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GOTHAM GAZETTE: SEARCHLIGHT ON CAMPAIGN 2001: CAMPAIGN TRAIL ARCHIVES

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What is Searchlight on Campaign 2001?
Searchlight on Campaign 2001 is a guide to the political races in what many are calling New York City's most significant campaign season in modern history.

What is so significant about it?
For the first time in memory, most political offices in the city will be wide open to people who have neither money nor connections.

Why will the races be so open?
There are two reasons. This year, a new law goes into effect that limits the terms of New York City elected officials, forcing the mass retirement of most incumbents in the city - including the mayor, the comptroller, the public advocate, four of the five borough presidents, and 36 of the 51 members of the City Council. At the same time, a new campaign finance law kicks in, which allows any candidate who agrees to certain restrictions to collect four dollars of matching funds for every dollar they raise.

What does this have to do with this site?
As a public service, Searchlight on Campaign 2001 has a separate page for each race, including all the races for City Council, that not only sorts out the candidates -- many of them new and unfamiliar -- but also offers an opportunity to learn about the issues, and the districts themselves.

Who is behind Searchlight on Campaign 2001?
Searchlight on Campaign 2001 is a project of Gotham Gazette, a non-profit, non-partisan, non-ideological (but non-boring) web site about New York City news, policy and politics published by Citizens Union Foundation, part of the oldest and largest good-government group in the city (founded in 1897).

What's wrong with the way the regular press covers the races?
That is for you to decide. And one of our regular features, Campaign Trail, helps you to decide. Campaign Trail provides succinct summaries and links to campaign articles in the commercial press.

Who are we?
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August Campaign Trail

September Campaign Trail

8/31
The New York Times makes endorsements in three races for borough president.

The Bronx: Three candidates are fighting to replace the outgoing president, Fernando Ferrer. They are June Eisland and Adolfo Carrion Jr., both City Council members, and State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. Of the three, Mr. Carrion would be the strongest candidate to represent the entire borough because of his temperament, his training as an urban planner and his focus on urgent problems with housing and schools in the Bronx.

Mr. Carrion's close ties to the Democratic Party organization cause some concern, but he has vowed that as borough president he will try to reconcile warring political factions and provide more openness and support to residents throughout this diverse borough. We have strong hopes that he will be the kind of thoughtful, independent-minded and inclusive politician the borough desperately needs. We endorse Adolfo Carrion Jr.

Queens: The race to replace outgoing Borough President Claire Shulman includes three candidates: Helen Marshall and Sheldon Leffler, both term-limited City Council members, and Carol Gresser, former president of the Board of Education. Mr. Leffler was a hard-working and intelligent Council member, but he was not known for his abilities as a consensus builder. Ms. Marshall, an African-American who proposes to carry on Ms. Shulman's agenda, has the backing of the county's Democratic Party. Her people skills are the best of the group, but she does not seem to have the independence or drive the job requires. Of the three, Ms. Gresser promises to be less dependent on party regulars and more creative in fighting for the borough's most obvious needs - more classrooms and certified teachers and more affordable housing and better services for seniors. Early in her career on the Board of Education, Ms. Gresser tried to limit discussion of diversity in public schools, but by the time she left the post in 1998 she had grown into a thoughtful member who showed her mettle in battles with the mayor and her former mentor, Ms. Shulman. We endorse Carol Gresser.

Brooklyn: Three candidates are vying to replace Borough President Howard Golden, who has run Brooklyn's Borough Hall for almost 25 years. Jeannette Gadson, Mr. Golden's deputy, has vowed to carry on his somewhat fatigued agenda. Kenneth Fisher, a City Council member who clearly prefers wrestling with more global policy issues, is an able person but not a good fit for this job. Rather the position best suits State Senator Marty Markowitz, an ebullient public servant who could provide a refreshing boosterism for the sometimes beleaguered borough. Mr. Markowitz used his Senate position to become a maestro of constituent service, providing everything from summer concerts to programs for senior citizens. His inclusiveness has made him one of the most popular officials in his mainly minority district. By hiring technical experts on complex areas such as urban planning, Mr. Markowitz could free himself to do what he does best, promote and help Brooklyn residents. We endorse Marty Markowitz. (NY Times)

Peter F. Vallone has won the endorsement of the 26,000-member New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association in his race for mayor. (NY Times)

LGNY, the newspaper for gay and lesbian New Yorkers, endorses Fernando Ferrer for mayor. (LGNY)

During most of the Republican primary campaign for mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg has treated his opponent, Herman Badillo, as a nuisance who is best left ignored. Mr. Badillo has kept a limited public schedule, has had trouble in raising money and has rarely stolen the spotlight from his big- name rival. But as the two men meet this morning for their first face-to-face debate, there are indications that the dynamic is changing. The debate, one of only two featuring the Republicans, will be broadcast live at 10 a.m. on WNYC-AM 820.In recent days, Mr. Badillo has stepped up his attacks on Mr. Bloomberg, raising a host of inflammatory issues that have so irritated the Bloomberg campaign - and shaken its confidence, Mr. Badillo's advisers suggest - that Mr. Bloomberg struck back yesterday with unusual vehemence.In objections that were to be filed with the Board of Elections, Mr. Bloomberg's campaign moved to disqualify an effort by Mr. Badillo to register a new political party for the November ballot. In doing so, a top Bloomberg strategist accused the Badillo campaign of fraud in collecting qualifying signatures for the party. (NY Times)

Herman Badillo is 72 now, a vision of elections past. His candidacy is his sixth for mayor since 1969. He twice came tantalizingly close to winning. He made history as the city's first Puerto Rican commissioner (of the Department of Housing Relocation in 1962) and borough president (elected in 1965), and the nation's first Puerto Rican congressman (1970). He enjoyed a resurrection when his lonely crusade to restore standards at the City University of New York gained currency in the 1990s, and Gov. Pataki named him CUNY's chairman. But the big office in City Hall is the goal he's nurtured for more than 30 years, friends and family say. (Daily News)

Sitting among his seven competitors, Leroy Comrie - outgoing Councilman Archie Spigner's top aide and the odds-on favorite to win the seat for district 27 - is almost serene as they take turns attacking him. And attack they do. There's attorney Stephen Jackson blasting Spigner, Comrie's mentor, for being "the invisible man." There's Erica Ford - supported by the Rev. Al Sharpton - talking about the need for change and delivering a message that's part black consciousness movement, part hip hop.And there's former Assemblywoman Cynthia Jenkins, as colorful and lively at 76 as she ever was, railing at the Queens Democratic organization. She told a York College crowd last month how she grabbed the Independence Party line despite being thrown off the Sept. 11 Democratic primary ballot by a machine-led challenge."Now, in November, when you open the curtain, you are going to see Cynthia Jenkins," she said to roars of laughter.And there's attorney Helen Cooper-Gregory, talking calmly about problems with the school district that Comrie has helped lead.Throw into the mix businesswoman Saundra Pope, computer specialist Larry Smith and Republican Ishmael Morgan and you have something for everyone. But Comrie, 41, a School Board 29 member who has worked for Spigner for 17 years, takes their barbs with aplomb. (Daily News)

Lynn Schulman is facing a daunting task in seeking to replace Forest Hills Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz in district 29. Her opponent in the Democratic primary, Melinda Katz, is well-financed and well-connected. But Schulman has a secret weapon: She's the only Schulman on the ballot this year. (In the past, there was Claire Shulman, popular departing Queens borough president) Pundits have warned, especially after the Florida election debacle, never to overestimate a confused voter. (Daily News)

The Board of Elections has decided to stop setting up 83 nursing-home voting sites throughout the city, and thousands of elderly voters could be affected. The city office discovered last year that it had been violating the state election law for decades by setting up a second site at nursing homes in districts where a primary voting site already existed. The board is sending poll workers to nursing homes to help the residents fill out absentee ballots. Residents are disgruntled. (NY Times)

8/30
The New York Times makes endorsements in seven City Council races in Brooklyn.

"Brooklyn voters have a chance this year to enliven New York's City Council with the kind of energy, intelligence and independence unrivaled in city politics in many years...

33rd District (Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Greenpoint): David Yassky, a professor at Brooklyn Law School, was Charles Schumer's firepower when Mr. Schumer, now senator, was in the House of Representatives. He helped create the Brady bill and the Violence Against Women Act and helped get more than 6,000 new police officers on the streets of New York City. Mr. Yassky has an uphill battle against the Democratic organization's candidate, Steven Cohn. Mr. Cohn, a lawyer, has a long record of community activity, but he harks back to the city's old political patronage era rather than forward to something better. We enthusiastically endorse David Yassky.

35th District (Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene): Letitia James, a former assistant attorney general for Brooklyn, is the Democratic organization's candidate in this race. But Ms. James, who has compiled a fine record as a legislative counsel in Albany, seems to have the strength of character to chart an independent course. Her main opponent, Peter Williams, is the director of housing and community development for the National Urban League. Mr. Williams has an impressive background of city activism, but we endorse Letitia James, with the hope that she will recruit Mr. Williams to advise her on housing and development issues.

39th District (Borough Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill): Even in a year when the quality of City Council candidates is exceptional, this race stands out. Bill de Blasio, a local school board member, is better known as the campaign manager for Hillary Clinton's Senate race. Steven Banks, a Legal Aid lawyer, has a national name for his work on behalf of the homeless. Jack Carroll is an attorney who pioneered the development of low- and moderate- income housing in his Windsor Terrace neighborhood. Any of the three would make a fine Council member, but we endorse Bill de Blasio, who has the most potential as leader for the district and the city.

40th District (Central Brooklyn): Una Clarke is one of the many term-limited Council members attempting to bequeath her seat to a relative. Her daughter, Yvette Clarke, is a politically sophisticated candidate with experience in economic development. Another strong candidate is Jean Vernet, a community activist from the National Coalition for Haitian Rights. But he does not have the energy level that we think Ms. Clarke would bring to the job. Our endorsement goes to Yvette Clarke, in the hope that she will use her mother's better instincts in fighting for social services while avoiding political divisiveness.

44th District (Midwood, Borough Park, Bensonhurst): Two candidates stand out in this race to replace the outgoing Council member Noach Dear - Simcha Felder, chief of staff to Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and Bob Miller, an attorney with a long record of civic work in the district. Bob Miller's well-thought-out proposals to improve schools in the area earn him our endorsement.

45th District (Flatbush, Flatlands): Kevin Parker, special assistant to State Comptroller Carl McCall, is an African-American running against two opponents who argue that the district should be represented by someone with Caribbean roots. What the area residents really need is an energetic and intelligent Council member who wants to serve everyone with equal vigor. That description best fits Kevin Parker, and he gets our endorsement.

47th District (Brighton Beach, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend): Susan Lasher, the wife of the outgoing Council member, is running to continue "the Lasher legacy." Although Mrs. Lasher has an appealing personality, this diverse district needs to be represented by someone with a broader vision. Domenic Recchia, an attorney and school board member, is well versed in education issues but he seems too focused on the neighborhoods where he has his political base. Alec Brook-Krasny, who immigrated from Moscow in 1989, is less politically sophisticated but he appears to be genuinely committed to reaching out to all the neighborhoods in the district. His election would also give the city's Russian-American community a much-needed connection to city affairs. We endorse Alec Brook- Krasny." (NY Times)

For the first time since he won office 12 years ago, the Brooklyn district attorney, Charles J. Hynes, will face an opponent in the Democratic primary, despite his best effort in court to knock the challenger off the ballot. The Court of Appeals upheld today a lower court ruling that petitions filed on behalf of the challenger, Sandra E. Roper, were valid, even though some of the 14,000 signatures had been forged. An appellate court ruled on Tuesday that the forgeries were not pervasive enough to disqualify Ms. Roper, a Brooklyn lawyer, from the primary next month. (NY Times)

In a huge legal assault, attorneys for Hynes had subpoenaed 172 witnesses - including Roper's father, who died 11 years ago - and sent investigators to question Roper's petition carriers at their homes. (Daily News)

Three of the four leading Democratic candidates for mayor oppose handing George Steinbrenner hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to demolish Yankee Stadium and build a replacement - raising the stakes for Mayor Giuliani to close a deal with the team before he leaves office. The fourth, Alan Hevesi, , said Yankee Stadium should remain in the Bronx but steered around specific questions about financing for new stadiums. Republican candidate Michael Bloomberg did not respond. (Daily News)

This was to be the year of the level playing field in New York City politics. Term limits would loosen the grip of incumbency, throwing open the gates to an unprecedented number of contenders for public office. Public financing would reduce the power of money by giving candidates $4 for each $1 they raised. But in the races for City Council, it has not quite turned out that way. After a bitter challenge season that knocked more than 60 candidates off the ballot, about a third of the remaining ones who are participating in the public financing program cannot campaign as vigorously as they would like because they will not get their matching funds until four days before the primary - if they get them at all. (NY Times)

Comptroller candidate Herbert Berman picked up the endorsement yesterday of Harrison Goldin, who served as controller for 16 years until 1990. Goldin returned to City Hall for the first time in a dozen years to make one of his rare political endorsements. (Daily News)

An analysis of Hevesi's last-minute change in strategy, turning from caution to strident attacks both on Mayor Rudy Giuliani and on the New York Post. (NY Times)

As he crisscrosses the city seeking the Democratic party's nomination for mayor, Fernando Ferrer is proudly carrying the hopes of his party's oldest and most orthodox wing. In stump speeches and neighborhood tours, Mr. Ferrer, 51, often seems like a candidate from another era, the old-style populist coaxing votes from the city's precincts with promises of government largess. "Pay them like professionals!" Mr. Ferrer exclaimed at a church in Queens, pushing his 30 percent pay raise for the city's teachers. "The most ambitious housing plan this city has ever seen!" he said, promising 150,000 new homes at this mayoral forum. "After-school programs at 200 middle schools!" he added. "Hallelujah," someone called from in the pews, and the others whooped and clapped. (NY Times)

Among the myriad open City Council seats this year, few have attracted as many candidates with the political credentials and connections as those in the six-way race in the Democratic primary in the 39th Council District. The candidates' rÚsumÚs cover the spectrum of local politics in what is commonly known as brownstone Brooklyn, but their names are known outside the borough and each one can boast of influential endorsements. Steven R. Banks, the director of the Homeless Rights Project of the Legal Aid Society, has made a name for himself as an advocate for the homeless. John W. Carroll is president of a powerful Democratic club in Brooklyn, and has also served as counsel to several neighborhood and preservation groups. Bill de Blasio, a member of the community school board in District 15, is a veteran Democratic strategist who worked for Andrew M. Cuomo at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and was the manager of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate campaign last year. Paul Bader, a longtime neighborhood advocate who owns a print and design shop, is married to United States Representative Nydia M. Vel½zquez.Craig H. Hammerman has been the district manager of Community Board 6 for 11 years. And Anthony J. Pugliese is a carpenter who has been a longtime community activist and an organizer for his union.The district stretches from the relatively affluent Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens sections of Brooklyn through a portion of Park Slope and Kensington and into Borough Park. For the last 10 years, the district has been represented by City Councilman Stephen DiBrienza, who is running for public advocate. (NY Times)

8/29
The New York Times makes its endorsements for what it calls Queens' six particularly competitive Democratic City Council races for the September 11 primary:
District 19 (Northeast Queens): In this district, which borders on Nassau County, Arthur Cheliotes, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 1180, is running against Tony Avella, the former chief of staff for State Senator Toby Stavisky. Mr. Cheliotes has the longer record of service and has shown the more sophisticated understanding of the city's needs. One concern is his plan to keep his union job in order to build up seniority toward his pension, although he promises to work for $1 a year and devote most of his time to the Council. Mr. Avella is far from a totally independent politician himself; his friends in the Queens Democratic Party worked to bump others from the ballot in this district. Our endorsement for the primary goes to Arthur Cheliotes.
District 20 (Central Queens-Flushing North area): The two strongest candidates in this race are Ethel Chen, a retired library supervisor, and John Liu, a financial analyst and civic leader. Mr. Liu is an energetic, articulate contender. But his campaign finances raise questions about his connections to developers in the area and to his father's bank; the elder Mr. Liu and other bank officials were convicted of bank fraud earlier this year. We recommend Ethel Chen, who has a longer and more impressive record in community service.
District 24 (South Flushing, Jamaica Hills, Briarwood, Forest Hills): In this race, Barry Grodenchik has a better grasp of city issues than James Gennaro, a worthy opponent with strong environmental credentials, or David Reich, who has worked for two state senators. Mr. Grodenchik has been a loyal lieutenant to the Queens borough president, Claire Shulman, an attachment that might give pause in a period when voters are searching for independent representation. We endorse Barry Grodenchik in the hope that he will use his skills to serve the district and city rather than the borough's Democratic regulars.
District 25 (Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Corona): In a diverse field of seven, the top candidates are Helen Sears, the pick of the Democratic county organization; Jimmy Van Bramer, a gay activist; and Rudy Greco, a real estate lawyer and community leader. Mr. Van Bramer offers promise for future races, but Mr. Greco is the most thoughtful candidate. He has worked hard in the district for years, and has even produced a children's book on Jackson Heights for fourth-grade students in the area. We endorse Rudy Greco.
District 26 (Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth): There is almost total agreement among several very strong candidates on the major issues facing this district, including overcrowded schools and more affordable housing, especially for the elderly. Eric Gioia, who helped manage Al Gore's campaign in New York and worked in the White House, is the youngest and most energetic of the group, and has promise as a leader both in the district and in the Council. We endorse Eric Gioia.
District 31 (Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway): The city's poorer districts frequently suffer with the worst political representation, but one of the pleasant surprises this year is the number of races in low-income areas that have attracted two or three good candidates. In this district, James Sanders Jr. and Charlotte Jefferson would both make excellent Council members. Mrs. Jefferson has the support of the Democratic organization, but it appears to need her more than she needs it. In a very narrow decision, we prefer Charlotte Jefferson for her superior knowledge of community problems and ideas for how the city could help solve them. (NY Times)

A candidate for City Council district 20 from Flushing is being accused of an ethical violation for voting to support a project proposed by a developer who contributed to his campaign. Councilwoman Julia Harrison's chief of staff charged that John Liu, a member of Community Board 7, violated conflict of interest laws when he voted on a Flushing mall proposal last year. Liu received $7,000 in campaign contributions from the developers of the mall, known as Prince Center. (Daily News)

One thing is certain about the Corona-East Elmhurst City Council race in district 21: It will produce the first elected Latino representative from Queens. The Queens Democratic party made sure of that when it knocked two African Americans off the ballot through petition challenges.The smart money in the race is on Hiram Monserrate, the Democratic organization-backed candidate. But the other Democratic candidates - Aida Gonzalez-Jarrin, Angel Del Villar and Luis Rosero - say they also have a chance to win. (Daily News)

In the race for comptroller, William Thompson had raised barely $1 million to Herb Berman's $1.5 million, as of Aug. 10. And by far, Berman is attracting the big money. Berman's donors include just about all of the city's biggest real estate developers, its biggest bus companies and many landlords.(Daily News)

8/28
The New York Times has made three endorsements for City Council in the Bronx.
District 11 (northwest Bronx): "Residents of this district, which includes Riverdale, will be able to elect an experienced and trusted public servant in Oliver Koppell, who was New York's attorney general seven years ago, and spent almost 23 years as an assemblyman from his Bronx district. Although Laura Spalter has run a spirited campaign, we strongly endorse Oliver Koppell."
District 16 (Highbridge Morrisania, Melrose): "Mr. Benjamin is energetic, but his ties to the Bronx organization suggest Ms. Foster may be the more independent. Our endorsement goes to Helen Foster."
District 18 (Soundview, Parkchester, Castle Hill) "Armando Montano, a lawyer with a strong record of public service, is by far the best candidate. His competition includes the Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. the father of the area's assemblyman and the choice of the county Democratic Party. Mr. Diaz has a track record of allowing his conservative religious beliefs to shape his political views. This district has long suffered from a lack of good representation in the City Council. We believe that could change with the election of Armando Montano." (New York Times)

The Rev. Al Sharpton finally endorsed Fernando Ferrer for mayor yesterday, and campaigned with him in all five boroughs. (Daily News)

City Comptroller Alan Hevesi accused City Hall yesterday of a coverup involving welfare contracts while Mayor Giuliani dubbed Hevesi the "ethically challenged candidate" in the race to succeed him. Hevesi released a Department of Investigation memo, dated December 2000, revealing that city Human Resources Administration Commissioner Jason Turner worked for several months in 1997 as a consultant for Opportunity America, a joint venture with the State University of New York that bid on a city welfare-to-work contract. The company was headed by Richard Schwartz, a former Giuliani senior adviser who is now editor of the Daily News editorial page. The Daily News just endorsed Hevesi's rival, Peter Vallone. (Daily News) (NY Times)

Michael R. Bloomberg called yesterday for measures to make the police more accountable to the public, saying that racial data on stop- and-frisks should be posted on the Internet and that the Civilian Complaint Review Board should report to the mayor rather than to the police commissioner. (NY Times)

Every election year, there are candidates outside the mainstream political parties who manage to wangle their way onto the ballot. But this year, in one of the most crowded primaries in 30 years, the race for City Hall boasts the most candidates, seven, on alternative party lines ever. Many of these candidates share similar ideas and platforms with the six men seeking office on the Democratic and Republican lines. They all contend that the city needs a strong housing plan, that the Board of Education should be abolished and that crime reduction should stay a municipal priority. Among the candidates are: Christopher Brodeur and Julia Willebrand running against each other on the Green Party; Terry Gray (Conservative); Kenny Kramer (Libertarian); Bernard Goetz, who is best known for his shooting of four black men on the subway whom he claimed were menacing him in 1984. On his campaign Web site, he refers to himself as "well known on crime issues." [This article also features George Spitz, who has run unsuccessfully for office eight times in 33 years, even though he is running on the Democratic line, not "an alternative party line."] (NY Times)

This year's mayoral campaign is the first in more than a quarter of a century that doesn't include the incumbent, and just about everybody else who could plausibly enter the race has. The four candidates for the Democratic nomination-Mark Green, Alan Hevesi, Peter Vallone, and Fernando Ferrer-all occupy prominent city posts, and any one of them would be a logical, if not exactly compelling, choice. Together, they have nearly a hundred years of experience in local government. Bloomberg's justification for jumping into the race is that this sort of experience is exactly what no one needs. "Going back to politics as usual in New York City is crazy," he declared in his inaugural ad. Whatever force there is to Bloomberg's argument comes mostly from the number of times it has been-and will be-reiterated. He did not declare his candidacy till June, yet managed in his first two months in the race to buy nearly twice as much advertising as all his rivals combined. Already, he has waged the most expensive primary campaign in the city's history, and he will probably break the record for the general election as well. (The New Yorker)

A mailing sent out by comptroller candidate Herbert Berman directly attacks the integrity of rival William Thompson.It focuses on published reports about tax liens that had been filed against Thompson in 1984 and 1997 and allegations he violated securities regulations while he was a private investment banker in the early 1990s. But Thompson's campaign spokeswoman replied that Berman is resorting to "an underhanded and despicable distortion of the facts." (Daily News)

The three-way race in the 24th Council District, which includes Kew Gardens Hills, Fresh Meadows, Jamaica Estates and Utopia, is distinctive not only because it is an area that has seen little in the way of hotly contested primary battles for City Council seats, but also because of the depth of government experience of its candidates. It is also expected to show the extent to which the support of the Democratic organization in the borough has potency. One candidate, Barry Grodenchik, has served as a senior aide to Queens Borough President Claire Shulman for the last nine years, after having worked for Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn and former Gov. Mario M. Cuomo. Another, James F. Gennaro, worked in the budget office in the administration of Mayor Edward I. Koch and has been an environmental policy adviser to the City Council for 11 years. The third candidate, David Reich, is chief of staff and counsel for State Senator Seymour P. Lachman and worked previously for State Senator Emanuel R. Gold. Mr. Grodenchik, 41, has been endorsed by the Queens Democratic Party organization and a host of elected officials in the borough, including Ms. Shulman and Mr. Povman. Mr. Gennaro, 44, has been endorsed by Mr. Koch and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer, and has put together a formidable campaign organization. Mr. Reich, 36, is proud that he has received no labor or political endorsements, and said his work in government and with community groups had earned him a significant grass- roots following. (NY Times)

8/27
The New York Times makes endorsements in what it calls Manhattan's most competitive Democratic races for the September 11 primary:
First District (Lower Manhattan): Seven candidates are competing in this diverse district, three of whom stand out. They are Brad Hoylman, a former Rhodes Scholar, gay activist and counsel to the New York City Partnership; Alan Gerson, a lawyer with a solid record of community service; and Rocky Chin, a civil rights lawyer for the New York City Commission on Human Rights. We endorse Brad Hoylman, who promises to serve the entire district in a thoughtful and lively way, focusing on broader democratic reform of the Council as well as district needs for housing and expanded city services.
Sixth District (Upper West Side): The two main candidates are Anna Lewis, a lawyer and law judge, and Gale Brewer, who has experience at several levels of city government. Ms. Brewer has worked for Public Advocate Mark Green on voting issues, former Mayor David Dinkins as the city's federal lobbyist and Ruth Messinger as her top aide at the City Council a decade ago. Ms. Brewer recently completed a much-needed study of 30,000 nonprofit organizations in the city. With a nod to Ms. Lewis's effort to bring new ideas into the debate, our endorsement goes to Gale Brewer.
Seventh District (Washington Heights, West Harlem and Inwood): The two top candidates in this race are Robert Jackson, a longtime champion of quality education, and Mark Levine, an energetic community activist. Mr. Levine has done an important service to the neighborhood by establishing a community development credit union. But Mr. Jackson has spent years working for better schools for the entire city. He breathed life into the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which recently won a historic lawsuit to bring the city more state funds. In a year when virtually every candidate says schools are the top priority, our choice is Robert Jackson.
Eighth District (Central Park West, East Harlem and Mott Haven in the South Bronx): This is one of the few districts in which an incumbent not being forced out by term limits is facing a real challenge. Councilman Philip Reed is in a tough fight against Felipe Luciano, a dynamic radio and television personality who is appealing to Hispanic voters. Given the turnover in the Council this year, Mr. Reed offers the advantages of stability, seniority and a solid record of representing the needs of all his constituents, particularly on the issues of housing and asthma. We endorse Philip Reed.
10th District (Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill): Councilman Guillermo Linares, who became the first Dominican-born elected official in the city, is now leaving, and there are eight candidates, all of Dominican descent, vying to succeed him. Victor Morisete-Romero, a former aide to Mr. Linares with a background in bilingual education, stands out as the most qualified by virtue of his experience and his proposals. He should serve his district well in a year when many members are struggling to learn the ropes. He has thoughtful ideas about improving Council oversight and monitoring the School Construction Authority. Our endorsement goes to Victor Morisete-Romero.

Crain's NY Business endorses Peter Vallone for mayor. "On the issues, Mr. Vallone is clearly superior to the other candidates. He is the political and legislative architect of the Safe Streets program, which laid the groundwork for the assault on crime. He has presided over fiscally responsible budgets. Alone among the candidates, he tells the unpopular truth that high taxes hurt the New York economy. He has pushed sensible economic development efforts to retain companies and encourage new industries. He strongly favors mayoral control of education. His 12-year tenure as speaker of the council has demonstrated his ability to lead and to promote unpopular policies." (Crain's NY Business)

Mayor Rudy Guliani attacked Alan Hevesi for the fourth time in five days, again questioning his integrity. Alan Hevesi, in a potentially risky strategy, escalated his response: "It is obvious that the mayor is intruding himself as a lame-duck Republican into the Democratic primary," Mr. Hevesi said. "He wishes to stop me from being elected mayor; he knows that I will expose the damage he has done for the next mayor, particularly on the budget. He knows that I will be a strong mayor and very difficult to beat four years from now, and he knows what he is saying is a series of pathetic lies. The mayor has a history of lying. He is lying now." (NY Times)

While some polls show Fernando Ferrer - not his Democratic opponents Alan Hevesi or Peter Vallone - winning the coveted run-off spot against Mark Green in the Democratic primary, some political observers say Ferrer's game plan for the primary could spell trouble in a faceoff against Green, the city's Public Advocate. Ferrer is trying to forge a victory from a coalition of Hispanic and Black voters - to the apparent exclusion of white, liberal voters who have long been the bedrock of the city's Democratic majority. "The very strategy that makes him popular among his core constituents in the Bronx cuts him off from the rest of the city," said Fred Siegel, a history professor at Cooper Union. "Freddy needs to go to Brooklyn and Queens and talk to middle class white voters who don't see why Freddy is going to be good for them."In fact he is a guy who has the character and intelligence and rhetoric to be appealing to them," added Siegel. "His strategy is making a lot of people scratch their heads." (Daily News)

Who has the best track record for community service? That's the platform on which most of the 11 candidates vying for the District 31 seat are running. In an area of overcrowded schools and low math and reading scores, the candidates - who include several educators - are focusing on how they will address what one called an "education crisis." Jobs, economic development, transportation, dumping, airplane noise, flooding and senior citizens' needs are other concerns they share. But by and large, the candidates are running on the contributions they say they're already making in the largely black, middle-class district, which includes Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens and parts of Cambria Heights and South Ozone Park. (Newsday)

8/26
The Daily News endorses Peter Vallone in the Democratic primary for mayor. "Vallone is the candidate who will best be able to advance the interests of New York City, especially as we enter a period of economic uncertainty. There's no question he can do it. He already has.As speaker of the City Council, he has worked in close partnership with Mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani to run the city. And 8 million New Yorkers are the better for it. Vallone was the guiding force behind the Safe Streets, Safe City program to expand the Police Department and dramatically improve public safety. Citywide, crime is down an astonishing 63%.At the same time, he led the Council in the passage of sensible budgets that cut taxes and kept spending well under control." (Daily News)

Alan Hevesi urges the city to release $120 million to the Board of Education. (NY Times)

When City Council Peter Vallone and Mayor Rudy Giuliani locked up the city's budget in June, they said they would free up $120 million to the Board of Education only when Schools Chancellor Harold Levy made serious slashes in the central board's spending and directed more money to classrooms. Alan Hevesi insisted Levy's recent decision to slash $100 million worth of the board's bureaucracy means he held up his end, and that it's time to hand over the money. "This issue is in the lap of Speaker Vallone and the mayor," Hevesi charged. "All the mayor is trying to do is deflect attention on this issue because he has no public-school reform plan aside from giving money to private schools." (NY Post)

An analysis of the campaign for mayor, which promises to heat up in the last two weeks before the September 11 primary, when the Democratic candidates for mayor will offer a hurricane of television advertisements, some of them negative. The past three months, while desultory, have shown some twists in the race: "Alan Hevesi - whom many Democrats had viewed as the sleeper candidate, given his resume, fund-raising skills and alliance with the political consultant Hank Morris - felt compelled to offer deferential remarks about his political difficulties less than three weeks before the primary. Similarly, it would have been difficult to anticipate that Fernando Ferrer - who in 1997 ran for mayor as a moderate Democrat, supporting the death penalty and advocating the fingerprinting of welfare recipients - would remake himself as the candidate of the left, attaching his candidacy to the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is to formally endorse him and begin campaigning with him tomorrow. Or that Mark Green, who in the course of nine previous campaigns has never shied away from the punch or the provocative stand, would this time seek to coast to victory by taking few chances and throwing few elbows, building a campaign based on endorsements and a succession of mostly unremarkable position papers. Or that Peter F. Vallone, the City Council speaker and the most conservative Democrat in the field, would be calling for what even Mr. Green described as liberal-sounding government spending programs. If there is anything approaching a consensus among Democrats following the race, it is that Mr. Green is likely, though not certain, to emerge as one of two Democrats in a September 25 runoff, which is required if no candidate gets over 40 percent of the vote. (NY Times)

Michael Bloomberg, the self-made billionaire media mogul, prides himself on being approachable. In the sleek Park Avenue headquarters of his corporate empire, he used to sit at a small wooden desk out in the open, where workers could find him. Now that he is seeking the Republican nomination for mayor, supporters say his accessible style, along with his competitiveness and willingness to take risks, would serve him well as mayor. When it comes to managing the city's 216,000 workers, Bloomberg is betting that it won't be a big leap from having managed 7,800 employees worldwide. The necessary skills -- management, leadership, listening and accountability -- are the same, he argues. "The biggest job the next mayor has is to lead the quarter of a million people," Bloomberg, 59, said in an interview last week in his midtown campaign headquarters. The latest in the series on the current jobs of the mayoral candidates. (Newsday)

The return to the campaign trail of Israel Ruiz, 58, a politician with one of the most colorful histories in the Bronx, has been a fascinating chapter in a competitive race in the 14th Council District, which includes Fordham and Kingsbridge Heights. In his quest to regain his former seat, Mr. Ruiz is confronting four other candidates. One is Maria Baez, who took a leave of absence as chief clerk of the Bronx office of the Board of Elections to run for the Council. Ms. Baez, 43, is backed by the Democratic Party organization in the Bronx. The others are Sergio Villaverde, 34, a lawyer and former police officer who has been involved in a number of civic and community organizations; Charles Williams, the five- term president of Community School Board 10, who became known because of his efforts to prevent the construction of a new school for Marble Hill and Kingsbridge, arguing that it was racially exclusive; and Agustin Alamo, a public school teacher in the Bronx who has run unsuccessfully in the past for City Council and for the State Assembly. (NY Times)

The race to replace outgoing Republican Mike Abel in district 19 in Queens pits a former nightclub singer, a union leader, a party insider, an ex-prosecutor and a former Peace Corps worker against one another. They agree on most issues - more cops, more schools, more senior service - but there is little love lost among them.The former prosecutor, Jerry Iannece, relishes attacking the party candidate Tony Avella, who will be battling him for a strong Italian-American vote.The singer, gadfly Joyce Shepard, vows to move if union official Arthur Cheliotis is elected. (Daily News)

8/25
All six major mayoral candidates have been courting Asian-American New Yorkers, who are themselves paying more attention to this year's elections than they have in the past. Nearly 1 in 10 New Yorkers are of Asian ancestry, making New York City home to the largest number of Asian-Americans in the country. Yet no Asian-American has ever held elected office in the city, though this year's City Council election is likely to change that. Asian-American community leaders hope their newfound political appeal will result in more attention to their issues: access to government services for people who do not speak English; money for Asian-American community organizations; expansion of affordable housing; and classes in English as a second language. (NY Times)

In his third consecutive day of bristling assaults on mayoral candidate and comptroller Alan Hevesi over his ethics, Mayor Rudy Giuliani charged "the comptroller involves himself directly in" the process of selecting the firms that arrange the city's multi-billion-dollar bond sales, "and he shouldn't." A Hevesi spokeswoman called the accusation "another lie." (NY Post)

Both candidates for comptroller, Herb Berman and Bill Thompson, are longtime political insiders with a head for figures. Each uses the word "utilize" a lot. And each agrees with the other on almost every issue. To the extent that the candidates disagree on anything, it is on the outlook for the city's economy and budget. Mr. Thompson takes the gloomier view But the lack of drama does not mean that the comptroller's race is unimportant, especially now that the city's economy is beginning to skid and tax revenues look likely to shrink. The comptroller will have to be the bearer of any bad economic news to the new mayor, the new City Council and the public - as well as paying the bills, borrowing the money and checking out the contracts signed by the city. (NY Times)

Responding to public complaints, a nonprofit group that posted New York City voter registration records on a Web site blocked a feature yesterday that allowed people to retrieve voters' home addresses and party affiliations. (NY Times)

8/24
Mayor Rudy Giuliani kept up his attack on Alan Hevesi yesterday, saying that Mr. Hevesi's "pattern of activity raises serious questions about the way he uses his office." The attack on Mr. Hevesi, coupled with the mayor's decision to play host to Michael R. Bloomberg at a news briefing so that he could be paraded in front of cameras on the steps of City Hall last week, further illuminates how the mayor and his closest aides are quietly trying to help the candidates of their choice. The mayor clearly favors Bloomberg and Peter Vallone. (NY Times)

Peter F. Vallone and Michael R. Bloomberg received the backing yesterday of the Citizens Union, a nonpartisan civic organization, in their respective primary races for mayor. Mr. Vallone, a Democrat, and Mr. Bloomberg, a Republican, were given preferred rankings by the group. It also identified preferred candidates in the citywide races for public advocate and comptroller, in four borough president races and in 32 City Council races. The complete list has been posted on the group's Web site, citizensunion.org. (NY Times)

A new Web site that makes New York City voter registration records - including home addresses - freely available on the Internet has become the latest example of a growing tension between the individual's right to privacy and the public's right to public records in an electronic age. At www.registeredtovoteornot.com, any visitor can type in the last name and birth date of anyone registered to vote in New York City and retrieve that person's address and party affiliation. The site uses data that has always been publicly available on paper at the Board of Elections, and more recently for a fee on compact disc. Run by a nonprofit group called e-the People, the site is intended to encourage voting by letting voters check their registrations, find the proper polling place, or download a voter registration form. But critics say the privacy risks of such an online system may actually discourage voter registration - particularly among celebrities, people who fear they are targets of stalkers and those who might go out of their way to keep their addresses and other personal information private. (NY Times)

The two candidates for comptroller got endorsements from Latino public officials yesterday, Herb Berman from Councilmembers Margarita Lopez, Victor Robles, and Guillermo Linares, and Assembly member Jose Rivera (one of the Vieques Four); William Thompson from Congressmembers Nydia Velazquez and Jose Serrano (Daily News).

Staten Island's elder statesman, state Sen. John Marchi, endorsed Deputy Borough President Jim Molinaro yesterday for the borough's top job in the Sept. 11 Republican primary. Marchi joined such GOP heavyweights as Gov. Pataki and Mayor Giuliani in endorsing Molinaro over Assemblyman Robert Straniere, even though Molinaro is a registered Conservative and Straniere worked for Marchi for 17 years. (Daily News)

City Councilman Alfonso Stabile, the lone Republican running for borough president, got tired of lying low and showed up at a candidates' forum this week [sponsored in part by Citizens Union Foundation.] Stabile has been out of sight since revelations in June that authorities are investigating his handling of a Little League's books and his campaign finances. "All of us would make an excellent, excellent borough president," he told a crowd at York College on Wednesday night. "What is different is that the way I will execute the office is in your face." (Daily News)

Former state senator and current City Council candidate Larry Seabrook thought he was finished with Eliot Engel after losing to the congressman in last year's elections. But Engel (D-Bronx, Westchester) is again trying to block Seabrook's path to public office - this time by endorsing his longtime aide, Shirley Saunders, for the 12th District City Council seat in the Bronx that Seabrook covets. (Daily News)

A St. John's University law student filed a designating petition that was "permeated with fraud" in his bid for a City Council seat from Flushing, according to a State Supreme Court judge. But the Manhattan judge ruled that, because of legal technicalities, Republican Ryan Walsh may run in the 20th Council District anyway. (Newsday)

The 35th Council District in Brooklyn is the scene of one of the most hard- fought City Council campaigns of this election season, where seven candidates are battling for the Democratic nomination and the opportunity to succeed Councilwoman Mary Pinkett, who has represented this district since 1973. The candidates' resumes could hardly be more divergent. Letitia James, 41, the endorsed candidate of the Democratic Party organization in Brooklyn, has worked for several Democratic officials, from Assemblyman Albert Vann to Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer. Peter M. Williams, 42, the director of Housing and Economic Development for the National Urban League, served his political apprenticeship as a technician in the mayoral campaigns of David N. Dinkins. James E. Davis, a police officer, minister and Democratic district leader, came close to beating the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman in an Assembly race three years ago.The race also includes Sidique Wai, the president of the United African Congress and a longtime community organizer on health concerns; William Saunders, another Democratic district leader and a long-term aide to State Senator Velmanette Montgomery; and Robert Hunter, a former investment banker and Vietnam veteran who serves on several community boards. And then there is Abraham Wasserman, a real estate developer and the first member of the Lubavitch Hasidim community to run for a City Council seat. (NY Times)

8/23
In the first major newspaper endorsement in the mayoral race, The New York Post has endorsed Peter Vallone. "He has been a pillar of fiscal probity, a key consideration as the city faces an economic slowdown. He doesn't shrink from hard choices. Case in point: His handling of the "Safe City, Safe Streets" tax surcharge. Vallone promised that the surcharge would be temporary: It was he who insisted on a seven-year "sunset" provision in the bill. In 1998, Giuliani (in a moment of weakness) sought to extend the tax. But Vallone held firm. And the sun set on the surcharge. Just as he had promised."(NY Post)

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani called yesterday for an investigation into whether Alan G. Hevesi, the city comptroller and a Democratic candidate for mayor, had inappropriately used his city post to help a major campaign contributor arrange a meeting with a private company. With the Democratic primary less than three weeks away, Mayor Giuliani spoke about an issue that none of Mr. Hevesi's rivals have publicly discussed so far: Mr. Hevesi's acknowledgment that he instructed one of his top aides to help arrange a meeting about a contract between one of his major campaign contributors and a private company in 1997. "It seems to me that the circumstances suggest inappropriate use of influence," Mr. Giuliani told reporters. "And it's not the first time that's happened with Comptroller Hevesi." Mr. Hevesi fired back that Mayor Giuliani was simply "getting revenge" after the comptroller had moved to block a contract that the city had wanted to award to a welfare-to-work company, Maximus Inc. (NY Times) "It's perfectly appropriate to help businesses in the city," Hevesi said. We do it all the time." (Daily News)

In several interviews with a reporter, Shawn Bullock, a former administrative assistant for one of Lowinger's companies, stands firm in her accusation that Maurice Lowinger (who died in March) handed Alan Hevesi $6,000 in cash at a 1997 meeting during which Lowinger asked for the comptroller's help getting a contract with Bell Atlantic to make telephones. (NY Observer)

Michael Bloomberg picked up the endorsement of all five Republican City Council members yesterday, bolstering his already-strong chances to win the GOP mayoral primary - even as his rival, Herman Badillo, submitted petitions to launch his own third party. (Daily News)

If The New York Times follows its tradition, Gail Collins will publish her first political endorsements as editor of The Times' editorial page on Sunday, Sept. 9, two days before the primary. Along with her editorial board, Ms. Collins-who has been at her post for less than one month-will have a potent opportunity to influence city government. The Times editorial page is likely to play a significant role in the race for Mayor, which has turned into a contest for second place behind Public Advocate Mark Green. As the candidates jockey for the nods of labor unions and public figures, the talk among politicos is that The Times could play a large hand in determining who faces Mr. Green in a runoff-or, perhaps, help Mr. Green to lock up the 40 percent he needs to avoid a runoff altogether. For some time, it has been the consensus-both inside and outside The Times-that the editorial board's endorsement was Alan Hevesi's to lose. But lately that mood has been changing, as Mr. Hevesi, the City Comptroller, has faced intense scrutiny about the financing of his campaign. Campaign-finance reform, of course, has long been a Times editorial crusade, and though no one suggests Mr. Hevesi is out of the running, sources inside the paper say an endorsement of Mr. Hevesi does not appear as certain as it once did. (NY Observer)

Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayoral candidate, declined an invitation yesterday to appear with his main Republican opponent Herman Badillo on a locally televised debate. Mr. Bloomberg had been asked to take part in an hour-long debate sponsored by The New York Times and the cable news station New York 1, to be held on Sept. 6, five days before the Republican primary. Mr. Bloomberg regularly fails to appear at forums open to all major candidates. His spokesman says he has agreed to two other debates with Badillo -- a one-hour debate to air on WNYC-AM (820) between 10 a.m. and noon on Aug. 31, and a 30-minute debate on WNBC-TV set to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 9. (NY Times)

Mayoral candidate Mark Green stood on the steps of Bronx Borough Hall yesterday and exchanged endorsements with Pedro Espada. But it was not Pedro Espada Jr., who is running to replace Green adversary Fernando Ferrer as borough president. It was his son Pedro G. Espada, who is running for reelection in the City Council's 17th District. Although the elder Espada, a state senator, was on hand to pose for news photographers holding Green's hand high in the air, Green said his endorsement in the borough president's race would have to wait. "One Espada at a time," Green said. "And I know the difference - 'Junior' [the elder] and 'G' [the younger]." (Daily News)

8/22
The four Democratic mayoral candidates held their first televised debate last night. The post-debate evaluation depends largely on which newspaper headlines one reads. The New York Times called it a "Harmonious Gathering, With A Touch of Discord" and said that the candidates "Struggled to Define Themselves." The Daily News called it a "Vallone-Hevesi Slugfest" and the Post declared "Hevesi and Vallone Duke It Out." Newsday focused on the countdown with the headline "20 Days Until the Primary." And various columnists called different candidates and even Giuliani the "winner." Read a short excerpted transcript of the debate from the New York Times

Reverend Al Sharpton will endorse Fernando Ferrer for mayor, the Voice reports. (Village Voice)

It was a study in black and white when City Council candidates in southern Queens made their pitch to voters. In one section of the auditorium of Beach Channel High School in the Rockaways Monday night, seven white candidates for the 32nd District made their pitches to an all-white audience. Just a few steps away, the four black candidates in the 31st District made their pitches to a mostly black audience. (Newsday)

Home to some of the city's most overcrowded schools, and some of the scariest stretches of Queens Boulevard, District 29 is looking for a new leader in the fall. A former assemblywoman, a public relations executive, a TV newswoman and several community activists are battling for the city council seat now held by Karen Koslowitz, who cannot run again because of term limits. The district includes the sprawling suburban areas of Forest Hills and Kew Gardens as well as Rego Park and parts of Maspeth and Ridgewood. Even with six candidates, there was little disagreement among the contenders about such issues as education, Queens Boulevard safety and rent stabilization.Public relations executive Lynn Schulman and Melinda Katz are running for the Democratic line, while television journalist Rene Lobo is the sole Republican. Norbert Chwat is running as a Conservative, Joseph Tiraco on the Independence line and Jeanette Evans with the Green Party. (Newsday)

8/21
Fernando Ferrer yesterday vowed to give city workers time off to meet with their kids' teachers, saying it would encourage more parents to take an active role in education. (NY Post)

A former top staffer to Public Advocate Mark Green ran a political consulting firm while working full time for Green's office and used city phones to make hundreds of dollars worth of private calls. Scott Levenson worked as president and sole shareholder of The Advance Group, a private firm he owns, while serving as Green's $95,000-a-year chief of operations from 1994 to 1999. Levenson replies that he reimbursed the city for phone calls, that he worked far more than the required 35 hours for Green, and he obtained clearance from the city's Conflicts of Interest Board to hold both jobs. (Daily News)

Of the $8.3 million that the Democratic candidates have raised collectively in the borough of Manhattan (far more than in the other boroughs), Mark Green has raised the most, $3 million, while Fernando Ferrer lags behind his opponents, with $1.25 million. The result is that he is far behind Mr. Green in fund-raising, even though Mr. Ferrer has raised more money in Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. (NY Times)