MARTY MARKOWITZ, VERBATIM Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was so unnerved by the uncanny accuracy of the transcript of his private conversation about East River bridge tolls posted on the Internet, the beep assumed he had been secretly recorded. "It was word for word," Markowitz told us. "It is reprehensible, without telling the person you're speaking with that you're being recorded. Anyone who values privacy rights would feel the same way."

But Charles Komanoff, the tolls advocate who posted their conversation, which occurred at a Long Island wedding, e-mailed us, "I simply remembered what we said and wrote it down the next day." He added by phone, "I don't know that I've ever carried a tape recorder in my life. I don't know that I'd even know how to work one." Komanoff said he would call Markowitz to put his mind at ease. He later posted an online apology to Markowitz and the families of the bride and groom for his "inappropriate action." However, the Web page with the transcript remained up.

Markowitz, though rankled by the episode, was gratified that his private words were consistent with his public position. "I'm not ashamed of anything I said," Markowitz noted. "Thank God I didn't curse." Komanoff, of Manhattan, and Park Slope resident Steve O'Neill comprise the entire staff of the Bridge Tolls Advocacy Project, which used a $25,000 foundation grant to study and promote tolls on the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges.

The grant has been exhausted, which no doubt pleases Markowitz, a steadfast opponent of the tolls. The issue has been dead since Mayor Mike Bloomberg dropped it last April.

Komanoff said he transcribed and posted his buffet-line conversation with Markowitz because he was annoyed that the beep again claimed that tolls would cause delays, when in fact they could be collected electronically without slowing down vehicles. "What impelled me to post it was Marty's resort to the 'traffic backup' canard. It's long past time to retire that one, I'd say," Komanoff e-mailed. "Let's debate tolls on their true merits (and demerits) and leave the baloney out of it."

Markowitz countered that at the time, "I had my eyes on the lox and corned beef."

JOB HUNTING IN PROSPECT HEIGHTS The internecine battle in Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, and Crown Heights, where half a million bucks is being spent in an effort to win an $80,000 City Council job, wraps up on November 4. Nobody has any idea whether Tish James of the Working Families Party or Democrat Geoffrey Davis will win, or what effect Republican Tony Herbert and Conservative Abe Wasserman will have on the race, but the campaign has certainly been eventful.

In a previous column, we quoted James responding to Herbert labeling her a "hack" by recalling that Herbert had previously asked for her help landing a job. Indeed, a few years ago when State Senator Marty Connor was hiring people, James called a Connor operative and put in a good word for Herbert. The operative was later called by the Connor aide who was vetting job applicants, and relayed the recommendation. That, friends, is how insiders land these political patronage jobs.

But putting that aside, is Herbert wrong to criticize a woman who's helped him in the past? Indeed not. What would be wrong is if he treated James with kid gloves because of favors she'd done for him. As a candidate, Herbert's obligation is to run hard and speak out. Which also livens up political columns. In other Tish James news, her publicists informed us that former 77th Precinct Community Council head James Caldwell would be part of a "unifying force in support" of James at a City Hall press conference on October 28. They omitted that Caldwell just got a $500 consulting fee from James's campaign.

Another member of the "unifying force" was Chanina Sperlin, director of the Crown Heights Political Action Committee, which was paid $4,500 by James's campaign for "outreach services." That didn't make the press release either. Caldwell previously was on Geoffrey Davis's team, during which time he identified Tish James as "the enemy." Davis and Caldwell parted ways after Caldwell called the police with an absurd claim that Herbert had threatened him (an apparent attempt at publicity that backfired).

"He's an opportunist as well. It goes to show there's no scruples among these people," Herbert said, recalling that Caldwell previously deserted then-district leader James Saunders for James Davis's camp… …Tish James is not merely a candidate of the Working Families Party, but an employer of it as well. Her campaign has so far paid the party $44,139 for office space, staff members, and the like. She also paid $6,000 for "volunteer supervision" to ACORN, a reform organization that provides election services for money…

A noteworthy contributor of $500 to James's war chest was Lou Rosenthal, the attorney who allegedly received excessive fees from the estates of dead Brooklynites, courtesy of his former law school buddy Mike Feinberg, the borough's surrogate judge. The scheme is reportedly under investigation… James also got $250 from Gerald Shargel, the attorney representing her former boss, Assemblyman Roger Green…

On a lighter note, Prospect Heights resident Schellie Hagan, who's fighting plans for a basketball arena at Atlantic Terminal, listed her occupation along with her $325 donation to James's campaign: "gadfly," she wrote.

WHICH OWENS WILL RUN? Another person seen around town of late is Chris Owens, who's gearing up to run for Congress whenever his father, Rep. Major Owens, hangs it up. He's reportedly been introducing himself this way: "Hi, I'm Chris Owens. I'm going to be running for Congress when my father retires."

The younger Owens's itinerary and fundraising have caught the attention of others interested in the seat, including Councilwoman Tracy Boyland. She's telling people that if Chris Owens registers a fundraising committee, she would too. Other possible candidates include State Senator Carl Andrews, Councilwoman Yvette Clarke, and Assemblyman Nick Perry.

Is the elder Owens going to quit soon? "Major hasn't raised money in a very long time, so there might be something to it," one legislator told us. On the other hand, since Owens can win reelection without raising tons of money, there's no reason to go begging for cash.

POLITICAL TIDBITS The campaign committee "Askew for City Council" is still listed on the Campaign Finance Board's Web site. That was the committee formed by Othniel Boaz "Aaron" Askew, the nut who murdered Councilman James Davis in City Hall and was in turn killed by a cop on July 23.

Incidentally, late in the spring Askew submitted his biographical information and probably a photo to be included in the 2003 Voter Guide, which is mailed to registered voters. The Campaign Finance Board is now refusing to release the information, even though Askew intended it for public viewing. Undeterred, we submitted a Freedom of Information Law request for the information. The CFB still refused, citing an obscure and irrelevant clause in the state law governing the release of information. We filed an appeal but have yet to hear back. Why CFB wants to bury information Askew intended for the Voter Guide is anyone's guess…

In his latest newsletter, Rep. Major Owens writes, "Even though I have sent forward progressive bills that impact (sic) residents in the district…they fail to move out of committee." At least he's honest…

Councilman David Yassky's people believe the only reason Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes is prosecuting Assemblyman Clarence Norman is to give Hynes something to run on in 2005, when Yassky may challenge him in the Democratic primary. State Senator John Sampson is also considering running, but the Yassky folks aren't yet taking him seriously. Sampson has about $11,000 in campaign funds, Yassky $300,000…

Councilman Bill deBlasio was endorsed by the New York League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club, though deBlasio's opponent in the November 4 general election, Gloria Mattera of Park Slope, hails from the Green Party. Mattera replied that the Sierra Club's endorsements reflect its "safety-first approach" (translation: endorse the Democrat, not the candidate strongest on the environment). She noted that the organization endorsed Al Gore over Ralph Nader. Mattera has no chance to win, but she's been a thorn in deBlasio's side. Would you believe deBlasio's people have been forced to confess his campaign's failure to use soy-based inks? The councilman has promised to do so in the future, and to use recycled paper, too.

We also assume it was no coincidence that a week before the election deBlasio released a study calling for the city government to phase out its sport utility vehicles. "I'd like to see the whole country kick the SUV habit," said deBlasio. He could begin by lobbying Borough President Marty Markowitz, his neighbor in Park Slope, to forsake his SUV. Mattera, for her part, has been tooling around the 39th Council District in a pedicab.

Yassky, by the way, was the only councilmember to receive a perfect score from the League of Conservation Voters when it rated members for their positions on 11 pieces of environmental legislation. Yassky and deBlasio were the only two Brooklyn councilmembers endorsed by the league this year, though deBlasio only took the LCV-favored position on six of the 11 bills for a 55 percent rating...

We got a kick out of Sunset Park candidate Danniel Maio's statement in the Voter Guide for his race against Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez: "If you don't like the current politician, give someone else a chance. If you don't trust the current system, pick someone who's committed to do something about it. If you don't understand politics, don't give up. Danniel Maio is here." As a Republican, Maio has no hope against the Democrat Gonzalez in the 38th Council District, but the point of his candidacy was to get more Asians involved in local politics.

The Campaign Finance Board allowed Republican candidate Pat Russo to keep $20,000 in matching funds it awarded him for a Republican primary that never happened. That ticked off backers of Russo's opponent, Councilman Vinny Gentile, who are spinning it to make it seem like Russo is getting taxpayer money he doesn't deserve. City Councilman Kendall Stewart is resigning his Democratic district leadership after 10 years. He aimed to have his chief of staff, Asquith Reid, succeed him, which reportedly upset Assemblyman Nick Perry. Usually the choice would be given to the presiding assemblymember. (Each assembly district has a male and female district leader for the Democratic and Republican parties. They are elected officials but rarely have opponents, so are not often seen on the ballot.)

We like that new Democratic district leader Francis Byrd is e-mailing an occasional newsletter to those who follow politics in the 57th Assembly District (Fort Greene, Prospect Heights). But a little more disclosure would be appreciated. In his October 4 message, Byrd praised Comptroller Billy Thompson for an initiative to protect neighborhoods from having homeless shelters forced on them by the city and "crooked developers." "Three cheers for Bill Thompson!" crowed Byrd, neglecting to mention that he works for Bill Thompson…

Russian Republican activist Oleg Gutnik managed to get arrested after a late October scuffle over a car parked next to his Sheepshead Bay condominium. But to hear his version of the story, he was the victim. Gutnik told us through intemediary Mike Geller (a Democratic district leader) that he asked a fellow Russian to remove his car from Gutnik's property. When the man refused, Gutnik pulled out his cell phone to call police, only to be accosted by the man. When the police arrived, rather than sort out what happened, they arrested both men. Gutnik, a Brighton Beach obstetrician, is known for delivering babies, not punches. If his account of the fracas is true, look for the charges to be dismissed.

THE GREAT EXPERIMENT Supporters of Civil Court Judge Margarita Lopez Torres are hoping newspaper endorsements, such as the one she just got from the New York Sun, help her do the unprecedented: win a Supreme Court judgeship without the Democratic line.

Lopez Torres is running on the Working Families Party line, along with four other candidates who had no opportunity to run as Democrats. That's because the Democratic machine controls the judicial convention at which the party's Supreme Court nominees are chosen. And the machine does not like Lopez Torres, in part because she won't do its bidding.

The judge was able to run for reelection to Civil Court (little cases, 10-year terms, $125,000 salary) last year on the Democratic Party line by collecting signatures on petitions. But for Supreme Court (bigger cases, 14-year terms, $136,700 salary), it doesn't work that way.

The Working Families Party is swimming upstream by running judicial candidates in a borough with 900,000 registered Democrats, many of whom habitually pull all the levers on their own party's Row B. Working Families is asking voters to reach all the way to Row E. So uncommon an action is this for many voters that much of the party's literature is devoted to voting instructions. How many voters never even see minor-party candidates at the edges of the ballot is anyone's guess.

But if even one Working Families judicial candidate gets elected-and Lopez Torres has the best chance because she's the only one with name recognition-it would break the stranglehold that the Democratic Party has had on the Supreme Court for decades. As unlikely as this seems, we imagine some Democratic Party insiders are a tad apprehensive. These are, after all, uncharted waters. The Working Families judicial hopefuls would be helped by a strong showing from City Council candidate Tish James, who's running on the WFP line. Voters who pull the lever for her are more likely to do so for the judicial candidates underneath her in the WFP column.

With few competitive races on the November 4 ballot, and nothing above City Council being contested, turnout will be so low that the 35th Council District race (James, Geoffrey Davis, Tony Herbert, Abe Wasserman) could account for a quarter of the votes in the borough, a WFP spokeswoman said.

Contact Brooklyn Politics at (718) 399-3693.

Borough Politics Archive

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2002
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2001
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2000
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1999
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