Speaker Coalition Stalled After a second meeting, the Brooklyn City Council delegation, including Democratic nominees, is no closer to choosing a speaker candidate than it was after its first meeting a few weeks ago. In fact, some who attended the meeting felt that the group may be even farther away from consensus than it was after the first meeting, since members and nominees have now raised issues with the process itself. The issues of concern include the timetable for choosing a candidate, the county organization's role in the process and the choice of speaker candidates. "There's an attempt to put a framework, a process, together by which Brooklyn could be unified. [But] there are enough different objections to the process to make it difficult," said one nominee who attended the meeting. According to sources, Councilmember Angel Rodriguez has the most support at this point, but that base is not wide enough to bring about a vote on the issue.

Rodriguez's chances to become speaker increased exponentially when Fernando Ferrer lost to Mark Green in the Democratic mayoral runoff. Had Ferrer won, it would be hard to politically justify supporting another Latino for one of the city's most powerful positions, said members and nominees. "The fact that Ferrer did not win-clearly Angel dodged a big torpedo," said one source.

Rodriguez expressed distaste for that analysis, saying that race should not be a factor. He also said that he had about 12 votes. "I'm in good shape. I can tell you that I have more than a dozen votes, probably twice more than anybody else," he said. Brooklyn's other two announced candidates are Al Vann and Councilmember Tracy Boyland.

Despite the views of others, Assemblymember Clarence Norman, Jr. said that he came away from the meeting more convinced than ever that the Brooklyn delegation would remain together. "As a result of the dialogue that's transpired, I'm more convinced now that the Brooklyn delegation will stay together as a block," said Norman.

If Brooklyn can keep its 16 councilmembers together, it will be the largest player in the speaker's race. To be elected speaker, a member needs 26 votes. But another nominee who attended the meeting said it was apparent that there were few members or nominees in the room who Norman could definitely count on, making it more difficult to forge the coalition. "The one thing that became clear is that Clarence doesn't have a lot of votes," said the nominee. Norman, like county leaders across the city, is challenged with trying to build consensus among a group of people that includes many whom the county organization actively opposed in the primary.

Sources were mixed on whether they believed the delegation would ultimately stay together. "It's entirely possible that this winds up with who can put together parts of [one borough's] delegation with parts of another delegation," said one nominee. "A lot of people have their own personal agenda." The delegation was scheduled to meet again shortly, but no decision appears imminent, as no vote was scheduled.

Meanwhile, Democratic Council nominee Bill de Blasio made an eyebrow-raising move last week when he met with Michael Boxley, counsel to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. De Blasio did not return calls seeking comment, but insiders believe that he is trying to rally top level support for his speaker campaign, which so far has been conducted very quietly.

Below The Belt Several neighborhoods in Brooklyn were hit with extraordinarily negative, racially charged leaflets and posters just before the mayoral runoff, causing concern among political insiders that the battle in Brooklyn was not fought cleanly. In Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, leaflets were dropped that said "Urgent message: Please read!" The leaflet reprinted a newspaper cartoon depicting Ferrer stooping to kiss the grossly exaggerated behind of the Rev. Al Sharpton, with the words across the bottom: "Get out and vote on Thursday, October 11 or… Al Sharpton will be our next Mayor."

The Green campaign has denied any involvement in the distribution of the leaflet. District Leader Ralph Perfetto, an employee and staunch supporter of Green, said that none of the material was distributed on his watch. "Our people are sensitive about any darn thing," he said, adding that to his knowledge, the flyers were only distributed in Borough Park by Green supporters acting on their own.

Other voters reported receiving anonymous phone messages warning them that Sharpton would have the keys to City Hall if Ferrer were elected. But Green was also a subject of unfair attack leveled through criticism of a supporter, in this case Councilmember Noach Dear. Posters in Borough Park displayed an open letter from Dear urging his constituents to vote for Green because he was "the only one who will take the needs of the Jewish community to task. "Remember," said the letter, "voting is power, and by not voting, we give power to people who do not share our interests and do not have our best interests in mind."

The posters were torn down, and in black marker the following words were written across the top: "Noach Dear is an unrepentant homophobe!" The posters were then re-posted in Park Slope, home to many gay and lesbian residents. Roberto Ramirez, spokesperson for the Ferrer campaign, did not return a call seeking comment.

Bloomberg Meeting Causes Stir Rep. Major Owens has caused a private backlash among some local Democrats by recently meeting with Republican mayoral candidate Michael Bloomberg. "Major should pay for this," said one incensed insider. Owens said that Bloomberg requested the meeting, and that the two talked for an hour, with Bloomberg emphasizing inclusiveness and education. "There is a temptation to want to hear more, and I do not rule out the possibility of endorsing him," said Owens. "I'm very concerned about what the other supporters of Ferrer decide."

Since the runoff, prominent Ferrer supporters such as Denis Rivera, head of Local 1199, and Rep. Charles Rangel have met with Bloomberg. Owens, like other Ferrer supporters, is angry with what he views as dirty and racially divisive tactics employed by Mark Green in the runoff. He also has a long running personal feud with Green, which began when Owens withdrew his endorsement of Green during Green's losing Senate campaign against Chuck Schumer.

Since then, Owens said that he has felt singled out by Green, who refused to shake his hand at the Schumer victory party after the general election. "That kind of pettiness has gone on for some time," said Owens. Green backed Councilmember Una Clarke when she challenged Owens last year in a bitter race with its own racial subtext.

Despite the history, Owens' meeting with Bloomberg has angered some local Democrats who feel that he went too far. "It's hypocritical because he can't ideologically sanction it," said one insider. "Major can permanently and irreparably damage himself with white liberals by playing footsie with this." Owens has a substantial white liberal base in Park Slope.

"I'm concerned about people who are politically orthodox and see things in terms of Democrats and Republicans," said Owens. "Michael Bloomberg was a Democrat this time last year and has been a Democrat most of his life… For those constituents in Park Slope, the question is whether they're going to be willing to see that in a more unorthodox way, [and] not get caught up in the Democrat-Republican formula."

Minor Party Seeking Major Impact The Green Party is looking to make a splash in two general elections in brownstone Brooklyn, with an eye toward raising the party's visibility and upping its clout. "At the very least we will define ourselves as a viable number two party, viable meaning healthy double-digit numbers," said Craig Seeman, the party's state chairman. Seeman is challenging Democratic nominee David Yassky and Working Families Party nominee Ken Diamondstone in the 33rd Councilmanic District, with Yassky as the favorite. In the 39th Councilmanic District, Gloria Mattera will take on favored Democratic nominee Bill de Blasio.

"I'm more excited about Gloria's situation and my situation than any previous campaign," said Seeman. "The fact that people will see two viable candidates is going to mean significant visibility." Seeman expects about $25,000 in matching funds, while Mattera expects about $28,000. "We're going to get a significant amount of funds to come out for Election Day," said Mattera. "We really intend to run a very active campaign."

The party's success, said Seeman, will not necessarily be defined by victory, but by demonstrating its influence with Democratic voters. Usually, most the vast majority of Green votes come from enrolled Democrats, with a ratio of about ten votes cast on the Green line by Democrats for every one vote cast by a registered Green, said Seeman. "What this race will show is whether we can keep those people who are enrolled Democrats voting Green in the general election," said Seeman.

Seminara Cross-Endorsed Democratic Council nominee Joanne Seminara-Lehu recently picked up the support of a Bensonhurst Republican club, giving her a boost in her race against Republican incumbent Marty Golden. Most insiders feel that Golden has the edge, but Seminara-Lehu is running an aggressive campaign against Golden for the second time since 1997. She is now being backed by Arnaldo Ferraro, the former Assemblymember in the 49th A.D., and the Fiorella La Guardia Republican Club.

"It's certainly, as far as I know, [unique] in the history of politics at this local level or any other level, that the local Republican club is endorsing a Democratic nominee," said Seminara-Lehu. "It may be unique, but it has happened," said Ferraro. "When we come to a local endorsement, we have to select the person that can provide more for the community. This is not a blanket endorsement of Democratic candidates throughout the city-this is a local, particular endorsement."

Ferraro has his disagreements with Golden, although he said that did not factor into the endorsement. He supports current Republican County Leader Arthur Bramwell, while Golden is supporting District Leader Hy Singer for the post. "A public official should not get involved in county activities," Ferraro said of Golden.

Seminara-Lehu also picked up the support of her primary rival, Carlo Scissura, as well as Assemblymember Peter Abbate. Democratic County Leader Clarence Norman, Jr. said that he will fully support Seminara-Lehu in the general election, even if it means angering Golden, whose vote Norman may need for Council speaker.

Coney Battle Brewing Insiders believe that Democratic Council nominee Domenic Recchia will likely prevail against Republican Oleg Gutnik, but they expect a closer race than usual.

There are factors working in Gutnik's favor. First, depressed Democratic turnout for the mayoral election may hurt Recchia, while Republicans coming out to support Michael Bloomberg will work to Gutnik's advantage. "Mike Bloomberg is going to be spending tons of money in white southern Brooklyn. He's going to hook up with the Gutnik campaign," said one insider. Additionally, Gutnik will surely try to energize a Russian base, a strategy that could, if successful, result in a large block of votes.

And Gutnik has the money to run a strong campaign. "He's got a fortune, and with a fortune, you never know," said one source. But Gutnik faces the very large problem of defeating the local Democratic infrastructure. Recchia is supported by nearly all the local Democratic officials and clubs, and he has proven that he can get votes in the largely Jewish district.

His base of support-Bensonhurst-is also a major advantage. Bensonhurst is home to many Republicans, but many of them are Italian and will likely vote for Recchia.

Surprisingly, one local Democrat, Susan Lasher, wife of Councilmember Howard Lasher, has pledged support to Gutnik, and is working as part of a team of "Democrats for Gutnik." "It's disgraceful," said Assemblymember Adele Cohen. Lasher, who lost to Recchia in the primary, did not return a call seeking comment.

Borough Politics Archive
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