Charles Barron: Public and Personal Advocate
Nearly two hours ago, Rock Hackshaw at Room Eight posted that City Councilman Charles Barron (D-42nd Councilmanic District) is considering a run for Public Advocate in 2009. Certainly this presents a choice for Barron as he ponders his political future.
Barron could choose to make another run for Congressman Edolphus Towns' seat (NY-10) in 2008. His showing in the three-way race could deter other potential challengers from entering the race, giving Barron a one-on-one campaign against Towns (or his son, Darryl, if Towns decides to give up his seat and allow his son the chance to promote himself from the State Assembly). Ed Towns' weak showing in the 2006 Democratic primary could give Barron hope that he would win two years from now, especially if he gains a larger campaign warchest.
However, running for Public Advocate in 2009 may be a more attractive option for Barron. First, this will give him another year in the City Council, where he can shore up his base, and also another year advancing his causes and beliefs in the manner he has done with the recent killing of an unarmed man and the wounding of two others in Queens at Thanksgiving weekend (and Barron's role will be covered in an upcoming post). Additionally, as Hackshaw points out, running for Public Advocate will qualify Barron for the city's matching funds program to help out with his weak fundraising. His warchest in 2006 was dwarfed by the reserves of Ed Towns and his attempt at running for Mayor in 2005 was cut short due to lackluster fundraising. Running for Public Advocate will let Barron steer clear of heavyweights that are eyeing the Mayor's office and will let him claim funds possibly quintupling his campaign warchest, if all his donations qualified for the 4-to-1 matching funds.
There will be obstacles for Barron to overcome should he run for Public Advocate, however. He will not be without opponents. City Councilmembers that are facing term limits (unless the Council extends the limit or eliminates it completely) will look to this office. Additionally, early mayoral candidates that decide to drop out of that race may look instead to Public Advocate. If people such as Tony Avella look like they will be crushed in the primary for Mayor, it won't be a stretch to see them settling in for this race, which is still a citywide post. Like Barron, his opponents will be drawn to the Public Advocate's office since they will be better able to craft the office to fit their own causes and needs. Furthermore, many media outlets and opponents to Barron himself will seize this opportunity to campaign against him, making this an uphill battle even if it is not the Mount Everest that the 2005 mayoral primary turned out to be for him.
Even if the chances for Charles Barron do not look good now, setting his sights on 2009 may be a smart move for him with potentially huge rewards. Should he win, he will have a citywide platform to stand on. He could then use this to further speak out, with the air of a citywide elected official around him. It will give him opportunities to expand his contacts and networks for future runs, whether it would be for Mayor in 2013 or 2017 or a return to the 10th Congressional District (or whatever it will be numbered in the next decade, if it changes) to replace Ed or Darryl Towns.
Perhaps Charles Barron should think harder about running for Public Advocate. For himself, it could do a world of good. It would definitely be in his interests to consider it and to prepare for that race.
Perhaps, if he is elected, it will moderate him and we will see progress to address the problems that do exist in New York City. Without the fancy rhetoric and with results.
Barron could choose to make another run for Congressman Edolphus Towns' seat (NY-10) in 2008. His showing in the three-way race could deter other potential challengers from entering the race, giving Barron a one-on-one campaign against Towns (or his son, Darryl, if Towns decides to give up his seat and allow his son the chance to promote himself from the State Assembly). Ed Towns' weak showing in the 2006 Democratic primary could give Barron hope that he would win two years from now, especially if he gains a larger campaign warchest.
However, running for Public Advocate in 2009 may be a more attractive option for Barron. First, this will give him another year in the City Council, where he can shore up his base, and also another year advancing his causes and beliefs in the manner he has done with the recent killing of an unarmed man and the wounding of two others in Queens at Thanksgiving weekend (and Barron's role will be covered in an upcoming post). Additionally, as Hackshaw points out, running for Public Advocate will qualify Barron for the city's matching funds program to help out with his weak fundraising. His warchest in 2006 was dwarfed by the reserves of Ed Towns and his attempt at running for Mayor in 2005 was cut short due to lackluster fundraising. Running for Public Advocate will let Barron steer clear of heavyweights that are eyeing the Mayor's office and will let him claim funds possibly quintupling his campaign warchest, if all his donations qualified for the 4-to-1 matching funds.
There will be obstacles for Barron to overcome should he run for Public Advocate, however. He will not be without opponents. City Councilmembers that are facing term limits (unless the Council extends the limit or eliminates it completely) will look to this office. Additionally, early mayoral candidates that decide to drop out of that race may look instead to Public Advocate. If people such as Tony Avella look like they will be crushed in the primary for Mayor, it won't be a stretch to see them settling in for this race, which is still a citywide post. Like Barron, his opponents will be drawn to the Public Advocate's office since they will be better able to craft the office to fit their own causes and needs. Furthermore, many media outlets and opponents to Barron himself will seize this opportunity to campaign against him, making this an uphill battle even if it is not the Mount Everest that the 2005 mayoral primary turned out to be for him.
Even if the chances for Charles Barron do not look good now, setting his sights on 2009 may be a smart move for him with potentially huge rewards. Should he win, he will have a citywide platform to stand on. He could then use this to further speak out, with the air of a citywide elected official around him. It will give him opportunities to expand his contacts and networks for future runs, whether it would be for Mayor in 2013 or 2017 or a return to the 10th Congressional District (or whatever it will be numbered in the next decade, if it changes) to replace Ed or Darryl Towns.
Perhaps Charles Barron should think harder about running for Public Advocate. For himself, it could do a world of good. It would definitely be in his interests to consider it and to prepare for that race.
Perhaps, if he is elected, it will moderate him and we will see progress to address the problems that do exist in New York City. Without the fancy rhetoric and with results.
Labels: 2009 New York City Elections, Charles Barron, Public Advocate
posted by Will at 2:15 PM
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