By Hunter Walker 11/18/12 7:03pm

Aftermath

Scott Stringer (Photo: Getty)

Mayoral Candidates React to Scott Stringer’s Departure From the Race

This evening, the landscape of the 2013 mayoral race was shaken up quite a bit when Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who was previously seen as a potential contender, announced his intention to run for City Comptroller instead. The other likely mayoral candidates quickly released statements and Politicker also spoke with sources who gave their take on how Mr. Stringer’s departure will impact the rest of the field.  Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/16/12 2:25pm

2013

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City Hall Horse Race: Republican Conundrum Edition

It’s time for the latest installment of our weekly scorecard rating how the past seven days treated next year’s likely mayoral candidates. Although most insiders believe Democrats are favored to take back City Hall for the first time in two decades, a lot of the action recently has been on the Republican side of the aisle. Notably, former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión announced his intentions to seek the GOP line, while billionaire John Catsimatidis declared he’d be forming a campaign committee for the party’s nomination himself. And Doe Fund Founder George McDonald is in the mix as well. But, for simplicity’s sake, we’ll wait to see if they’re active on a weekly basis before they’re added to the list. Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/13/12 3:09pm

the elephant not in the room

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Wanted: GOP Mayoral Hopeful With Vague Conservative Impulses, Massive Personal Wealth a Plus

On a brisk mid-October day, Tom Allon announced he was dropping out of the highly competitive Democratic mayoral primary and would instead be a contender in the far sparser Republican field. “Theodore Roosevelt cleaned up New York by telling truth to power and truth to the public,” he declared, standing before the equestrian statue of Theodore Roosevelt on the Upper West Side. “I plan to run a campaign that will talk about the hard truths facing our city, and ideas I have to fix our growing problems.”

The event’s august backdrop may have oversold its symbolic importance. It’s impossible to find a neutral party who thinks Mr. Allon, a local newspaper publisher whose weeklies include Our Town and The West Side Spirit, is anything but a long-shot to replace term-limited Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2013. But as no fewer than five heavyweight Democrats are already in contention for the office, each of whom has raised over a million dollars, Mr. Allon’s move highlights the fact that Republicans, so far at least, are still on the hunt for a formidable standard-bearer.

Sensing the vacuum, former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. announced Monday night that he has also left the Democratic Party in hopes of securing the Republican line for mayor. Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/13/12 1:07pm

attacking adolfo

(Photo: Facebook)

Tom Allon Slams His Newly-Minted Mayoral Rival Adolfo Carrión

Last night, The New York Times broke the news that former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión had left the Democratic Party and would now be seeking to run for mayor on the Republican line. Of course, there are other potential hurdles Mr.  Carrión will need to overcome for this electoral endeavor, including securing the support of the GOP county leaders and beating potential primary rivals. One such rival is Manhattan Media C.E.O. Tom Allon, another former Democrat and the only Republican candidate who has formally announced his candidacy so far. Needless to say, Mr. Allon seems displeased with the former borough president’s candidacy. Read More

By Hunter Walker 11/05/12 11:43am

Conspiracy Theories

Christopher Wight (Photo: Facebook)

Congressional Campaign Accuses Local Paper of Selling Its Endorsement

The campaign of Republican congressional candidate Christopher Wight believes there was a conspiracy behind the endorsement of his Democratic rival, Carolyn Maloney, in the local Our Town newspaper (also known as the N.Y. Press). Nick Mackey, a spokesman for Mr. Wight, sent out a statement entitled ”’Our Town’ Newspaper Sells Endorsement to Maloney” this weekend detailing the campaign’s belief the paper traded its endorsement for ad sales.

“Kate Walsh of the New York Press (Our Town newspaper) sales department recently informed Christopher Wight’s campaign that Carolyn Maloney had spent over $10,000 on ad buys in their newspapers during this election cycle and encouraged Mr. Wight to do the same,” Mr. Mackey wrote. “In addition, Ms. Walsh coordinated the October 26, 2012 endorsement interview between Mr. Wight and newspaper’s editors. During several conversations with campaign staff to arrange the endorsement interview, Ms. Walsh strongly encouraged the campaign to purchase ad space in the online and print editions of the newspaper.”

Our Town is published by Manhattan Media LLC and the company’s CEO, Tom Allon is running as a Republican in next year’s mayoral election. Mr. Allon referred questions about this story to the company’s chairman, Richard Burns, who vehemently denied his paper engages in “pay for play” and said it would be “irresponsible” to “run a story based on a press release of a disgruntled political operative casting libelous aspersions.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2:39pm

2013

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City Hall Horse Race: Jumping the Gun Edition

It’s time for the latest installment of our weekly scorecard rating how next year’s potential mayoral candidates performed in the past seven days. Well, there’s a big election crashing down upon us, and New York’s political scene is abuzz trying to figure out who will win in some of the top congressional and state legislative races. And like a phoenix rising out of the ashes of 2012′s elections, 2013 will immediately take off after this year’s ballots are cast. Or, in the case of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, you can just start sprinting to the finish line now, lobbing criticisms at Council Speaker Christine Quinn all the while. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/23/12 11:55am

painting the town red

Malcolm Smith addresses the crowd.

New York Republicans Look Towards 2013

As the presidential race enters the home stretch, New York Republicans are already focusing on next year’s campaign to replace term-limited Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Last night, several candidates who are planning to run for mayor on the GOP line addressed a crowd of local party stalwarts at the Brooklyn Bar Association. Only two of the potential Republican mayoral hopefuls showed up–Democratic State Senator Malcolm Smith, who has been mulling a possible party switch to run for mayor and another newly-minted Republican, Manhattan Media CEO Tom Allon. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/19/12 1:46pm

2013

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City Hall Horse Race: Marist Mania Edition

It’s time for the latest installment of our weekly scorecard rating how next year’s potential mayoral candidates performed in the past seven days. The most notable development was yesterday’s Marist poll of the 2013 Democratic primary, showing Council Speaker Christine Quinn leading with 23% of Democrats, followed by 2009 nominee Bill Thompson with 15%. Rounding up the rear were Comptroller John Liu at 9%, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio at 8% and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer with 6%. In what may be the most interesting aspect of the poll, 37% of the city’s Democratic electorate is undecided, compared to 29% last time Marist surveyed the race. Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/17/12 2:56pm

Forecasts

George Pataki (Photo: Getty)

George Pataki Discusses the GOP’s Prospects in the 2013 Mayoral Election

Former Republican New York Governor George Pataki was one of the surrogates backing Mitt Romney on “spin alley” after last night’s presidential debate at Hofstra. Politicker used the opportunity to ask Mr. Pataki which GOP candidates he thought might emerge to challenger the crowded field of Democrats who are likely to run for mayor in next year’s election. So far two political newcomers, Manhattan Media CEO Tom Allon and Doe Fund boss George McDonald, are the only ones who have declared their intentions to run on the Republican line, but Mr. Pataki indicated there may be other Republicans mulling a mayoral bid.

“There are a number of people who are talking about running,” said Mr. Pataki. “I’m hopeful that we’ll have a strong candidate.” Read More