A Tough Fight When Sandra Roper, the lawyer challenging District Attorney Joe Hynes, was recently put back on the ballot by the Appellate Division, a collective groan could be heard emanating from the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club. The club is not very concerned with Roper herself, but rather with two of her allies who were restored to the ballot along with her, judicial candidates Eileen Nadelson and Peter Sweeney.

The club's judicial candidate, Mark Partnow, now has a tough race on his hands, something the Jefferson Dems have worked all summer to prevent. "We're all disappointed," said one Partnow supporter. "But we've come way too far to say, 'Well, that means he's not going to become a judge.' We never took anything for granted."

That's a good thing, because at this point there are no guarantees. Sweeney, Nadelson and Partnow will be thrown together on the ballot with sitting Judge Howard Ruditzky, and the top two vote-getters will take office. As the lone woman, Nadelson has a distinct advantage. Ruditzky's obviously Jewish name also gives him an edge.

However, the club is pulling out the stops for Partnow, putting him on all of its candidate's palm cards (including the cards of many county candidates) and telling anyone who will listen to vote for him and no other judicial candidate. Nadelson and Sweeney don't have the same kind of push, especially because many of the Council candidates allied with Roper did not make the ballot. Of the other Council candidates around, few would be willing to rub Hynes the wrong way by supporting Nadelson or Sweeney.

A club's ability to get judges elected is one concrete way to measure its influence, as judgeships are perhaps the most significant patronage positions in the county. Partnow, who currently clerks for a Supreme Court judge, and his supporters would be quick to point out that he is well qualified for the post.

Say What? Borough President Howard Golden left some political observers scratching their heads when he recently endorsed Public Advocate Mark Green for mayor. "I'll be damned if I can figure it out," said one insider. "I don't have a clue, and I'm not sure Howie does either." "It was one of the most puzzling things I have ever seen," said another source. "How Howie Golden comes to Mark Green, who figures to be the anti-Golden in every possible way… I don't know who made the marriage, and I can't see it moving a lot of voters."

Another source said that Golden was deciding between Green and Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, whose black-Latino coalition could have had more cross-appeal for Jeannette Gadson, Golden's special assistant and a candidate for borough president. Gadson is being supported by County Leader Clarence Norman, Jr. who has endorsed Comptroller Alan Hevesi. But Gadson has not backed anyone herself.

At the announcement, Golden praised the Brooklyn-born Green as being best able to represent diverse constituencies, and as being the only candidate to consistently support programs that will benefit Brooklyn.

Coney Candidate Back In Play Inna Stavitsky is back on the ballot in Coney Island, ensuring that the Russian vote in the 47th Councilmanic District will be split with fellow Russian-American Alec Brook-Krasny. Stavisky was originally tossed off the ballot in Supreme Court when she was unable to restore previously stricken signatures because of a technicality-her lawyer had not filed a petition to validate. The rule requiring the petition before the court can consider restoring signatures that have been struck by the Board of Elections has tripped up neophytes in the past. Stavitsky's attorney, Harry Kresky, had argued that the rule was unconstitutional.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District held that Stavitsky should be returned to the ballot, but the judge's order was only one line. The larger issue of the rule's constitutionality is still unclear. "I hope the judge writes an opinion," said Kresky.

Stavitsky's return to the race hurts Brook-Krasny more than anyone. Brook-Krasny, the only other Russian-American in the race, had originally tried to knock her off. Her presence will also have a negative impact on Susan Lasher, the wife of the departing councilmember. "Susan was counting on getting a lot of female Jewish votes. Now, it takes some of the incidental votes away," said one insider.

Rounding out the field are attorney Domenic Recchia, local activist Pat Singer, and union organizer Joe Hochhauser.

Place Your Bets If you like to gamble, here's as close to a sure thing as you're likely to see this primary season: Lew Filder in the 46th Councilmanic District. Fidler is supported by the large majority of the district's civic and political infrastructure, and has run a campaign that has provided no opportunity for his opponents to overtake him. He also knocked two of the candidates from the ballot to consolidate his support. If Fidler were to lose, it would be the biggest upset of any race in Brooklyn.

He also recently picked up the backing of the Citizens Union, a good government group that lauded his expertise and experience while dismissing his two opponents, Abe Levy and Doreen Greenwood, with a sentence apiece.

Marty's Meddling Is Councilmember Marty Golden pulling a Rudy? The Bay Ridge Republican has been meddling in the Democratic primary, although unlike the caustic mayor, Golden has not zeroed in on one particular candidate. Instead, he's spreading the mischief between the two front-runners vying for the opportunity to challenge him in November.

Golden's office recently put out a six-page press release criticizing Democrat Joanne Seminara-Lehu for working for a law firm that represents Fordham University in its push to build a 480-foot radio tower over the objections of the New York Botanical Garden and others. Seminara-Lehu's advocacy, claims Golden staffer Jeffery Kraus, runs counter to her local persona as a fighter for neighborhood preservation.

One would think such a move indicates Golden's reluctance to face Seminara-Lehu in the general election, but the meddling doesn't stop there. The other Democratic front-runner, Carlo Scissura, was recently booted from the local school board for missing a seminar. Insiders have been buzzing since about whether Golden plied some influence with Schools Chancellor Harold Levy to harm Scissura's image as an effective local representative.

The one candidate Golden hasn't targeted is Ursula Gangemi, perhaps because he feels as if he could overwhelm her if she were to win. Gangemi, making her first bid for public office, recently made an eyebrow-raising move of her own. When she first entered the race, she vowed not to accept public matching funds on the principle that taxpayer money should not be used to fund political campaigns. That conviction, however, did not see her through, as she has accepted $45,500 in matching funds so far for the primary.

"I just felt that it was something that had been voted on," she said. "All the other candidates were participating [in the matching funds program], and I thought as an equal candidate, I should participate as well."

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