Now that I’ve gotten the difficult endorsements out of the way, here are the rest.
PRESIDENT: Barack Obama.
US SENATE
NEW YORK: Kirsten Gillibrand.
ELSEWHERE: Gatemouth also recommends a vote for the Democrat in every state, except Vermont, where he support Independent Bernie Sanders, Maine, where he supports Independent Angus Kings and Tennessee, where he support a write in vote for The Dixie Chicks.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
6th CD: Assemblywoman Grace Meng is one of the most well-liked people in Albany, and combined with her formidable intelligence and her concern for people other than herself, she will be an effective figure in Washington and in the district.
By contrast, her GOP opponent, Councilman Dan Halloran, is perhaps the City’s most repugnant Republican elected official (if one disregards the temporary accident of David Storobin).
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES MENGOTHER RACES:
ELSEWHRE: Gatemouth also recommends a vote for the Democrat in every district where there is one, nationwide, with the exception of New York 5, Massachusetts 6 and Illinois 2, where he makes no endorsements. In the California race, where Democrat Howard Berman faces Democrat Brad Sherman, Gatemouth endorses Berman. In the California District where Democrat Janice Hahn faces Democrat Laura Richardson, Gatemouth endorses Hahn.
STATE SENATE:
11th SD: Incumbent Tony Avella can sometimes be a bit of an ass, but often a useful one. Further, this is a mildly competitive district and Avella’s opponent, Joe Concannon has engaged in libelous lies and appeals to bigotry worthy of David Storobin.
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES AVELLA.
16th SD: Toby Stavisky
22nd SD: Incumbent Marty Golden is a living anachronism; the perfect Eisenhower era Republican (though in fairness to Ike, with the exception of his ongoing efforts to buy off unions with pension sweeteners, Golden is the perfect Robert Taft Republican).
It is time for his rapidly diversifying area of Brooklyn to enter the 21st Century. Democrat Andrew Gounardes is smart, will work hard for the district, and is committed to process reform. He would be a vast improvement.
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES GOUNARDES.
23rd SD: Despite my frequent difference with Diane Savino, she is like an electric shock to the Albany system.
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES SAVINO.
25th SD: Normally, I would not bother endorsing in such a non-competitive race, but I spent years drinking in the same bar as GOP candidate John Jasilli, and despite his musical talents, he is so obnoxious that he was the first person I ever defriended on Facebook.
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY.
SUBURBS: Gatemouth endorses George Latimer, David Carlucci and Justin Wagner.
UPSTATE: Gatemouth endorses Steve Saland, Mark Grisanti, Ted O’Brien and Cecilia Tkaczyk.
ASSEMBLY:
33rd AD: Incumbent Barbara Clark has a questionable record on member items, involvement with a questionable post-Katrina “charity,” and made an argument on the Assembly floor against same sex marriage which was rampant in its irrelevant stupidity.
Her primary opponent, Clyde Vanel, now running on the More Jobs line, an attorney, seems smart and a decent sort. It is hard to see how we could do worse than Clark.
Gatemouth endorses Vanel.
41st AD: I respect Republican-Conservative Joe Hayon for being a principled ideological fanatic, unafraid of following his beliefs to their sometimes frightening logical conclusions.
Because Hayon is so dedicated to his religious beliefs, he does not denigrate the rights of Moslems to practice their religion. Sometimes Hayon's principles leads him to liberal positions like opposing stop and frisk, but sadly, it more often leads to efforts which, however well intentioned and motivated by unselfish concerns, have helped lead to the poisonous political atmosphere of today’s southern Brooklyn.
Further, Hayon’s opponent is Helene Weinstein, a dedicated and substantive member of the Assembly who grapples thoughtfully with difficult legal issues.
Helene is truly one of Albany’s best.
Hayon deserves credit for twice giving southern Brooklynites real races where they previously did not seem possible, and for refusing to engage in felafel bashing, but there is really only one possible choice for thinking voters:
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES WEINSTEIN.
46th AD: Unlike most Southern Brooklyn Republicans, Tom McCarthy seems a decent sort, refusing to pander against the right of Muslims to construct houses of worship. But though I find him too cautious on some social issues, incumbent Alec Brook-Krasny’s re-election is crucial to those of us interested in building a southern Brooklyn Democratic Party which embraces core principles while still being able to appeal to those communities.
A loyal Democrat, Brook-Krasny has been brave and outspoken in making the case for his Party in often hostile turf, and serves as a model for the Mariya Yudkevichs and John Lisanskiys of Brooklyn’s future.
GATEMOUTH ENDORSES BROOK-KRASNY.
61st AD: Matt Titone
UPSTATE: Gatemouth endorses Janet Duprey.
CITY COUNCIL:
12th COUNCILMANIC: Andy King, who had the courage to give scumbag Larry Seabrook a real race when that took guts, now deserves election.