Shawn Luckey's headshot. (Photo: www.shawnluckey.com)

He's a thespian and not a politician, but Da'Shawn Luckey wants to become Manhattan's next borough president this year.

"I feel like I can offer something New York City hasn't had in a long time," Mr. Luckey, a southern-born actor whose personal website beckons visitors to "Enter Here to Share My Love" told Politicker. "We need someone who can show integrity and get their hands dirty ... we can always try to look at what we have and try to improve upon that."

Mr. Luckey, who filed an exploratory committee to run for the seat this week, declined to outline his campaign platform, and instead spoke generally about why he wanted to fill the shoes of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who's leaving the position to campaign for comptroller. When asked how he expected to compete with well-funded and established candidates in the race, Mr. Luckey, a Washington Heights resident, promised a grassroots effort.

"The way I look at it, actors pretty much know how to navigate through all platforms and that's pretty much my background," Mr. Luckey said. "I come from a world of theater, a world of entertainment, and I'm sure the New York community knows it's very important in terms of navigating through tough decisions."

According to his IMDB page, Mr. Luckey has portrayed a "mug shot criminal" in the television show The Good Wife and a "hippie" in Across the Universe, the Beatles movie musical, among other roles. He also co-founded a theater and film production company, Diversity Players of Harlem. Along with his acting career, Mr. Luckey is currently enrolled in George Washington University's graduate program in security and public safety, something which he said gives him a "certain edge" in the race. Mr. Luckey also promised his approach would be very different than the other candidates in the race, who he did not name.

"I'm a student of life," Mr. Luckey said. "That itself puts me in a different category of a lot people. It's not always a bad thing to be the underdog or not the top contender."

And he doesn't think having lived in the city less than a decade will make him ill-prepared to run against his top-tier opponents, Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, Councilman Robert Jackson, Community Board 1 Chairwoman Julie Meinin and Councilwoman Gale Brewer.

"Listen, I think six months in this city surviving gives you enough experience," he explained.

(Photo: Getty)

“When it comes to fighting to make sure hard working New Yorkers have good paying jobs and access to quality healthcare, Scott has been in the corner of working families throughout his career," George Gresham, the union's president, said in a statement. “It is why we enthusiastically support him as the next New York City Comptroller.”

Although current Comptroller John Liu has yet to announce his electoral intentions, he is widely expected to run for mayor next year, leaving a vacant seat behind him. Normally, wide-open contests attract a plethora of candidates, but Mr. Stringer managed to muscle his main opponents out of the race. As establishment support coalesces around Mr. Stringer, the window for new potential rivals to emerge has been closing quickly.

A poll tested former Congressman Anthony Weiner's name for the race last month, but Mr. Weiner himself has given no hints that he's actually considering a run. Other than that one trial balloon, not even a third-tier contender has publicly mulled challenging the front-runner.

Per the Stringer campaign, here are his endorsements thus far:

UFT
CWA District 1
RWDSU
UFCW Local 1500
1199SEIU
32BJ
Uniformed Fire Officers Assoc.
UAW
Mason Tenders
Local 802
NYS Ironworkers
Teamsters
Hotel Trades
Building Trades
WFP
NYC Central Labor Council
Painters
Plumbers Local 1
COBA

Former Mayor Ed Koch
Former Comptroller Bill Thompson
Former Comptroller Harrison J. Goldin
Former Comptroller Liz Holtzman
Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio
Speaker Christine Quinn
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Congressmember Jerry Nadler
Congressmember Carolyn Maloney
Congressmember Nydia Velazquez
Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries
Congressmember Yvette Clarke

Senator Daniel Squadron
Senator Eric Adams
Senator Kevin Parker

Assemblyman Micah Kellner
Assemblyman Bill Colton
Assemblyman Jim Brennan
Assemblyman Karim Camara
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz
Assemblyman Dov Hikind
Assemblyman Felix Ortiz
Assemblyman Walter Mosely
Assemblyman Nick Perry
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol
Assemblyman Peter Abbate
Assemblyman Alan Maisel
Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny
Assemblywoman Joan Millman

Councilmember Dan Garodnick
Councilmember Jessica Lappin
Councilmember Brad Lander
Councilmember Stephen Levin
Councilmember Domenic Recchia
Councilmember Letitia James
Councilmember Jumaane Williams
Councilmember Vincent Gentile
Councilmember Diana Reyna

Councilman Robert Jackson (Photo: Facebook)

"For more than 30 years, Robert Jackson has fought for New York City's public school children and has been their champion and advocate," Mr. Mulgrew said. "He understands personally the power of education and has fought to make sure every child has the chance for the best education possible."

In his statement, Mr. Mulgrew specifically cited a 1993 lawsuit Mr. Jackson participated in arguing the state's methods for allocating public education funds did not adequately provide for New York City children. Mr. Jackson, who was a public school parent at the time, walked the 150 miles from the five boroughs to Albany to spotlight the case.

"From suing the state and walking 150 miles to Albany to fix a school aid formula that was cheating our public school children to standing up against unfair school closures and budget cuts, Robert Jackson has fought tirelessly for our children, their parents and the entire school community," said Mr. Mulgrew. "He knows how to get things done and has a record to prove it. Robert has worked hard for everything he has achieved. He is a leader we can trust, who will stand on principle, bring people together and be a great Borough President of Manhattan."

Mr. Jackson, who is prevented by term limits from keeping his Council seat, is facing a crowded field in his bid for the Manhattan borough presidency. Former community board chair Julie Menin and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin are both in the race. Last year, Councilwoman Gale Brewer also said she would be running for borough president, but she has not officially launched a campaign. The current borough president, Scott Stringer, is running for comptroller. Though Mr. Jackson has lagged behind some of his rivals in terms of fundraising, his campaign sees the endorsement of the influential, 200,000-member-strong UFT as a sign of major progress.

"My campaign is getting a great reception every place we go. This is a major endorsement and another sign of the momentum we are feeling as we build a large and diverse grassroots campaign that is moving this campaign forward," Mr. Jackson said in a statement on the endorsement. "I look forward to working with the UFT to win this campaign. Together, we can make a difference for families today, and for generations to come."

(Photo: Getty)

Scott Stringer may be unopposed so far in his bid to be the city's next comptroller, but that doesn't mean he's slowing down.

To wit, Mr. Stringer's campaign rolled out the endorsement of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO this afternoon, a labor body that represents 1.3 million members, placing a further marker down as he seeks to lock up the Democratic nomination and bash his eventual Republican opponent.

“Scott Stringer’s commitment to progressive values and working men and women has never wavered,” the union's president, Vincent Alvarez, said in a statement. “With his nearly thirty years of public service, Scott has earned the support of working men and women. The Labor Movement – public sector, private sector, and building trades – is united behind Scott Stringer and his vision for New York City.”

The AFL-CIO is the latest to join the Manhattan borough president's growing pile of endorsements, including not only labor-backed entities like the Workings Families Party but a number of elected officials. Last Sunday, for example, a small army of Brooklyn pols backed the Stringer campaign.

In 2009, the comptroller race was hotly-contested, but since Mr. Stringer cleared the field by dropping down from the mayoral campaign, this year looks to be an entirely different affair. John Liu, the city's current comptroller, is expected to campaign for mayor but has yet to officially announce his intentions.

(Photo: Getty)

The race for Manhattan Borough President this year continued to heat up today, with former community board chairwoman Julie Menin rolling up endorsements from State Senator Adriano Espaillat and two other officials in his political orbit, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa. The current borough president, Scott Stringer, is leaving his post to run citywide for comptroller, and a competitive field of contenders has formed to replace him.

The backing is notable as of the four candidates in the running, none are Latino or hail from the Washington Heights turf represented by the three endorsers. Ms. Menin is from Lower Manhattan and her two announced rivals, East Side Councilwoman Jessica Lappin and Uptown Councilman Robert Jackson, have different political bases. Upper West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer has previously indicated she would join the field, but has yet to launch her bid.

For what it's worth, Mr. Espaillat, who narrowly lost a primary to veteran Congressman Charlie Rangel last summer, has also had some electoral success since. He easily won reelection against a Rangel-backed challenge from Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, and the Espaillat-backed candidate for Mr. Linares' seat, Ms. Rosa, successfully won on the same day.

View Mr. Espaillat's, Ms. Rosa's, and Mr. Rodriguez's statements supporting Ms. Menin below:

Mr. Espaillat: “Julie Menin is a champion of affordable housing and good jobs for all New Yorkers. As Manhattan borough president, she will fight for working families living uptown, downtown, East Side and West Side. I am proud to support her. She is the best choice for Manhattan.”

Ms. Rosa: “I am supporting Julie Menin for Manhattan Borough President because of her proven commitment to great public schools for every child in our city. As chair of her community board, she successfully fought for three, much-needed new public schools for her neighborhood. When she is elected, she will do the same for all of us.”

Mr. Rodriguez: “Julie Menin has been a strong advocate for small businesses – especially immigrant-owned small businesses – helping them cut red tape and assisting them with government resources and insurance problems. She will be a great Manhattan Borough President."

The scene from today's press conference.

Julie Menin, the former Chair of Community Board 1, formally announced her campaign for Manhattan Borough President today on the steps of City Hall. And, in addition to touting Democratic staples like addressing economic inequality, Ms. Menin, who's hoping to replace outgoing Borough President Scott Stringer, made sure to point to her stances on controversies she's had to deal with in Lower Manhattan, including Occupy Wall Street and the so-called "9/11 Mosque."

"I led the charge for standing up freedom of religion for the Islamic cultural center and mosque, and I will tell you that there were not many people who would stand up with us at the time," she contended. "I'm proud I led our community board to a 29-to-1 vote in favor of that. For me it was very personal; my mother--I'm so happy--is here with me here today, lived through the Holocaust in Hungary."

While stressing her work to keep a "balance" between protesters and local residents, she added, "I also stood up for...the rights of Occupy Wall Street to say, 'Of course we have a First Amendment Right to keep protesting."

Ms. Menin's announcement doesn't exactly come as a surprise as she has been campaigning for some time and even maxed our her fundraising for next year's Democratic primary. But today's event appeared to be a show of strength; she stood before a packed crowd of supporters and reporters were handed a dozen-page press release filled with the endorsements of local leaders and activists from around the borough.

She is joined in the race by Upper East Side Councilwoman Jessica Lappin and Uptown Councilman Robert Jackson. Potentially completing the election's geographic diversity, Upper West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer has said she's running in the past, but has yet to ramp up her campaign efforts.

Councilman Robert Jackson (Photo: Facebook)

Councilman Robert Jackson is ramping up his fundraising efforts in his bid to be Manhattan Borough President. On April 17, Mr. Jackson is having a fundraiser in an apartment adjacent to Lincoln Center. Mr. Jackson has good reason to step up his efforts to draw donations. As of January, he had a much smaller war chest than two of his rivals in the race for the borough presidency.

Mr. Jackson's fundraiser is hosted by Michael Rebell, executive director of the Campaign for Educational Equity at Columbia and a longtime advocate for increased public education funding, and Mr. Rebell's brother, Arthur. According to the invitation ickets for the event cost from $50 to $500.

Two of Mr. Jackson's rivals in the race for Manhatta's borough presidency, Julie Mennin and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, both had over $400,000 in campaign contributions as of the most recent reporting date compared to just $9,918 for Mr. Jackson. Councilwoman Gale Brewer, has also declared her intention to run for the borough presidency, but as of February, she said her work on "so many different issues" had precluded her from forming campaign committee.

View the invite to Mr. Jackson's event below.

Gale Brewer (Photo: Facebook)

Veteran Upper West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer is jumping into the race for Manhattan Borough President.

"I'm going to definitely do it I. haven't gotten myself organized, because I'm working on so many different issues, but I will," Ms. Brewer told The Politicker last night at a public forum hosted by Police Reform Organizing Project at the LGBT Community Center.

Ms. Brewer is entering a crowded field. With current Borough President Scott Stringer gearing up to run for mayor next year, Councilman Robert Jackson, Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin have all already begun campaigning for the position. 

Ms. Brewer, who's been in the City Council since 2002, said she'd love to remain in that role, but term limits forced her to make a move.

"I think, to be very honest with you, I would love to stay where I am. I love my neighborhood, but it's term limits, I got 12 years and I've enjoyed every minute of it," Ms. Brewer said. "I do love my borough and I think there's still projects to work on right now. I'm working on retail, paid sick time, open data. Should I go on? You know, a lot of different things."

Prior to entering the City Council, Ms. Brewer worked in the nonprofit sector and in a variety of political positions including; Deputy Public Advocate for Intergovernmental Affairs, director of the Mayor's Federal Office in New York City and as chief of staff to former Councilwoman Ruth Messinger. Ms. Brewer said she thinks her experience sets her apart from the other candidates planning to run for Manhattan Borough President.

"I think I have this amazing long history. I mean, I've worked all the way back to John Lindsay, so I have worked on non-profit sector, affordable housing, education," Ms. Brewer said. "There's nothing that I haven't really worked on and I think that's what I bring to the table, a wide knowledge of many different issues."

Ms. Brewer is confident about her chances.

"I'm always optimistic. I have a great district and I've been working on all these different issues from women to affordable development for a very long time," she said. "So, I think I just bring a long history and, in the last twelve years, I've been able to pass legislation I think helps people. It's something that I'd love to do on a larger scale, but I do love my neighborhood ."

Robert Jackson (Photo: Facebook)

After a press conference on improving college readiness for black and Latino students this afternoon, The Politicker caught up to Councilman Robert Jackson to ask him about the likelihood he'll fully enter the Manhattan Borough President race. The current Borough President, Scott Stringer, is expected to run for Mayor.

Mr. Jackson jogged in place as a response. "Look at me, what I am I doing now? What am I doing? What am I doing?" he repeatedly asked. "I'm running. I'm running."

Mr. Jackson said he's currently working to raise the money necessary for a run and cited current Borough President Scott Stringer as the only potential obstacle in his way.

"That's why I'm out working every day to raise the money to be a viable candidate from a financial point of view," he additionally said. "The only exception would be if Scott Stringer doesn't run for higher office. That's the only exception ... That's the only way."

Mr. Jackson shouldn't have too much to worry about on that front since Mr. Stringer has made his desire to enter the 2013 mayoral race quite clear. However, in terms of fundraising Mr. Jackson certainly has his work cut out for him. The two other candidates actively campaigning for the Borough Presidency, Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars so far.

Julie Menin (Photo: Facebook)

Julie Menin, a candidate for Manhattan Borough President who has served as Chair of Lower Manhattan’s community board since 2005, cited Lower Manhattan's post-9/11 revival when asked for her pitch to voters.

"Well, I think it's important to have people who have a strong track record of results and strong leadership, particularly in very tough economic times," she began in an interview with Roberto Perez. "In Lower Manhattan, we faced one of the most arduous times any community can face. And we were able to turn this neighborhood into the fastest growing residential neighborhood in the City of New York, with over 30,000 new residents in the neighborhood since 9/11. We're the fourth largest commercial business district in the country. We're one of the few areas of the city that's actually experiencing job growth."

Lower Manhattan has indeed gone through one of the most significant transformations of any New York City neighborhood in the last decade, almost doubling in population as new residential space opened up. The Wall Street Journal contended the new residents have been particularly "lured by high-achieving schools, easy access to the waterfront and tax incentives that made it more affordable to buy new homes."

Citing specific accomplishments, Ms. Menin gave two. "For example, whether that was fighting the 9/11 terror trial, or whether it was criticizing the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation ... I discovered the LMDC was sitting on over $200 million dollars that people didn't even know about. When Con Edison tried to lay claim to that money, we waged a fight against that and ultimately were successful, and able to allocate all $200 million to job-creating infrastructure projects in Lower Manhattan."

Along with Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, Ms. Menin is one of two candidates openly fundraising for the Manhattan Borough President's office. The position is widely expected to be open in 2013 when the incumbent, Scott Stringer, runs for Mayor. A wide range other candidates are said to be considering a run, including Council Members Gale Brewer and Robert Jackson.

Watch Ms. Menin's pitch to voters below: