- See more at: http://blogtimenow.com/blogging/automatically-redirect-blogger-blog-another-blog-website/#sthash.Q6qPkwFC.dpuf 6 of 7 Bronx Council Members Vote for For Bloomberg As Term Limits Extenstion Passes | Bronx News Networkbronx

Thursday, October 23, 2008

6 of 7 Bronx Council Members Vote for For Bloomberg As Term Limits Extenstion Passes

The headline pretty much says it all. The City Council, with strong support from the Bronx delegates, essentially voted to keep Mayor Michael Bloomberg in office for another four years. (Of course, there will be the whole formality of an actual election next year, but let's be honest here.)

Annabel Palma was the one voice of opposition from the borough. James Vacca, who earlier joined Palma as a "no" vote, flipped sometime in the last 48 hours. And fence-sitters Helen Foster and Maria del Carmen Arroyo sided with Bloomberg in the end. Larry Seabrook, Maria Baez, Joel Rivera and Oliver Koppell all voted for the opportunity to keep their jobs for another four years as well.

It will be interesting to see the fallout from this. Bloomberg, who will spend whatever it takes to win re-election, will almost undoubtedly remain in power (though his image as a reformer and non-traditional political outsider will take a big hit). But what about the Council members who sided with him.

Joel Rivera is probably challenge-proof. (Not sure about Vacca, Seabrook, Arroyo and Foster)

But Maria Baez, who's been under fire all year for everything from her terrible attendance record to extravagant cell phone bills, will face one if not two or three tough challengers.

And Oliver Koppell, who didnt' do himself any favors by siding with Jose Rivera (and not the Ben Franklin Club) in the Bronx Democratic Party battle, steps back into a race featuring a handful of well-funded challengers. (Although the number of challengers just dropped by one as Jamin Sewell, his counsel for the past four years and a candidate for his boss' formerly term-limited job, just sent out a press release saying he would drop his campaign in deference to Koppell.)

In any case, stay close because this will take a while to sort out.

6 comments:

  1. Well, I hope those who voted yes, enjoy your time in office because by not listening to your voters we will not listen to you when its time for re-election.
    ENJOY YOUR LAST HORRAH!!!!!!!!

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  2. Can you let us know who is running against Koppell?

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  3. We're working on that right now, Greg, and we'll post the latest on the blog as well as a story in the Norwood News next week.
    Anthony Cassino, the former chair of CB8, told me a couple of weeks ago that he'd run regardless of the outcome of the term limits tussle. As Alex wrote, Jamin Sewell is now not running. So that leaves Ari Hoffnung and Helen Morik. Stay tuned.

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  4. I do not believe that Joel Rivera is challenge proof. He voted against the people who voted him into office. The people should vote him out now. There has to be someone who is thinking of running for his seat, and if not let's find someone to do it.
    That vote was disrespectful to the people.

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  5. Tony Cassino would be a great choice to take Koppell's council seat. He is very appealing, talented and hard working. Cassino would represent the district with strong leadership.

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  6. Yes, I agree that Tony Perez Cassino is feisty and independent, and that’s why we love him. As well as his years of civic work for various Bronx neighborhoods, a huge part of his appeal is his brave and bold political style and attitude. And that’s why I plan to vote for him to be our next councilman.

    ReplyDelete

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