DFNYC has already made endorsements in three of the 2009 NYC races.  Now, we would like your opinion on whether DFNYC should hold endorsement votes in other 2009 races. 

Please see below for a list of some of the competitive races suggested by DFNYC members in the 2009 Democratic primaries in New York City and make your suggestions by emailing us at info-at-dfnyc.org (replace -at- with @) with your name, zip code, and races in which you think DFNYC should be involved. 

More races?  If you think there are more other races we should add to the list below, let us know.  (Email info-at-dfnyc.org, replace –at- with @).

Order of races & candidates:  After listing the city-wide and borough races, we’ve listed the city council district races in order by district number.  All candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Note on term limits:  In the fall, DFNYC members voted overwhelmingly against Bloomberg's decision to extend term limits. Therefore, we've included information about whether the incumbent would have been term limited out in 2009 (if the term limits change didn't happen) and if they supported Bloomberg on this issue. Change NYC, a group coming out of the Obama campaign, has been vocal on the term limits issue.  

DFNYC is in the process of putting all the candidates and website links up up on our site.  Currently the city wide races are listed (without links).   In the meantime...

Gotham Gazette is keeping updated lists in the “Who’s Running for What” section of their website, so we have included links to their website for each race listed.

Races in which DFNYC has already endorsed

This year, Democracy for NYC is proud to announce the candidates of our first ever early endorsement process:  Norman Siegel for public advocate, along with Steve Behar and Josh Skaller for city council (running in districts 19 and 39, respectively).  We encourage you to contribute to their campaigns and sign up to volunteer.

Races in which DFNYC may make an endorsement – we want your opinion!

Mayor

Incumbent Michael Bloomberg, currently registered as an independent, was subject to term limits in 2009. However, he led the charge to overturn the term limits law passed by the voters and is running for re-election. 

Declared Democratic Candidates:  Tony Avella, Kevin P. Coenen, William C. Thompson Jr.

Other Declared candidates:  Michael Bloomberg (R, possibly I), John A Catsimatidis (R), Tom Ognibene (R), William C Talen (aka “Reverend Billy”, G), Eiland L Tyrrell (I)

Click here for the DFNYC page for citywide races. 

NYC Comptroller

Incumbent Bill Thompson publically objected to Bloomberg’s plan to overturn term limits.  Thompson is now running for mayor in the Democratic primary and the following candidates are running for NYC comptroller.

Declared Democratic candidates:  Melinda R Katz, John C Liu, David Weprin,  David Yassky

Other potential candidates:  Salim Ejaz, Joseph Mendola

Other Declared candidates:  Danniel Maio (R, I)

Click here for the DFNYC page for citywide races.  

Manhattan District Attorney

Robert Morgenthau, who has served as Manhattan’s District Attorney for 34 years, will not be seeking re-election in 2009.

Potential candidates:  Richard M. Aborn , Leslie Crocker Snyder, Richard Davis, Cy Vance

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page for Manhattan DA. 

Brooklyn Borough President

Incumbent Marty Markowitz was term limited in 2009.  He publically supported Bloomberg’s changes to the term limits law, and is now running for re-election.

- Declared candidates:  Marty Markowitz   

- Potential candidates:  Carl Kruger, Michael Nelson 

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page for Brooklyn Borough President.

City Council District 1

Incumbent Alan Gerson would have been term limited in 2009.  He voted in favor of Bloomberg’s term limits change and is now running for re-election.

-Location:  (Manhattan) Chinatown, Little Italy, Lower Manhattan (incl. Lower East Side & Financial District) and Tribeca  

-Declared Candidates:   Margaret S Chin, Alan Gerson, Peter Gleason, PJ Kim

-Potential Candidates:   Julie Menin  

Click here for Gotham Gazette page.  

City Council District 3

Incumbent Christine Quinn, who is the City Council Speaker, would have been term limited in 2009.  She supported Bloomberg’s term limits change and is running for re-election.

-Location:  (Manhattan)  West Village, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Flatiron, Soho, Midtown west (Hell’s Kitchen) up to 54^th/55^th Street.

-Declared Democratic Candidates:   Maria Passannante Derr, Yetta Kurland, Christine Quinn 

Click here for Gotham Gazette page.

City Council District 25

Incumbent Helen Sears would have been term limited in 2009.  She voted for Bloomberg’s term limits change and is running for re-election.

-Location:  (Queens) Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst

-Declared candidates:   Daniel P Dromm, Stanley Kalathara, Mujib U Rahman, Helen Sears

Click here for Gotham Gazette page. 

City Council District 26

This seat is currently represented by Eric Gioia, who is not running for re-election.  The candidates in this race have been invited to speak at the May and June DFNYC Linkups in Sunnyside. Check the events calendar of this website or email dan-at-danjacoby.com (replace –at- with @) for details.

-Location:  (Queens) Long Island City, Maspeth, Sunnyside and Woodside

-Declared candidates:   Deirdre Feerick, Brent M O'Leary, David J Rosasco, James Van Bramer

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page. 

City Council for District 33

Current city Councilman David Yassky would have been term limited in 2009.  He voted in support of Bloomberg’s changes to term limits.  Councilmember Yassky is presumed to be running for city comptroller and not seeking re-election to his council seat.

-Location:  (Brooklyn) Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and parts of Park Slope

-Declared candidates:  Isaac Abraham, Ken Baer, Ken Diamondstone, Stephen T Levin, Jo Anne Simon, Evan R Thies

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page. 

City Council for District 36

Incumbent Al Vann would have been term limited in 2009.  He voted for Bloomberg’s term limits change and is presumed to be running for re-election.

-Location:  (Brooklyn) Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights

-Declared candidates:  William Carrington, Robert Cornegy, Aaron Fraser, Mark Winston Griffith, Saquan Jones, Al Vann, Robert M. Waterman  

-Potential candidates:  David F Grinage

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page. 

City Council for District 45

Incumbent Kendall Stewart would have been term limited in 2009.  He voted for Bloomberg’s term limits change and is presumed to be running for re-election.

-Location:  (Brooklyn) East Flatbush and Flatlands

-Declared candidates:  Rodrick Daley, Terry Hinds, Erline King, Dexter McKenzie, Kendall Stewart (presumed), Vaughn Toney, Samuel Taitt, Jumaane Williams 

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page. 

City Council for District 49

Incumbent Kenneth Mitchell won a very close special election for this seat in February 2009, as the previous council member, Michael McMahon, was elected to Congress.   Traditional party designations are not used in a special election, but it is presumed Mitchell would run on the Democratic line in September.

-Location:  North Staten Island

-Declared candidates:  Kenneth Mitchell, Deborah Rose    

Click here for the Gotham Gazette page.