Last Thursday night, District Leader Lori Knipel (44AD) and the Brooklyn Independent Democrats (BID) held their 14th annual awards dinner. It was to the place to be. Many of those in attendance were political heavyweights in NYC politics. Six potential mayoral candidates for 2013 came. So too did the state comptroller, some members of congress, state senators, assembly members, city council members, judges and district leaders.
Lori knows how to throw an event folks. I have told you before that she has the best Christmas party in Brooklyn politics. Of course there was side talk of her impending run for Brooklyn Borough President in 2013; and the large crowd in attendance was reflective of Lori Knipel’s politic philosophy of inclusion, co-operation and empowerment. It was a rainbow room as diverse as NYC’s demographics.
If Lori does decide to run for boro prez she will be attempting to make history, by becoming the first woman to ever hold the job. Now, remember that Brooklyn is one of the oldest cities in this country. It was first settled 1624. It was later formally linked to the other five boroughs in 1898: thus it is overdue for having a female borough president; especially one (like Lori) who is committed to working with people of all races, religions, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual- orientations and genders.
What was intriguing to me was the fact that six of the current sixteen potential 2013 mayoral candidates dropped in to Lori’s event. I will name them: Bill Thompson (former NYC comptroller); State senator Eric Adams, who has said he will run for mayor if Thompson doesn’t; Congressman Anthony Weiner, who is probably the early favorite to win the democrats 2013 mayoral primary; Public Advocate Bill DiBlasio, who is a long time Brooklyn resident; Comptroller John Liu, who is a tireless campaigner folks; and Brooklyn’s current boro prez Marty Markowitz, whose chances of becoming the next mayor is grossly underrated (mark my words folks): but that’s another column.
There have been times in the past when I did create an odds board for political races; I will do one now for the 2013 Dems mayoral primary. You see, I feel the race has started. I know it is over two years away, but trust me when I say that potential candidates are already jockeying for position.
Let me explain that the odds posted don’t reflect who I will be supporting. They just suggest my calculations of who has the best chances of winning the primary.
OPENING ODDS.
Anthony Weiner…5-2
Billy Thompson…7-2
Christine Quinn…4-1
John Liu…9-2
Bill DiBlasio…5-1
Adolfo Carrion…6-1
Marty Markowitz…8-1
Eric Adams…10-1 (conditional)
Scott Stringer…15-1
Ruben Diaz jnr…20-1
Charles Barron…25-1
Peter Vallone jnr…100-3
Eliot Spitzer…50-1
Howard “Gatemouth” Graubard…1000-1
These are the names I have been getting via my political radar, as folks seriously hoping to become mayor in 2013. I have also heard of some supermarket mogul (Catsamidis/I think), and Ray Kelly (NYC Police Commissioner). I am sure Jimmy McMillan will show up with his “Rent is too Damn High” political party. I was once told that Cathie Black was supposed to parlay a successful stint as Chancellor of Education, to Gracie mansion. How did that pan out?
Speaking of Ms. Black let me say this: I am CERTAIN that there is more to her claim of “gender victimization” than is being dismissed my mainstream media. When do you ever see mainstream media tackling potentially controversial issues like those lately? When last have they tackled racism? There are too many pusillanimous individuals hiding behind editorial boards of mainstream media: especially in New York (both city and state).
Anyway, I will elaborate on these odds real soon. I will give my reasoning behind this line. I will also elaborate on the candidates and their challenges. I used the term “conditional” after the name Eric Adams, since I have a feeling that he will run for public advocate if Bill DiBlasio runs for mayor. If this happens I will endorse and support Adams in a heartbeat.
Stay tuned-in folks.