Now that the 2012 election is over NYC pols are starting to get serious about the 2013 mayoral election. And on that front the Times reports that things just got interesting. Seems that former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. has left the Democratic party and is looking to run as an independent seeking the Republican nomination (just like our current mayor did once upon a time).
Carrion, a former City Councilman who also served as director of the White House Office on Urban Policy under President Obama, could really shake up a race that is already filled with potential Democratic candidates but few Republicans. After all, while NYC is a heavily blue city it hasn't sent a Democrat to Gracie Mansion since David Dinkins was elected in 1989!
The former Bronx beep is currently only talking about the election through advisors but he's already well funded, having $1.1 million in the bank from a 2009 run for comptroller that didn't happen. Of course he also has some baggage involving a renovation of his City Island home, in which he used an architect also involved in a project he had approved (he was fined $10,000). But what pol doesn't have baggage?
Carrion can probably easily take the lead in the Republican field, which right now only includes newspaper publisher Tom Allon and Doe Fund founder George McDonald. The fact that he is Hispanic, a demographic this last election proved Republicans have to start courting, can only help his chances in currying support from the necessary GOP leaders.
Meanwhile, right now the presumed candidates for mayor include frontrunner and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Public Advocatte Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Beep Scott Stringer, and current Comptroller John Liu. But with almost a year until the election everything can still change on a dime. Specifically one of soon-to-be-former Mayor Bloomberg's Super PAC's dimes.
