We've been hearing rumors all week that Maria Baez - the soon to be out of a job councilwoman - has decided to pull an Oliver Koppell, and support Mayor Bloomberg for reelection, instead of fellow Democrat Bill Thompson.
Well, the rumors are true.
"She's definitely with the mayor," said a Baez staffer I spoke with this morning, who asked that his name not be used. He said the councilwoman wants her constituents to know about all the good things Bloomberg has done for the 14th District.
It wasn't always this way. During the primary, Baez listed Thompson as one of her supporters, and plastered his face all over her campaign literature. And, until a few weeks ago, her name appeared on Thompson's list of official endorsers. (Today, she's nowhere to be found.)
I wonder what caused the change of heart? Or, to be cynical, what might be in it for her?
Several other Bronx pols also appear reluctant to back Thompson. On his campaign Web site, the following are conspicuous by their absence: Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Nelson Castro, State Senator Pedro Espada, Assemblymember Carmen E. Arroyo, and Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.
I should add that - as with Baez - none of the above appear on Bloomberg's list of endorsers, either.
Maybe this is why no one wants to have them on their list of supporters:
ReplyDeleteAssemblyman Nelson Castro: soon to be charged for perjury
State Senator Pedro Espada: under allegations he funneled state money to his own personal business; under investigation for not filing campaign finance forms; led the Albany stalemate in June which has made our State Legislature even more disfunctional
Assemblymember Carmen Arroyo: her grandson is under investigation (oops, sorry-he was arrested) for using non-profit money for personal and lavish spending in Puerto Rico (don't tell she did not know?) that also went to pay for her trips to the beautiful island. And her new floor in her Assembly office was paid for thanks to the nonprofit.
Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo: federal prosecutors are also looking at her for allocating funds from the City Council (tax-payers money) for the nonprofit her nephew (the Assemblywoman's grandson) oversaw and has been charged with stealing from.
Congressman Eliot Engel: well, maybe he has some secrets in his closet that have yet to be exposed.