In fact, David Weprin's first television ad for the comptroller race, he declared, proudly, "They say I'm not so exciting."

But a review of Weprin's campaign literature and ads from his 2009 bid to be the city's next comptroller, and  reveals a willingness to show a tougher, edgier side, if not some humor too.

One radio ad during his comptroller campaign sounded like a game show host, saying things like "Did you hear the one about the three-headed Yassky? If there's three sides to an issue, that's where you'll find David Yassky." The other opponents in the race also got named.

Also during that four-way Democratic primary, Weprin criticized two of his opponents, Yassky and Melinda Katz, by portraying them as supporters of the death penalty.

Weprin told me he stood by the harsh comptroller ads (as did the consultants who made them).

In his race for the Assembly last year, Weprin came under criticism for using the image of a swastika in a campaign mailer against his Republican opponent.