District Leader Mark Levine filed for term-limited Councilman Robert Jackson’s seat this afternoon, further setting the stage for what could be one of the most hotly contested City Council races in 2013.

Mr. Levine had previously told The Politicker he was “definitely” entering the race unless there’s an opening in the State Senate district created by Adriano Espaillat running for the House of Representatives. This new committee will allow him to fundraise and campaign more directly for the position.

Mr. Levine made headlines in 2010 by  running for now-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s State Senate seat, losing to Mr. Espaillat, who was an Assemblyman at the time. Mr. Levine, who speaks Spanish, scored a respectable 39% of the vote in the heavily Latino district. Read More