become common practice among City Council hopefuls on the Upper East Side to hedge their partisan alliances. Democrats and Republicans are battling over open seats in the neighborhood’s Fourth and Fifth Council Districts. (New York Observer)

NY Times Endorsement: Garodnick for District 4

October 23, 2005
When the incumbent Council member, Eva Moskowitz, decided to leave after one term, a seat opened up in one of the few parts of Manhattan where Republicans have been successful. Although overwhelmingly Democratic, what used to be known as the Silk Stocking District produced enough crossover votes in the past tohelp elect Republicans like Roy Goodman and John Lindsay. Patrick Murphy, a former direct marketing executive who is a leader of the national Log Cabin Republicans, is hoping to follow in their footsteps. Earnest, open and admirably independent, Mr. Murphy has courageously defended gay and lesbian rights despite opposition from the more conservative elements of his party. On matters that most affect the district, however, Mr. Murphy cannot compete with his Democratic opponent's experience and mastery of the issues. Dan Garodnick is a member of community board 6, a champion of smarter redevelopment along the East River and a fighter for increased funding for the city's public school students.

(New York Times)

Republican Council Candidates Look For Bloomberg Coat Tails

October 13, 2005
Mayor Bloomberg hasn't given them money, and his endorsements have been low-key. But that doesn't seem to matter to Republican City Council hopefuls Phil Foglia, Pat Russo, Patrick Murphy and Joel Zinberg. The would-be GOP Council members all believe Bloomberg is headed for a big win Nov. 8 that could have a coattail effect for their uphill candidacies. (Daily News)

Daily News Endorses Lester for Council

September 12, 2005
He backed Rudy Giuliani for mayor and shows a Giuliani-like disdain for special-interest politics. (Daily News)

Hunting The Magic Numbers

August 24, 2005
On Manhattan's East Side, neighboring windows on First Avenue promote Dan Garodnick, Jak Jacob Karako, and Jack Lester—three of the four Democratic candidates in District 4...On the East Side, where Garodnick, Karako, Lester, and Meryl Brodsky are vying for the seat Eva Moskowitz is vacating. She hasn't endorsed in the race and isn't expected to, so the rivals have developed other alliances. Lester, a lawyer active in tenants' issues, has cross-endorsed Virginia Fields. Garod-nick, a litigator who was involved in the CFE case, has Gifford Miller's backing, as well as the New York Times endorsement.

The winner in District 4 will likely be whoever captures the most votes in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Lester says his polling has him "far in the lead there," but Garodnick, who grew up and still lives in the complex, says he'll have knocked on Democrats' doors in all the development's buildings by September 13. He's already been to 93 of them; the magic number is 110
(Village Voice)

New York Times Endorsement: Daniel Garodnick in District 4

August 21, 2005
Fourth District (East Side, from 14th to 97th Streets): Four Democrats are in the race to replace the departing council member, Eva Moskowitz. The winner will face Patrick Murphy, the Republican candidate, in the fall. Two seem most in touch with voter concerns, which include transportation, affordable housing, education, land use and zoning, especially along the East River where the United Nations would like to construct a 35-story building near its landmark home. Jack Lester is a likable former prosecutor in the district attorney's office who has made a name around the city championing the rights of tenants. Daniel Garodnick, a litigator involved in the lawsuit to try to secure New York's fair share of state funds for education, has deep roots in the district, where he grew up in middle-class housing. He has a grasp of a range of issues and ideas about improving the operations of the Council. Daniel Garodnick wins our endorsement.

(New York Times)

Log Cabin Councilman

January 31, 2005
Over on the East Side, straight liberal Republicans spent the 1990s losing because Democrats painted them as Bush-DeLay-Gingrich clones. It'll be harder to do that with Murphy, whose group tries (often rather forlornly) to articulate a libertarian Republicanism that's nicely consistent, even if it hasn't exactly caught fire with the base. (The Politicker)

Gay Republican Runs for Council

July 21, 2005
Like many New Yorkers, Patrick Murphy opposes Mayor Michael Bloomberg's appreal of a court decision allowing gay marriage, his opposition to an anti bullying law and his legal challenge to a law that would guarantee the gay employees of city contractors partner benefits equal to that offered to workers’ spouses. But Murphy is a Republican, gay -- and running for City Council. (Gay City News)

The 5X5 Interview: Dan Garodnick, Lawyer And Councilman Candidate

September 2, 2004
In the most extreme cases of progressive radicalism, there are the few who actually run for political office. Enter Dan Garodnick, a lawyer living in Peter Cooper Village of Manhattan. He shares a vision of the future of East Side commuting and, like he says, it's all about the 2nd Avenue Subway Line. (Gawker)

Candidates Drawn to Upper East Side Council Seats (pdf.)

December 30, 2004
With the council speaker, Gifford Miller, and the chairwoman of the council'seducation committee, Eva Moskowitz, vacating their neighboring districts' seats, a wide range of contenders from both major political parties are seizing the opportunity to run for public office. (New York Sun)

Full District 4 Campaign Trail Archive

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