By Jill Colvin and Colin Campbell 5/17 2:39pm

Chugging along

City Comptroller John Liu. (Photo: Getty Images)

Slew of Brooklyn District Leaders Endorse John Liu

City Comptroller John Liu will announce the endorsement of a slew of Democratic officials from across Brooklyn Friday in another effort by his mayoral campaign to show he’s gaining steam, despite the recent guilty verdicts against his former campaign treasurer and a fund-raiser.

The supporters include Assemblywoman Inez Barron, City Council candidate Ari Kagan, and Democratic district leaders Melba Brown, Betty Ann Canizio, Jeanette Givant,  Christopher Olechowski, Chris Owens, Corey Provost and Charles Ragusa. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/15 1:54pm

Piling In

Igor Oberman. (Photo: Facebook)

Crowded Crop of Candidates Eye Mike Nelsons’ Council Seat

Councilman Mike Nelson’s district was controversially reshaped during this year’s redistricting process to contain a higher percentage of Russian-American constituents, and that change is clearly shaking up the race to replace him. Previously, District Leader Ari Kagan was one of the only candidates openly campaigning for the seat, but now a bevy of additional hopefuls are poised to join him.

“The lines look good! The lines look good!” attorney Igor Oberman, who temporarily ran against the then-powerful, now-incarcerated State Senator Carl Kruger before withdrawing his campaign, told Politicker. “I haven’t made any decision but I can say every morning, the lines get louder and louder.” Read More

By Ross Barkan 1/31 6:33pm

Brighton Beach Battle

Photo: Facebook

Ari Kagan Says He’s Running for Council and Is Hakeem Jeffries’ ‘Bro’

At a pro-Israel rally earlier today, Brooklyn District Leader Ari Kagan told Politicker that he will file to run for City Council within the next few days, entering what is likely to be a hotly-contested battle for term-limited Councilman Michael Nelson’s seat.

And, Mr. Kagan said, he has friends in high places already lined up to support his candidacy, including Frank Seddio, the chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party. Read More