Triumphs and Tragedies on Primary Day
Alas, the elections held on September 13 have come and gone. After having put in so many links and resources and time and typing into the preview, there is no way that I cannot simply let it go by without some remarks at least. There were a few good things to come out of these elections and there were disappointments to accompany those. As was said before, most of these primaries were de facto Election Days. Once again, I was not able to vote in this election, for reasons stated in the rant about the Board of Elections.
Democratic Nomination for Mayor
It was no surprise that Fernando Ferrer received the most votes in the primary. What may have been surprising to some, however, was the fact that, yes, a runoff election was avoided. Ferrer narrowly won 40% of the primary vote two weeks ago and will finally have his chance to campaign for the general election for Mayor. Now Ferrer will be able to try to prove that he has what it takes to win a general election, after having come up short in the primaries before.
One major thing that is different in the 2005 mayoral election than in 2001 (aside from time and distance from the September 11 attacks) is that the contenders in the Democratic primary quickly threw their support behind the winner. This is a big change from 2001 when supporters of Ferrer did not support Mark Green, the winner of the primary, enabling Mayor Bloomberg to come from behind and win the election. This situation is also different from the 1997 election, when Al Sharpton called for recounts of the ballots after then-Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger was hovering near the magical 40% mark. Sharpton won his battle and landed in the runoff election against Messinger, causing her to divert resources from campaigning against incumbent Rudy Giuliani to fighting off Sharpton. Messinger won the runoff, but her long-shot candidacy was doomed with that side adventure.
The man that really made this new situation possible is Anthony Weiner. Although Weiner gave a strong push at the final weeks of the campaign, it was not enough to prevent Ferrer from reaching the magic plateau. However, considering that Weiner had been polling in the low teens for much of the campaign, his strong second place finish at around 29 percent is indeed impressive, showing that once voters knew about Weiner, they started to like him. Weiner decided to be the anti-Sharpton when he decided to concede the election when preliminary counts showed Ferrer shy of the 40% mark by a small handful of votes. Since then, the Board of Elections has said that Ferrer barely made the mark to avoid a runoff. However, before that was certified, there were some questions as to whether a runoff should happen anyway. It is state law that in these citywide elections, the runoff must be done, whether a candidate is willing to participate or not.
It was the right thing to do. Whether Democrats like to admit it or not, their party has suffered some deep divisions when it comes to running for mayor. This, along with Republican candidates that have been appealing to Democrats, have allowed for Republicans to control the office for 12 years (and soon to be for 16). And a brutally divisive runoff wouldn't have helped at all. Two more weeks of the candidates locking horns would leave a sour taste in the mouths of many, especially if Weiner emerged as the nominee, leaving Ferrer out in the cold once again. Perhaps it is time for Democrats to sacrifice 2005 in hopes of a more secure 2009 and beyond.
General Election Thoughts
As for my own voting interests, I am no fan of Ferrer. I believe much of his campaign is stuck in the clouds, promising the moon and the stars for those of the lower economic classes. His heart may be in the right place, but has yet to come up with a plan I could point to stating how some of these things would be paid. Additionally, I still have a sour taste in my mouth from the 2001 primary, where some of his supporters were sore losers after that bruising primary, which weakened the nominee Mark Green and contributed to Green's fall from a huge lead in the general election polls to defeat on Election Day. While I am not a fan of Bloomberg, I believe he is possibly the superior candidate in this race. Perhaps I think this way because Bloomberg is more of a known quantity, he has been mayor for four years and everyone seems to understand his agenda. I'll disagree with him heavily on many things, such as the huge property tax increases which led to many landlords raising rents on their tenants, yet only giving tax rebates to home owners. However, it has (thus far) spared New York from a budgetary catastrophe, something I do not think is certain under a Mayor Ferrer.
While the invitation I just recently found in the mail to join Bloomberg's campaign may provide some experience for myself (and I had only received such an invitation from Gifford Miller's campaign before this, which I find curious), I am unable to make such a commitment at this time, so I will watch the race from the sidelines as an interested voter. As things stand now, if I had to cast a ballot today, it would be for Mike Bloomberg, even if I'm far from completely happy with him. Had Weiner won (and today would have been the day of the runoff election, two weeks after the primary), I would cast a ballot for Weiner over Bloomberg, but that is not the case. I think that's the standing of quite a few of the Democratic voters that will cast their ballots for him this November. I will not speak for them, but I do not think the Democratic nominee is the better choice.
Other Primary Day Races
Democratic Nominee for Public Advocate
Betsy Gotbaum won reelection handily, winning 48% of the vote, well over what's needed to avoid a runoff, with Norman Siegel being a distant second at 30%. Andrew Rasiej, even though placing ads on popular websites, did not even finish third, losing that spot to Michael Brown, 9% to 5%.
It remains to be seen if more of the New York City voters know who or what the Public Advocate is in 2009.
Council District 45
I am disappointed to say that Kendall Stewart defeated Samuel Taitt for a third time, paving the way for eight years in the City Council once term limits force him out in 2009.
Stewart won more than 54% of the vote, leading Taitt by over 700 votes.
It will be this district's fault that it will have nearly no representation in the Council for another four years.
Council District 28
Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully, the voters of this district have responded! Councilman Allan Jennings has been defeated in the primary. Jennings lost to former Councilman Thomas White (who represented the area before term limits kicked him out in 2001) by a vote of 40% to 30%. Though White has had some ethical problems of his own while in office, they have been nowhere near the baggage Jennings has already piled during his tenure in the Council.
Council District 46
I am right across the street from being in this district, the one that had been my own before my summer move. I had also interned for the current Councilman, Lew Fidler, last year. He has represented the wide and diverse district well in his first four years. And it comes as no surprise that he was the overwhelming winner on Primary Day, winning over 78% of the vote over two challengers.
The next four years should bring good news to the district, as they will continue to be represented by a strong member of the Council.
_______________________
Overall, it was a mixed bag. There were a few victories for me or for my interests, and a couple of brutal defeats. Can't win them all, I suppose, though I can certainly hope for that every single time.
Democratic Nomination for Mayor
It was no surprise that Fernando Ferrer received the most votes in the primary. What may have been surprising to some, however, was the fact that, yes, a runoff election was avoided. Ferrer narrowly won 40% of the primary vote two weeks ago and will finally have his chance to campaign for the general election for Mayor. Now Ferrer will be able to try to prove that he has what it takes to win a general election, after having come up short in the primaries before.
One major thing that is different in the 2005 mayoral election than in 2001 (aside from time and distance from the September 11 attacks) is that the contenders in the Democratic primary quickly threw their support behind the winner. This is a big change from 2001 when supporters of Ferrer did not support Mark Green, the winner of the primary, enabling Mayor Bloomberg to come from behind and win the election. This situation is also different from the 1997 election, when Al Sharpton called for recounts of the ballots after then-Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger was hovering near the magical 40% mark. Sharpton won his battle and landed in the runoff election against Messinger, causing her to divert resources from campaigning against incumbent Rudy Giuliani to fighting off Sharpton. Messinger won the runoff, but her long-shot candidacy was doomed with that side adventure.
The man that really made this new situation possible is Anthony Weiner. Although Weiner gave a strong push at the final weeks of the campaign, it was not enough to prevent Ferrer from reaching the magic plateau. However, considering that Weiner had been polling in the low teens for much of the campaign, his strong second place finish at around 29 percent is indeed impressive, showing that once voters knew about Weiner, they started to like him. Weiner decided to be the anti-Sharpton when he decided to concede the election when preliminary counts showed Ferrer shy of the 40% mark by a small handful of votes. Since then, the Board of Elections has said that Ferrer barely made the mark to avoid a runoff. However, before that was certified, there were some questions as to whether a runoff should happen anyway. It is state law that in these citywide elections, the runoff must be done, whether a candidate is willing to participate or not.
It was the right thing to do. Whether Democrats like to admit it or not, their party has suffered some deep divisions when it comes to running for mayor. This, along with Republican candidates that have been appealing to Democrats, have allowed for Republicans to control the office for 12 years (and soon to be for 16). And a brutally divisive runoff wouldn't have helped at all. Two more weeks of the candidates locking horns would leave a sour taste in the mouths of many, especially if Weiner emerged as the nominee, leaving Ferrer out in the cold once again. Perhaps it is time for Democrats to sacrifice 2005 in hopes of a more secure 2009 and beyond.
General Election Thoughts
As for my own voting interests, I am no fan of Ferrer. I believe much of his campaign is stuck in the clouds, promising the moon and the stars for those of the lower economic classes. His heart may be in the right place, but has yet to come up with a plan I could point to stating how some of these things would be paid. Additionally, I still have a sour taste in my mouth from the 2001 primary, where some of his supporters were sore losers after that bruising primary, which weakened the nominee Mark Green and contributed to Green's fall from a huge lead in the general election polls to defeat on Election Day. While I am not a fan of Bloomberg, I believe he is possibly the superior candidate in this race. Perhaps I think this way because Bloomberg is more of a known quantity, he has been mayor for four years and everyone seems to understand his agenda. I'll disagree with him heavily on many things, such as the huge property tax increases which led to many landlords raising rents on their tenants, yet only giving tax rebates to home owners. However, it has (thus far) spared New York from a budgetary catastrophe, something I do not think is certain under a Mayor Ferrer.
While the invitation I just recently found in the mail to join Bloomberg's campaign may provide some experience for myself (and I had only received such an invitation from Gifford Miller's campaign before this, which I find curious), I am unable to make such a commitment at this time, so I will watch the race from the sidelines as an interested voter. As things stand now, if I had to cast a ballot today, it would be for Mike Bloomberg, even if I'm far from completely happy with him. Had Weiner won (and today would have been the day of the runoff election, two weeks after the primary), I would cast a ballot for Weiner over Bloomberg, but that is not the case. I think that's the standing of quite a few of the Democratic voters that will cast their ballots for him this November. I will not speak for them, but I do not think the Democratic nominee is the better choice.
Other Primary Day Races
Democratic Nominee for Public Advocate
Betsy Gotbaum won reelection handily, winning 48% of the vote, well over what's needed to avoid a runoff, with Norman Siegel being a distant second at 30%. Andrew Rasiej, even though placing ads on popular websites, did not even finish third, losing that spot to Michael Brown, 9% to 5%.
It remains to be seen if more of the New York City voters know who or what the Public Advocate is in 2009.
Council District 45
I am disappointed to say that Kendall Stewart defeated Samuel Taitt for a third time, paving the way for eight years in the City Council once term limits force him out in 2009.
Stewart won more than 54% of the vote, leading Taitt by over 700 votes.
It will be this district's fault that it will have nearly no representation in the Council for another four years.
Council District 28
Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully, the voters of this district have responded! Councilman Allan Jennings has been defeated in the primary. Jennings lost to former Councilman Thomas White (who represented the area before term limits kicked him out in 2001) by a vote of 40% to 30%. Though White has had some ethical problems of his own while in office, they have been nowhere near the baggage Jennings has already piled during his tenure in the Council.
Council District 46
I am right across the street from being in this district, the one that had been my own before my summer move. I had also interned for the current Councilman, Lew Fidler, last year. He has represented the wide and diverse district well in his first four years. And it comes as no surprise that he was the overwhelming winner on Primary Day, winning over 78% of the vote over two challengers.
The next four years should bring good news to the district, as they will continue to be represented by a strong member of the Council.
_______________________
Overall, it was a mixed bag. There were a few victories for me or for my interests, and a couple of brutal defeats. Can't win them all, I suppose, though I can certainly hope for that every single time.
posted by Will at 1:47 AM
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