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Bloomberg Throwing Weight In 2013 Mayoral Election
By
Garth Johnston
Published Sep 25, 2012
Modified Sep 25, 2012
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Sep 25, 2012
Modified Sep 25, 2012
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With his third term heading into the home stretch, our billionaire mayor from Boston is apparently doing what he can to make sure he picks his replacement. In fact, hizzoner recently held meetings with two of the candidates eying Gracie Mansion to raise questions about their viability to their faces and strongly signal the obvious—that hizzoner leaning towards supporting City Council Speaker, and 2013 poll leader, Christine Quinn to be the city's first herroner.
According to the Journal, Bloomberg didn't advise either Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer or former comptroller Bill Thompson not to run next year—he just strongly implied he wouldn't be supporting them. After all, Quinn was crucial to Bloomberg getting his third term. And what do you know, Stringer—who hasn't actually declared he is running—is already reportedly mulling the idea of switching races and running for comptroller (or another term as beep, which he is eligible to do).
Now, as the Journal notes, there isn't anything wrong with the mayor holding these meetings. But there is something a bit odd about at least one of them:
It isn't unusual for the mayor to hold private meetings with elected officials, including Mr. Stringer, or to muse privately about the race for his replacement. But the coffee he shared with Mr. Thompson, who was the comptroller from 2002 through 2009, was more unusual because Mr. Thompson is no longer in public office.
[Mayoral spokesman] Mr. LaVorgna said Mr. Thompson requested the meeting with the mayor; a spokesman for Mr. Thompson said Mr. Thompson called the mayor's office to set up the meeting at Mr. Bloomberg's insistence.
If the meetings will actually help narrow the field for Quinn remains to be seen, but it is interesting! Also in the running to run the Big Apple are Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Comptroller John Liu and media executive Tom Allon. Also, Jimmy "The Rent Is Too Damn High" McMillan. And former Bronx Beep Adolfo Carrion is reportedly talking to advisers about maybe hopping into the race.
Tagged
bill thompson
christine quinn
Election 2013
mayor bloomberg
scott stringer
Garth Johnston
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