Assemblyman Vito Lopez says he’s still mulling a run for the City Council, but two mayoral candidates have already endorsed his potential opponent in the race. Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio offered their formal endorsements today for Antonio Reynoso, the chosen candidate of Brooklyn’s anti-Lopez faction to replace term-limited Councilwoman Diana Reyna.

Neither endorsement is surprising. Although Mr. Lopez, the former head of Brooklyn’s Democratic Party, still has a large footprint in the Bushwick-based district, he became politically radioactive following sexual harassment allegations last year. The controversy furthermore sent a shockwave through the City Council’s redistricting process when the lines were allegedly redrawn for Mr. Lopez’s benefit. Ms. Quinn had a particularly harsh reaction to the accusations and subsequently tabled the map, vowed to defeat Mr. Lopez and held a fundraiser for Mr. Reynoso. Read More