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2013

By Colin Campbell 1/08 8:10am

2013

(Photo: Getty)

Bloomberg Dismisses ‘Erroneous’ Report on His Mayoral Search

Late last night, the New York Times reported Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his advisers have reached out to at least a small slew of big-name candidates to run for Mayor of New York City, ranging from Senator Chuck Schumer to New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman. The news was reported as a slight to Council Speaker Christine Quinn, widely thought to be Mr. Bloomberg’s preferred candidate in the race. However, Mr. Bloomberg denied the report on MSNBC’s Morning Joe earlier today.

“The article was so erroneous,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “It goes after one of the people who’s really made a difference in this city, Chris Quinn, our speaker in the City Council, who really has done a great job. Without her, it would have been a lot tougher, let me tell you.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 12/18/12 7:45pm

2013

(Photo: Getty)

Report: M.T.A Chairman Joe Lhota to Step Down to Make Mayoral Bid

The head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Joe Lhota, looks like he’s serious about his rumored campaign for mayor in 2013.

According to multiple New York Times sources “with direct knowledge of his plans,” Mr. Lhota, a Republican who worked as a deputy mayor in the Giuliani administration, “is expected to resign on Friday and announce his candidacy for New York City mayor.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 12/05/12 3:41pm

2013

(Photo: Getty)

Cuomo Expects to Stay Out of NYC Mayoral Race

Late last night, The New York Times broke the news that M.T.A. Chairman Joe Lhota is considering entering next year’s mayoral race as a Republican, and is being strongly urged by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to do so. Since Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is Mr. Lhota’s boss and the chairman was beside him at a press conference this afternoon, a reporter asked the governor about this possibility. Needless to say, Mr. Cuomo does not sound not interested in adding to his current political complications he’s already dealing with in Albany.

“I’m going to try to stay out of the politics of New York City if I can avoid it,” Mr. Cuomo replied. Pressed on whether he will make any endorsement whatsoever, he succinctly added, “I’m not expecting to, no.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/28/12 4:32pm

2013

Bill Thompson speaking.

New York’s Leading Mayoral Candidates Get Down to Business

Kathy Wylde, the head of the pro-business Partnership for New York City had a question for New York’s four Democratic mayoral hopefuls at the candidate forum she hosted today.

“Will the next mayor be as understanding, as visionary, as sympathetic to issues of the economy and business as Mayor Bloomberg, one of our own, has been?” Ms. Wylde said many of the city’s businesses leaders are inquiring, before elaborating, “So there is consternation about the post-Bloomberg era with regards to who is the next mayor.”

In case it wasn’t clear, this particular mayoral discussion, hosted by Crain’s New York Business, may have tilted a little bit towards the pro-business side of things. But at least one Democrat on stage, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, pushed back against the idea the business community has reason to be anxious about City Hall without Bloomberg. Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/21/12 7:39am

2013

(Photo: Getty)

Poll: Christine Quinn Still Leads Mayoral Field

“Okay, the race for the White House is over and it’s time to look at the New York City mayoral race, where the possibly decisive Democratic primary could be as early as June. The morning line? City Council Speaker Christine Quinn leaves the other Democratic contenders in the dust,” Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement with his latest survey.

The numbers indeed show Ms. Quinn far ahead, with 32% support among registered Democrats, even as she faces off against two citywide elected officials, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Comptroller John Liu, and 2009′s nominee, Bill Thompson. Mr. Thompson barely edged out Mr. de Blasio for the silver medal, 10 to 9 percent, with Mr. Liu standing at 5 percent. Read More

By Hunter Walker 11/18/12 6:00pm

2013

(Photo: Getty)

Scott Stringer Officially Enters Comptroller Race

After months of rumors, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has officially decided to run for City Comptroller next year. He was previously considering a campaign for mayor, but he said his experience exploring that race convinced him to run for the city’s top financial office. Mr. Stringer spoke to Politicker about his decision earlier today and said he will formally launch his campaign in three weeks. Rather than an avoidance of the crowded mayor’s race, Mr. Stringer characterized his entry into the comptroller race as a move to confront the most crucial issues currently facing the city.

“What’s needed right now is an experienced hand who can partner with the mayor when it’s in the best interests of the city, but also someone with the independence and backbone to stand up to special interests, to call out wasteful spending and to safeguard the city’s pension funds,” said Mr. Stringer. “That is what I’ve done my entire career and that’s what im going to as comptroller, so I’m not dropping down, I’m stepping up.”  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 10/26/12 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 10/19/12 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