Mark Otto (Photo: Facebook)

Add another name to the list of those contemplating competing for term-limited Councilman Robert Jackson's seat. Mark Otto, an assistant principal at a public high school, already has registered a campaign committee and created a campaign website.

Understandably, Mr. Otto's campaign pitch relies heavily on his background as a teacher. According to his website, Mr. Otto "is a kind, passionate, dedicated and reflective leader that has a clear vision for successful schooling in New York City."

"He understands that each student has a story, which adds to the rich fabric of the school community," it continues. "Mark has developed strong, lasting relationships with the students and families he serves and because of that, he has a deep understanding of the various issues that affect the lives of our citizens in New York City."

Other possible candidates in the race include District Leaders Maria Luna, Marisol Alcantara, and Mark Levine, as well as Socrates Solano, an aide to Congressman Charlie Rangel, Cheryl Pahaham, the outgoing vice chair of Community Board 12, former District Leader April Tyler and community activist Julius Tajiddin.

Despite the crowded field, the election is quite a ways off. Voters won't head to the polls until 2013.

Occupy Wall Street solidarity marchers in Washington Heights. (Photo: Chasen Marshall)

New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and State Senator Adriano Espaillat led a march nearly the entire length of Manhattan in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street today. On their eleven mile journey, they were accompanied by hundreds of marchers, multiple possible 2013 Mayoral candidates and a police escort.

Crowds began gathering on the corner of St. Nicholas Avenue and 181st Street shortly after 10 a.m. The mostly Latino throng of approximately 400 marchers began moving about half an hour later. They carried homemade signs and drums and took up approximately four to five city blocks.

Senator Espaillat told the Observer he hoped the event would be "the first march in a community movement to bring back the millionaire's tax."

"This is the plan of our people--working class, middle class New Yorkers that understand that 1% of New Yorkers need to just give up a little bit more. We're not going to break their backs. We want them to give just a little bit more so kids can have a good quality education, so that the MTA runs on time, so that we can produce a tiny workfore downtown, so housing is accessible to all people," Senator Espaillat said.

Public Advocate and potential 2013 Mayoral contender Bill de Blasio marched alongside Senator Espaillat.

"I think this is important. I think this is an effort by Councilmember Rodriguez and others to show that Occupy Wall Street represents the whole city. ... If you really distill it down, the movement at Wall Street is calling for real response to the economic crisis, which we haven't seen from either the private sector or from Washington. I think this march is trying to emphasize that people all over this city are hurting and they're demanding that response," Mr. de Blasio said.

At 160th Street, the marchers passed a crew filming the CBS series "A Gifted Man." Fake styrofoam snow floated through the air and filming stopped as the crew stared at the marchers. We overheard one of the crewmembers ask a colleague, "99% of what?" Eight blocks later, a cleaning crew pounded their rakes and brooms along with the drums eliciting much excitement among the marchers.

Councilman Rodriguez joined the group at 146th Street. Marchers chanted a variety of slogans including "All day -- All week -- Occupy Wall Street!" and "Get up, get down, there's a revolution in this town!"

Senator Espaillat, Mr. de Blasio and Councilman Rodriguez weren't the only politicians we saw during the first leg of the march. State Senator Gustavo Rivera and onetime Mayoral hopeful Jonathan Tasini were also in the crowd.

"I'm probably not going the whole way, but I am going to do 40 or 50 blocks," Senator Rivera said.

There were approximately 500 marcher in the group when they arrived at the Occupy Wall Street encampment in Zuccotti Park, but Assemblyman Guillermo Linares claimed the march included as many as 2,000 people at its peak. The Associated Press estimated the crowd at "about 1,000 black and Latino community members."

Several of the politicians made speeches when the march arrived at its final destination in the Financial District.

"What started here at Zuccotti Park has spread across NY and other cities in America. People are upset, people are angry, people are afraid about the direction the economy’s going. ... We want solutions, we want changes, that’s why we’re here, that’s why we’ll stay here, until we get those changes, until we get opportunities for all, until everyone has equality, until everyone has equal access," Comptroller and 2013 Mayoral contender John Liu said.

Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams criticized the Bloomberg administration for "trying to demonize" the Occupy Wall Street movement in his speech at the end of the march.

"You came here eleven miles from Washington Heights to let them know that it started here, but it’s citywide, nationwide. In the rain, in the sleet, Occupy Wall Street. ... This one was fantastic, I just think it’s incredible that communities from eleven miles away decided not to come here, but to walk and march here. It’s like the marches in Selma and Montgomery – we’re willing to let people know we’re willing to put in the footwork here," Councilman Williams said.

Ydanis Rodriguez (Photo: New York City Council)

On Monday, New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and State Senator Adriano Espaillat will lead an 11 mile march in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Marchers will meet at 181st Street and continue to Zuccotti Park. Councilman Rodriguez told the Observer why he supports Occupy Wall Street and how he expects participants to make the five hour trek.

Councilman Rodriguez, who represents District 10 in Northern Manhattan, said he thinks Occupy Wall Street is an "important movement" that "gives a voice to the working class and the middle class people."

"We're looking to find a way of how to continue supporting the 99% movement. ... I believe that this movement is so important for everyone, especially the working class and the middle class, to communities left behind, as is the case for the Northern Manhattan area where the gap between rich and poor is so clear," Councilman Rodriguez said.

The march will began at 10:30 a.m. Monday on the corner of 181st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. The Councilma's office said marchers will include representatives from Occupy Wall Street, the NAACP, the Working Families Party, United New York, 32BJ, TWU Local 100, SEIU 1199, CWA, RWDSU and other local community groups.