As Tuesday's primary approaches, Josh Skaller picks up two more endorsements: Congressman John Hall and a somewhat surprising endorsement from Gatemouth of Room 8.

From the press release of Congressman Hall's endorsement:

"In Congress, I've worked for a real environmental agenda and for alternate energy sources," Hall said. "Josh Skaller will fight that fight in the New York City Council.

"In 2006, I was honored that Josh worked on my campaign to win New York's 19th Congressional District," said Hall. "Today, I'm proud to endorse Josh Skaller because he has a true vision for a green New York."

Skaller's green credentials run deep. He was the first candidate to support an EPA Superfund designation for the infamously polluted Gowanus Canal. Skaller envisions a Gowanus Canal that evolves into the center of the new green economy, empowering Brooklyn's working class while greening the borough...

"New York City should be a leader, not a follower, in environmental stewardship," Skaller said. "Where are the pilot programs? I've met New Yorkers who are trying to make sustainability happen, but city government isn't doing its part to help them...

Skaller's grassroots campaign has the support of numerous progressive visionaries, including Assemblymember Jim Brennan (D-Windsor Terrace), Senator Eric Adams (D-Park Slope) and former Congressman Major Owens (D-Park Slope).

A Democrat, Skaller is running in Brooklyn's 39th Council District, which includes all or parts of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Boro Park, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens.

For Gatemouth it is his his sense of a "moral imperative" to defeat Lander and Heyer, who Gatemouth feel are the worst choices for the district, that has led to his endorsement of Josh Skaller despite a great respect for Bob Zuckerman. From his article on Room 8:

...On social issues, all except Heyer are reliable liberals, though Lander has shown a disturbing tendency to confuse outreach with those whose positions differ (a good thing) with pandering (not so good). Election of a candidate such as Heyer in Bensonhurst, where Heyer would actually be at the liberal end of the spectrum, would not be an awful prospect; it might even be the preferable choice in some races.

But election of such a candidate in a liberal constituency would be taken by the political world as a defeat for the social vision most of us share. Specifically, it would a setback to the cause of marital equality--if such a district can elect an opponent of same sex marriage, what will those sitting on the fence think concerning their own constituencies?

...Lander shows continuous evidence that he lacks sensitivity towards others who do not share his good fortune.

Community Leader Candace Carponter has described an encounter with Lander in front of PS 321 where she’d been handing out Skaller leaflets. Lander “came rushing up” to her and, without a hello, asked if the flier mentioned that Skaller’s son goes to private school.

Wolf Skaller is a child with special needs. As the parent of a special needs child, I can tell you that decisions concerning how best to address a child’s issues are among the most difficult personal decisions one can make. At great sacrifice, and without regard to the obvious political implications, the Skallers made the decision they thought best addressed their son’s needs. And they did so without asking for a handout in the form of a tax credit; if anything, Skaller’s experience seems to have made him more intent upon working to make sure that other parents do not have to make the same choices he does.
By contrast, Lander has shown a continuing insensitivity to parents who merely want the best for their children...

On the basis of education, I also could not vote for John Heyer who pretends to be a friend of public education in Park Slope, while calling for tuition tax credits in Borough Park (though Lander also loses points from both sides for implying in Borough Park, falsely, that he shares Heyer’s position)...

Then there is the matter of character.

Skaller, Zuckerman and especially Reilly all seem as about as sincere as one can ever expect from a politician. I might actually trust any of them to hold my watch and wallet during a bar fight.
Despite being a charming young man, John Heyer‘s campaign has been about cultural divide and conquer (possibly based upon the Republican model of “The New Tolerant Intolerance”) and the preservation of an existing social order most of his district has been working to move beyond. He is not worthy of consideration.

But, even he shines in comparison with Brad Lander. John Heyer sometimes uses a bit of fog to present himself differently to different people; Lander is a veritable Jekyll and Hyde. As I’ve outlined in far more detail elsewhere, Lander has continuously lied about his positions on even the most tangential matters, and has presented several radically different persona. This climaxed with the Lander’s campaign’s ad in a Yiddish language Ultra-Orthodox newspaper, condemning homosexuality as an abomination. Though I do not believe Lander had personal knowledge before the fact, the ad was consistent with Lander’s campaign strategy of trying to confuse Borough Park as to who is the campaign’s genuine social conservative...

But it is not merely a moral imperative to vote against Brad Lander; it is a moral imperative to beat him. And, based upon numerous consultations with local observers, as well as my own observations, I do not believe that Bob is capable of doing so; only one of the acceptable candidates is...

Moreover, I am not overjoyed at who I am urging a vote for. I like Josh Skaller; he is a smart and good and decent man who will do his job with diligence and tenacity. To vote for Josh Skaller is not to vote for the lesser of the evils, but the lesser of the goods.

... in this election, voting for Josh Skaller is the right thing to do.

On Tuesday, I urge all voters in the 39th Councilmanic District to run, not walk, to the polls and vote early and often for Josh Skaller for City Council.

Gatemouth and I agree more often than we like to admit, but in Gatemouth's words, we usually play on different teams in local politics. We both are overly analytical and very critical even of those we support. When we agree on who to vote for in an election, there are very, very good reasons for supporting that candidate. So both Gatemouth and I are strongly urging voters to run, not walk, to vote early (I won't sat often) for Josh Skaller for City Council.