Fighting Words Less than 24 hours after his general election victory, Councilmember-elect James E. Davis openly challenged three senior politicians who backed his rival, Letitia James. Davis said that next year he may again stir the drink by running against Rep. Major Owens, one of James' most high profile supporters and an outspoken Davis critic. "He [Owens] might want to be concerned," said Davis. "Roger Green, Velmanette Montgomery-all of them should be concerned about their political future, because like it or not, James E. Davis is here and we're looking for some candidates who can take our community to the next level. "I am committed to being on the City Council at this time, but who knows. Maybe next year the numbers will say that Major Owens needs to be taken out, and we'll need to find someone. I have made it very clear that their seats are not safe," he said.

Owens, Green, an assemblyman, and Montgomery, a state senator, not only backed James in the primary, but also backed her in the general election when she ran as the Working Families Party (WFP) candidate. According to unofficial results, she garnered 42 percent of the vote in losing to Davis in the 35th Councilmanic District, covering Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Crown Heights.

Davis, a nemesis of the county leader, Assemblymember Clarence Norman, Jr., is no stranger to controversy. His two losing races against Norman were both bitter, bare-knuckled affairs. His primary victory over James, whom Norman backed, upset other local officials so much that many of them supported her against the Democratic nominee, although Norman did not. Davis said that he prefers to work with Owens, Green and Montgomery, "but there are some options on the table."

Owens, Green and Montgomery could immediately be reached for comment. Davis also had some harsh words for his opponent, James, whose literature urged voters to vote for her on Row H, the WFP line. "There were times I wasn't sure if she was running on Row H or Row L for loser, or SL for sore loser," said Davis, who maintains that James unfairly attacked his character in the primary and general election. James did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Meanwhile, Davis lauded the tough WFP campaign that James and her campaign manager, Bill Lipton, put together to make the election relatively close despite the long shot odds. "What a job he did," Davis said of Lipton. "As a political scientist and lover of this game, what a beautiful display. It was an impressive operation."

James added that his victory was equally impressive. "What I pulled off was absolutely amazing. They did not leave a stone unturned, and yet James Davis came out a winner. Any other candidate than James Davis, and that candidate would have lost," he said.

Bridget Fischer, communications director for the WFP, said that the party had mixed feelings about the election. "Obviously, we're disappointed that she didn't win, but we think it's pretty historic in and of itself. I think this is the best minor party showing in 50 years." The WFP must convince voters to forego the traditional Row B Democratic line and cast their vote much farther down the ballot-something that requires a significant amount of voter outreach. "We don't get votes by default-people have to look for us," said Fischer. "It shows that our campaign educated a significant portion of voters to go out with the intention for voting for Tish."

Greens Encouraged By Local Showing Two other general elections in brownstone Brooklyn were less controversial, but significant for the Green Party, which is beginning to cultivate a base in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and the Williamsburg-Greenpoint area. Craig Seeman, the party's state chair, took roughly 11 percent of the vote in the 33rd Councilmainc District, according to unofficial results. Likewise, Gloria Mattera, running in the adjoining 39th Councilmanic district, also took about 11 percent of the vote.

For the Green Party candidates, the purpose of the election was not necessarily to win, but rather to accumulate recognition and support to improve the party's local status. "We've proven we can consistently get double digits, although the double digits are not as high as we'd like them to be. It takes time to establish a party. But if we survive, I'd say within the next four to eight years we'll be the significant number two party," said Seeman. "At least we provide a mechanism to hold the Democratic candidates accountable."

This election was important to the Greens for two main reasons. First, running two candidates in adjoining districts raised the party's image. "It meant we could get visibility twice," said Mattera. Additionally, the races were the best financed Brooklyn Green races ever, with each candidate receiving about $40,000 in city matching funds, allowing them to outreach like never before. "Gloria had a storefront office; I ran TV commercials," said Seeman Mattera did best in Park Slope, while Seeman did best in Williamsburg-Greenpoint, taking about a quarter of the vote in some areas. Democrats David Yassky and Bill de Blasio ultimately won in the 33rd and 39th Councilmanic Districts, respectively.

Seeman's next job is to help choose a Green candidate for the governor's race. But "Grandpa" Al Lewis of The Munsters TV fame, a Green gubernatorial candidate in the past, may not be running this time. "He's always a possibility. Al saw it as a very tough ride. People see running for office as a glamorous thing, but it's grueling," said Seeman.

Cheesecake, Anyone District Leader Steve Cohn's annual breakfast again drew the usual assortment of political and business elite to Junior's Restaurant on Flatbush Avenue. Among those present were Mark Green, Betsy Gotbaum and William Thompson-"the whole city team," as Cohn said. Gubernatorial candidates Andrew Cuomo and Carl McCall also stopped by. Local leaders who attended included Borough President Howard Golden and his successor Marty Markowitz, State Senate Minority Leader Martin Connor, Assemblymembers Joe Lentol, Joan Millman and County Leader Clarence Norman, Jr.

A host of councilmembers attended, including many announced and unannounced speaker candidates: Bill de Blasio, Gifford Miller and Angel Rodriguez. "You've got speakers everywhere-it's like being at J & R Music World," said one attendee. Nearly 400 people attended, said Cohn, in what may have been a surprise to some. Because Cohn lost his Council election to David Yassky, some insiders thought the breakfast would be less popular this year, but that was not the case.

"The amazing thing is that I thought it was going to be lighter than ever, and for the first hour it was, but then it packed up. It was a damn good crowd," said one schmoozer. Cohn's breakfast has clearly taken on a life of its own. "The idea of the breakfast every year is not necessarily political-no speeches, but just to bring people together to network," said Cohn. "Everyone went home with cheesecake and a smile on their face."

Mending Fences State Senator Martin Connor and District Leader Steve Cohn recently introduced Marty Markowitz and David Yassky to the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg-an influential group in the Hasidic community. The meeting is noteworthy because the Satmar organization opposed both Markowitz and Yassky. The rabbis had backed Cohn over Yassky and Councilmember Ken Fisher over Markowitz. Fisher, however, did not attend the meeting, which went well, according to sources.

Wasting No Time Speaking of Markowitz, just one day after his election as borough president, he officially ushered in his new style. Unlike Borough President Howard Golden, Markowitz is known for his ebullient public displays and unabashed Brooklyn-boosting. So on Wednesday, Markowitz launched his borough-wide "Thank You" tour on the Brooklyn trolley.

"No question about it, baby. The days of being staid are over. I have no shame, it's OK," said Markowitz. "Remember my slogan: As Brooklyn as they come. Brooklyn style, let's put it that way."

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