When I did an article a few months ago about the possibility of a black borough president in Brooklyn’s near future, it was because I had observed a trend in Brooklyn’s politics over the past five years, whereby blacks and Hispanics were winning borough-wide races for civil and supreme courts, on a regular basis. It started in 2002, when both Delores Thomas and Margarita Lopez-Torres won county-wide races in the same year; something unfathomable to many an old-timer in Brooklyn. Then Chandrya Simpson did it the following year, and it was repeated subsequently in 2004, 2005 and 2006, with blacks and Hispanics making it look mundane, if not simple.

In two years time, Marty Markowitz, the current Brooklyn Borough President will be term-limited out of office; this throws up a vacancy, and it also offers a historic opportunity for a female, or a black, or a Hispanic-or a person other than someone male and Caucasian-to ascend to this office. So, in this the year of Barack Obama (2007), no black candidate has officially declared for the race as yet, but some have made very public statements of their intentions. This group includes the cerebral Chris Owens, Jamaican-born Assemblyman Nick Perry and the controversial NYC councilman Charles Barron. It has also been brought to my attention that over the years State Senator Velmanette Montgomery has openly admitted an interest in this race. Some folks are saying that she is definitely running this time around. Other blacks whose names have been bandied around for this race from time to time, include State Senator John Sampson, Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, NYC council-woman Tish James and Assemblyman Darryl Towns, however, for various reasons, all four seem not inclined to pursue this particular race at present- albeit that could change over the next year or so.

Once a black runs in 2009, it would not be the first time that a minority has challenged for this office; in 1995 Al Vann unsuccessfully ran for this seat, challenging both Howard Goldin (then incumbent) and Marty Markowitz. In 2001, Jeanette Gadson (deceased) ran second to Marty, whipping Councilman Ken Fisher in the process. In the past, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx have elected minorities to their presidency, including Percy Sutton, David Dinkins, Fernando Ferrer, C.Virginia Fields and Helen Marshall; Brooklyn which has the highest minority population of all five boroughs is yet to do this.

The big political news in Brooklyn this week is that Charles Barron will formally announce his bid for Brooklyn’s borough presidency next month; he will make a grand declaration on the steps of Boro Hall sometime around the middle of May. He could be the first minority to formally announce for this race. Barron also says that he will be filing a fundraising committee with the NYC Campaign Finance Board next month, and will be foregoing another run at congressman Ed Towns next year. He believes that he can get more accomplished as the “boro prez” of Brooklyn than as a freshman in Washington, D.C.

Barron- a NYC mayoral candidate four years ago- claimed that he also took a long hard look at running for Public Advocate, but decided against it since he felt that the PA office has too little power to effectuate any real change. He said that the boro prez appoints 50% of all the members on the community planning boards, and also oversees a multi-million capital development budget. He cited that the boro-prez appoints a member to the NYC Planning Commission, and also makes appointments to the Borough Board which approves land-use issues. He cited a litany of presidential responsibilities and also articulated a vision for the office (something I will hopefully deal with in another article), in a rather impassioned conversation recently. It is obvious that Barron is enthused about this run and the possibilities therein.

Other potential runners in this upcoming race are white (based on word on the street); they are namely: Ken Fisher (again), Bill deBlasio, David Yassky, Lori Knippel, State Senator Carl Kruger, NYC council member Dominic Recchia, and also his colleague in the council Lew Fiddler (who in the past has denied that he is running, though his name won’t go away). At the moment there are no others on the radar screen-albeit this could change over time.

Speaking of Lew Fidler; I was told recently that Big Lew wasn’t well, if this is true, then I do send Lew my heartfelt best wishes for a speedy recovery. As someone who has had to deal with an atavistic “hypertension” problem, I know that there are times when you just have to relax and put all the political–activity on the self for a bit. It’s best for your long-term sanity.

On the Hispanic side of the Brooklyn political-ledger, no Latino (a) seems set to run for boro-prez. In my estimation, Surrogate Court Judge Margarita Lopez-Torres will make a fine candidate; but who am I to say? Word on the street is that NYC council member Martin Dilan jnr. will challenge assembly member Daryl Towns for the 54th AD, once Dilan is term-limited in two years. The district that Towns represents is largely a Hispanic one more so than black. Another Hispanic councilmember Diana Reyna is also out in the wilderness in two years, and it is left to be seen as to what her future plans are. Still, I don’t expect a Hispanic candidate for this seat in 2009-albeit, this too could change in the next year or so.

There are many who feel that it is somewhat early to write about a race (primary) that is twenty-eight months away; truth is that political races are starting up much earlier now than they have ever been before, in the history of this country. Case in point is the presidential race of November 2008; candidates, who do not officially enter the fray by the end of this spring, will be all dead on arrival for the New Hampshire primary. It appears that nowadays, earlier is better. Presently, one of the reasons for the early starts to political races is the fundraising needs of candidates; contemporary campaigns are quite costly. The earlier a candidate starts, the better the chances of maximizing on fundraising.

What Barron’s impending announcement will do to the aspirations and chances of all the other blacks interested in running this race, is something pregnant with speculation; what we do know is that Barron attracts media more than Don Imus attracts controversy; his presence in this race will lead to lots of media-coverage beyond Brooklyn. It is unlikely that other blacks will withdraw and clear the field for him, although one pundit suggested yesterday that Nick Perry will wimp out of this race, just like he did in the 11th congressional race last year. I reminded him that this time around Nick won’t have to give up his seat to run, like he would have had to do last time; neither does Velmanette Montgomery for that matter. What happens to the candidacy of Chris Owens is left to be seen; once the Barron announcement is official, I will call up Chris and get his view on the matter. Until then………………….stay tuned-in folks.

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