Endorsing Colleagues in the Assembly Race
There are two capable, qualified candidates in the 54th Assembly race that happen to be my colleagues on the City Council.
I won’t endorse in this race because I respect both candidates and quite frankly, one of them (or God forbid the Republican Registered Nurse wins) or both of them will continue to serve with me on the Council for the next two years. And it takes quite a bit of time in politics to get over your colleague not endorsing you.
I was hoping that the Mayor and my other colleagues would stay out of the Democratic Party — but it didn’t happen. Maybe that’s being politically naive. I just thought that we have too many issues facing this City that require a united Council to grapple with them — that I felt any momentary personal gain I would get out of the splash in the news that I endorsed one over the other wasn’t worth the rancor and the divisiveness that choosing one over the other would cause.
A more statesman like approach would be to endorse both — and let the voters decide in June who shall be the nominee. Because after June, the Council needs to deal with a budget that requires the focus and attention of all 9 members and the Mayor and we all have to work together — even if two are running for higher office.
