Yassky Replacements Lining Up Early

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The New York Sun

Though the race is more than a year away, contenders already are lining up to succeed David Yassky on the City Council, waiting for him to decide whether he will run for the office of Kings County district attorney.


A handful of Democrats have made courtesy calls to Mr. Yassky to express their interest in his job, and several have started soliciting campaign contributions.


Next Tuesday, the president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Kenneth Adams, is holding his first fundraising event, a cocktail party at a friend’s apartment in Brooklyn Heights.


“It’s a small party to get the ball rolling,” the lifelong Brooklyn resident said. “If David creates this opportunity I want to be prepared.”


Mr. Adams, who lives in Boerum Hill with his wife and two daughters, said: “If it’s an open seat and it’s in my neighborhood and it’s the City Council, those are the three perfect conditions for me. It’s an opportunity I wouldn’t want to pass up.”


Mr. Adams, 44, has been at the chamber for nine years and, like the others expressing interest in the 33rd District seat, has not run for public office.


All of those interviewed for this article said they would not run if Mr. Yassky decided to keep his council seat and opted not to challenge Charles Hynes, a fellow Democrat.


During an interview this week, Mr. Yassky said he was focusing for now on the presidential election – he’s organized a bus trip to Pennsylvania to campaign for Senator Kerry this weekend – and anticipated making a decision in the next few months. He said he did not have a self-imposed timeline.


But several sources said they expected that he would make a decision by the end of the year, in time for those interested in running to report their filings to the city Campaign Finance Board and declare their intentions to participate in the city’s matching-fund program.


When Mr. Hynes won his fourth term as district attorney three years ago, a little-known candidate, Sandra Roper, won 37% of the vote.


If Mr. Yassky, who has already raised more than $600,000 for the DA race, does decide to cede his council seat, the council primary will quite likely be a crowded race. Some said they expected at least six Democrats to face off.


The 33rd District comprises Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, and Park Slope.


All the prospective candidates went to great lengths to commend Mr. Yassky, a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School who was elected to the council in 2001. But it is clear that many are drooling over the possibility of taking his place.


Adding what could be a layer of intrigue is the fact that most of the probable contenders know Mr. Yassky from the community and are friendly with one another from years of civic involvement. Alan Fleishman and Jo Anne Simon, for example, are co-district leaders for the 52nd Assembly District, who work side-by-side.


Ms. Simon is a lawyer and former teacher of the deaf and blind.


Mr. Fleishman, who works in the city comptroller’s office and is one of two openly gay would-be candidates for the seat, said that it could be somewhat awkward if both he and Ms. Simon end up running, but that neither is particularly concerned about the possibility at this early stage.


“I think it’s an embarrassment of riches. There are some really terrific business and civic leaders,” Mr. Fleishman said, noting that he was confident his already-established base would be helpful. “The district would probably be served very well by most of the people thinking of running.”


Mr. Yassky said he hadn’t yet decided whether he’d endorse one of the Democratic candidates but was leaving the possibility open.


Two of the candidates – Bob Zuckerman and Mr. Adams – have notified the Campaign Finance Board of their intention to run for city office. Mr. Adams has not yet reported any contributions but said he expects to for the January filing deadline. Mr. Zuckerman, president of the New York Nightlife Association, and the other openly gay candidate, has reported $10,382.


The Brooklyn Paper reported that Devin Cohen, a personal-injury lawyer, Adam Perlmutter, a former assistant district attorney in Queens, and Isaac Abraham, an activist, are also considering running.


With the district so large, it could prove hard for candidates to distinguish themselves and lure voters from other neighborhoods. Nonetheless, each candidate claims to bring something unique to the table.


A political science professor at Baruch College, Douglas Muzzio, said it would all come down to how large each candidate’s base was.


“The larger the number of people in the field, the smaller the winning percentage might be,” he said. “They first thing that they are going to need to do is to find out where their support lies and go after it.


“But this is what happens when a seat opens up,” Mr. Muzzio continued. “There’s always a queue.”


The New York Sun

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