Councilman Dilan's current district

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez has seen herself on the opposing side of Brooklyn's Democratic boss, Assemblyman Vito Lopez, quite a few times lately. From what Roberto Perez reported last night, this electoral rivalry looks likely to continue.

First off, Mr. Perez's sources again float the long-rumored suggestion that one of Mr. Lopez's key allies, Councilman Erik Dilan, might throw his own hat in the Congressional ring and challenge Ms. Velázquez himself.

But this all may be a negotiating tactic to distract from other possibilities.

One such possibility is that Mr. Dilan, who's term-limited out in 2013, could seek  a switcheroo with his father, State Senate Marty Dilan, who would then run for the City Council. That could place the senior Dilan against one of Ms. Velázquez's allies, Jesus Gonzalez, who ran in a high-profile special election last summer against the younger Dilan's Chief of Staff, Rafael Espinal, for the State Assembly.

Mr. Perez indicates the Dilans are expecting challenges from Ms. Velázquez-backed candidates at even the district leader level as well. In 2010, Ms. Velázquez endorsed a slate of district leader candidates opposing Mr. Lopez, so such a move would hardly be unexpected.