General
Election Results
x-Michael R. Bloomberg, Rep 719,819 - 50 percent
Mark Green, Dem 676,560 - 47 percent
Alan G. Hevesi, Lib 11,409 - 1 percent
Others 19,609 - 1 percent
Democratic Runoff Election Results
Fernando Ferrer 384,136
Mark Green 402,706
Primary
Election Results
Democratic
Fernando Ferrer 279,396
Mark Green 243,175
Peter F. Vallone 155,188
Alan G. Hevesi 94,764
George N. Spitz 8,517
Republican
Michael R. Bloomberg 45,656
Herman Badillo 17,531
(Official Vote Count from the Board of Elections)
The Candidates:
The Last Debate
Excerpts from the November
1st mayoral debate between Democrat Mark Green and Republican
Michael Bloomberg
Numbers of Contributors
to Mayoral Candidates
(according to the Campaign Finance Board)
Contributors
to Fernando Ferrer
Contributors
to Mark Green
Contributors
to Alan Hevesi
Contributors
to Peter Vallone
Run-Off Debate
Excerpts from the October 7 televised
debate between Fernando Ferrer and Mark Green
Issue Statements
Mayoral candidates' statements on the issues, at Savvyvoter.org
Campaign Features:
Post
Mortem on the Mayoral Campaign
Still Looking Green
Campaign Update: At the first turn . . .
Introducing The Four Tops
The Second Debate
A transcript of the second televised
debate among the five Democratic candidates for mayor, August
28. This one was the first sponsored by the Campaign Finance Board.
The First Debate
A partial transcript of the first
televised debate among the four major Democratic candidates for
mayor, August 21.
Fiscal Issues
The six major mayoral candidates answered three questions about
the city's economy: What would you do to close the city's budget
gaps? How would you negotiate new labor contracts? And how would
you make the city's economy more competitive? Their answers delivered
in August to the Citizens Budget Commission are available
online (in PDF format only)
Ethics In Government
Leading Democratic and Republican candidates for mayor want to re-open the
steps of City Hall, modernize city elections, continue funding the city's
Independent Budget Office and strengthen laws protecting whistleblowers in
city government, according to the results of a 15-question mayoral survey on
government ethics and open government. The survey was conducted by six civic
groups. But the candidates disagreed on whether to make some city ethics
rules stricter or to make the city Investigations Commissioner more
independent of City Hall.
Michael Bloomberg
Fernando Ferrer
Mark Green
Alan Hevesi
George Spitz
Peter Vallone
Tenants
Issues
New York Tenants and Neighbors, a 26-year-old state-wide coalition
that advocates for tenants' rights, invited the six major candidates
for mayor to talk about housing and tenant issues, and to answer
nine (sometimes very specific, very technical) questions posed
by tenant leaders. Of those invited, only Alan Hevesi and Fernando
Ferrer showed up at the forum on July 18. (Five other mayoral
candidates were allowed to make impromptu speeches)
Alan Hevesi
Fernando Ferrer
George Spitz
Mitchel Cohen
Christopher Brodeur
Anthony Gronowicz
Julia Willebrand
Latino Issues
Latinos now make up about a quarter of New York City's voting-age
population, and are seen as pivotal in the race for mayor. Following
are transcripts of the question and answer sessions with all
the candidates who appeared at a forum on Latino issues June
20.
Herman Badillo
Fernando Ferrer
Mark Green
Alan Hevesi
Julia Willebrand
Speeches On
Urban Planning
To encourage the mayoral candidates to focus on planning, the
city's four urban planning schools on May 4 sponsored a forum
for six of them. Each was given 15 minutes to discuss the role
he anticipated planning would play in his administration, his
views on the role of planning as a government function and whether
he would support providing planning staffs to Community Planning
Boards. Perhaps most provocatively, the six were asked what
type of person he would choose to head his planning department.
Would he seek out a cross between Robert Moses, builder of mega
projects, and Jane Jacobs, champion of mixed-use livable neighborhoods?
Herman Badillo
Fernando Ferrer
Mark Green
Alan Hevesi
Henry Hewes
Peter Vallone
The Stump
Speeches
In the first forum of the Democratic candidates for mayor,
held January 25, five men gave a preview of what their stump
speeches are going to be, and how they are going to answer questions.
The following is an edited transcript of
a "mayoral forum" held at Judson Memorial Church in
Greenwich Village and sponsored by the Village Independent Democrats,
or VID, on January 25. The five Democratic candidates for mayor
of New York City spoke one by one and then were asked questions
that members of the audience had written on index cards.
In order of presentation:
George Spitz, retired public
auditor
Fernando Ferrer, Bronx borough
president
Peter Vallone, City Council
speaker
Mark Green, New York City public
advocate
Alan Hevesi, New York City
comptroller
Mayoral Campaign Trail
11/7
Michael Rubens Bloomberg, a self- made billionaire who set out
at the age of 59 to finance a new career in politics, was elected
the 108th mayor of New York City yesterday, as voters turned to
him to lead a city apprehensive about the loss of a popular mayor
and anxious about a future clouded by threats of terrorism and
economic turmoil. (New
York Times)
Millionaire. Helicopter pilot. Dad. Philanthropist. Movie producer.
Bachelor about town. Media mogul. Now, Mayor Bloomberg. (Daily
News)
There were not enough hands in the Democratic Party last night
for all the finger-pointing that surrounded Mark Green's loss
to Mike Bloomberg - the media mogul who was supposed to be a GOP
pushover. But high on many lists of who to blame for Green's failure
to deliver - after Green himself - were the Rev. Al Sharpton,
Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer and Bronx Democratic Party
chief Roberto Ramirez. (Daily
News)
Crises either lionize mayors or devour them. And there's been
no crisis more threatening to the city's vitality and future than
the aftermath of the attacks that brought down the World Trade
Center. In just two months, the staggering job of stabilizing
New York's economy and rebuilding lower Manhattan will fall to
the mayor-elect, Michael Bloomberg. (Daily
News)
Bloomberg made enough inroads with Latino voters and parlayed
a strong showing among whites to pull off a stunning upset, an
exit poll showed. Eight weeks after the terror of Sept. 11, Bloomberg
rode a wave of New Yorkers' concern over jobs and the economy,
issues that weighed more heavily on voters' decisions than crime,
terrorism and even education. In the Edison Media Research exit
poll the queried 2,036 voters, Green, the Democratic public advocate,
garnered 71 percent of the black vote to the Republican Bloomberg's
25 percent. (Newsday)
Columnist Joyce Purnick: How do you beat a man who can overwhelmingly
outspend you with his own money and has the backing of a politician
as universally admired as Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in his
day? How do you overcome ethnic and racial tensions, a reputation
for being less than lovable, the advantage that the tragedy of
Sept. 11 gave to a first-time candidate claiming his business
background as his strength? As Mark Green learned yesterday, you
don't. (New
York Times)
Columnist Michael Kramer: Everyone said it would be close, and
this time everyone was right."It's one thing to dodge a single
bullet from a Winchester," an aide to Mark Green said last night.
"It's another to dodge a stream from an Uzi - and we almost did."
Well, in politics, "almost" equals second place and second place
equals retirement - which is where Green is heading now that Mike
Bloomberg has been elected mayor. (Daily
News)
Mayor Giuliani's endorsement definitely gave Mike Bloomberg a
boost. (New
York Post)
Mike Bloomberg capitalized on Mayor Giuliani's enormous popularity,
simmering Democratic discontent, his business credentials - and
more than $50 million to get his message out. The attack on the
World Trade Center significantly shifted voter sentiment toward
the billionaire Republican media mogul, who made his entrepreneurial
experience a major selling point in an extremely well-financed
campaign. (New
York Post)
The trail of harshly negative TV and radio ads launched by Mark
Green and Michael Bloomberg will be remembered as some of the
most down-and-dirty the city has ever seen. (New
York Post)
A surprisingly big chunk of Mark Green's supporters in last month's
runoff dumped him yesterday for rival Mike Bloomberg, joined by
an even stronger wave of Hispanics who had backed Fernando Ferrer
in the Democratic race. (New
York Post)
The next mayor faces such daunting budget problems that some
people in government openly wonder - only half jokingly - why
anyone wants the job. "Why do you want to put yourself through
this?" asked one city councilman, referring to the grave decisions
facing the new mayor. (New
York Post)
Coming soon to a mayor near you: huge deficits, a private-sector
slowdown and a power struggle with the governor. And that's just
for starters. To keep parks tidy, streets clean and libraries
open, while meeting costly new obligations to protect public health
and security, the 108th mayor will be forced to scrimp and save,
painfully so. He'll also face resistance from unions forced to
do without large raises, a retirement outflow by police officers,
a shortage of experienced teachers, growing poverty, and heightened
pressures to raise taxes. As for reducing class sizes, building
affordable housing, and subsidizing new baseball and football
stadiums, forget about it. (Newsday)
11/6
The New York Times repeats its endorsements: Mark Green for mayor,
and on the six ballot proposals: 1. Yes to making the State Constitution
gender-neutral. 2 to 6. No to these five proposals, which are
unnecessary changes to the City Charter. (New
York Times)
The Daily News endorsements: Michael Bloomberg for mayor, yes
on all the city charter proposals except the third one, about
the Human Rights Commission. (Daily
News)
The New York Post endorses neither candidate for mayor. "Neither
man comes close to filling Rudy Giuliani's shoes - and Giuliani-esque
leadership is precisely what New York needs just now." (New
York Post)
Newsday endorses Mark Green for mayor, yes to making the State
Constitution gender-neutral, yes on charter revision proposal
1 (Children's Services) and 5 (Public Safety), no on the rest.
(Newsday)
Crains New York Business endorsed Mark Green for mayor.
Mark Green and Michael R. Bloomberg yesterday completed the final
day of a contest for mayor that both sides said had turned unexpectedly
whisker-close. Mr. Bloomberg campaigned at the side of Mayor Rudolph
W. Giuliani, whose support has proved critical to his candidacy,
while Mr. Green campaigned with Kennedys and former President
Clinton, and released a harsh advertisement that recounted charges
made against Mr. Bloomberg in a sexual harassment suit. (New
York Times)
Infuriated by "despicable and racist" campaign literature, the
Rev. Al Sharpton refused late last night to endorse Democratic
mayoral candidate Mark Green - but backed off his threat to call
for a black boycott of today's election. (Daily
News)
11/5
The contest between Mark Green and Michael R. Bloomberg hurtled
through a brutal and expensive final weekend yesterday. Mr. Green
took to the pulpits of black churches in Brooklyn to accuse Mr.
Bloomberg of insensitivity toward black and female New Yorkers.
Mr. Bloomberg filled the airwaves with television advertisements
warning that Mr. Green would "tear apart City Hall" if elected.
With the campaign down to its final hours - and a series of polls
showing the two men essentially tied, with a huge number of voters
still undecided - the candidates and their aides moved through
the day to diminish their opponent. (New
York Times)
11/4
Bloomberg and Green on education, labor, taxes and budgeting,
security and policing. (New
York Times)
The Daily News endorses Michael Bloomberg for mayor: "Bloomberg
is tough and independent, just as a New York mayor must be. He
is smart. He is accomplished. And he will bring to City Hall the
kind of fresh ideas and perspective that this moment of devastating
crisis demands. Bloomberg's opponent, Mark Green, has many attractive
attributes. He has shown himself to be a serious candidate with
serious ideas. Perhaps, in ordinary times, he would be an acceptable
choice. But in this extraordinary time, Bloomberg is the candidate
with the right skills." (Daily
News)
Newsday endorses Mark Green for mayor. "Green seems to have learned
plenty and to be more ready for the task than Bloomberg. He ran
his campaign not as a paleo-liberal this time, but as a reformer
and a moderate. He brought William Bratton, the former police
commissioner who helped revolutionize the NYPD's crime-fighting
tactics, into his fold. So now, Green not only has a long record
as a police critic, he also has the support of most city police
unions. At the same time - to our relief - he has preached during
the campaign that the United Federation of Teachers must trade
work-rule flexibility for pay increases. As a result, the teachers
didn't support him during the primaries. Neither did city workers
in District Council 37 or the hospital workers in Local 1199.
These are good signs. They mean that Green, if elected, would
owe these groups little. While Green's past life as a noisy liberal
gadfly has hardly inspired our confidence, we think he has matured
as a politician. As for Bloomberg, while he is intellectually
agile and astonishingly savvy about local issues, he's still not
ready to turn pro. Not in this league. Not at this time. If New
Yorkers were to elect him next week, they would have to give him
maybe a year to hit his stride as a politician. The city cannot
afford to wait." (Newsday)
Already conducting the priciest campaign in New York State history,
Bloomberg looks certain to spend more than $50 million of his
own money in the race for City Hall. The billionaire businessman
has spent more than $24 million for advertising, $4.6 million
for polls and $1.5 million for 15 different campaign consultant.
Put another way, Bloomberg will pay out enough of his own money
to build two new elementary schools in Queens or to match the
city's median family income of $50,600 for nearly 9,000 families.
(Newsday)
11/3
Republican Michael Bloomberg and Democrat Mark Green bounded yesterday
into the final weekend of the mayoral race on an avalanche of
blistering new attack ads and mailings. One of Bloomberg's new
ads, targeting white voters, paints New York as a safer, more
prosperous city, adding, "Every step of the way Mark Green attacked
and criticized the changes ... He'll tear apart Mayor Giuliani's
City Hall, turn our city back." Green's harsh new ad paints his
billionaire rival as out of step with New Yorkers. It asks, "Does
Bloomberg care about equal rights?" and seizes on remarks by Bloomberg
that public school kids "have personal hygiene problems," and
that sanitation workers have more dangerous jobs than cops and
firefighters. (Daily
News)
According to the latest New York Times poll, Mark Green, a Democrat,
is supported by 42 percent of those most likely to vote and Michael
Bloomberg, a Republican, by 37 percent. The difference is not
statistically significant. About 20 percent are undecided - an
unusually high figure for this late in the contest. (New
York Times)
A "Unity Dinner" for Mark Green's mayoral campaign did not quite
live up to its billing last night. Leading Hispanic officials,
including Fernando Ferrer, boycotted the event to show their continuing
anger and suspicion over tactics used in the runoff election between
Mr. Green and Mr. Ferrer, the Bronx borough president. (New
York Times)
11/2
Mark Green and Michael Bloomberg debated last night for the last
time in the mayoral race, clashing repeatedly over their qualifications
and battling over campaign tactics, education policy and even
their personalities. For much of the 60 minutes, they fought over
whether Green's record of public service or Bloomberg's resume
building a global business are what the city needs to recover
from the economic damage caused by the World Trade Center collapse.
"My opponent has not had any experience in managing a large organization,
in leading a large number of people, in setting large budgets,
in actually doing things," said Bloomberg, a billionaire Republican
making his first run for office. "My rival hasn't spent one minute
in public life," Green, the city's public advocate, said. He added,
"You don't understand the city by spending a lot of private dollars
in an election year." (Daily
News) (New
York Times)
Mayoral hopeful Mark Green began rolling out the big guns yesterday,
stumping with former President Bill Clinton in Harlem as part
of a massive end-of-campaign push to rally Democrats to his candidacy.
As part of the strategy, the Democratic National Committee will
showcase Green tomorrow by having him deliver the party's nationally
broadcast response to President Bush's weekly Saturday radio address.
(Daily
News)
Michael Bloomberg was endorsed by both former Governor Hugh Carey
and former Mayor Ed Koch. The Democrats said they endorsed Bloomberg,
a Republican, partly because of their distaste for the media mogul's
Democratic rival, Mark Green. (Daily
News)
Four aides to Mark Green met with top Brooklyn Democrats and
discussed strategies for highlighting Fernando Ferrer's link to
the Rev. Al Sharpton, a week before the Green-Ferrer mayoral runoff.
Several participants said the meeting focused on how to galvanize
Jewish voters for Green by highlighting Ferrer's relationship
to Sharpton, who is reviled by many Jews. (Daily
News)
11/1
In an interview with the New York Times, Republican mayoral candidate
Michael Bloomberg said that the financial crisis facing the city
is serious but can be managed and that private business, not government
aid, is key to how well New York weathers it. The Republican mayoral
hopeful stressed his experience as an entrepreneur. He said he
was surprised that he had been so harshly criticized for spending
millions of his own money to win the election and for some of
his verbal missteps. (New
York Times)
Attacks and endorsements continued to mark the mayoral campaign
yesterday. Michael Bloomberg attacked rival Mark Green for not
disclosing who is working for his campaign and reacted angrily
to charges surfacing about his response to an allegation of a
rape at his company a few years ago. Green, meanwhile, won the
support of Bronx Democratic leader Roberto Ramirez, who had been
key to the unsuccessful mayoral bid by Fernando Ferrer, and announced
he was borrowing $1 million to finance a last minute television
ad blitz. (New
York Times)
Michael Bloomberg has asked Bernard Kerik to remain on as police
commissioner if Bloomberg is elected mayor. Kerik had previously
said he would leave office when Mayor Rudolph Giuliani does, but
sources told the Post that he is "seriously leaning toward" accepting
the offer from Bloomberg. (New
York Post)
The Detectives' Endowment Association and two unions representing
Port Authority police yesterday announced their support for Mark
Green, giving the Democratic mayoral candidate the support of
virtually all the major uniformed law enforcement unions except
the one representing corrections officers. (Daily
News)
Michael Bloomberg has sent thousands of Hispanic voters a glossy
mailing featuring a picture of Bronx Borough President and unsuccessful
mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer. The leaflets have reportedly
angered aides to Ferrer, who fought a bitter runoff campaign with
Democratic mayoral candidate Mark Green but is now supporting
Green. (New
York Post)
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg strongly defended his decision
not to release to his complete tax returns, saying his opponents
had released their returns because "they don't make anything."
Bloomberg previously said that disclosing the exact dollar figures
in his tax return would jeopardize his privately held financial
communications firm. (Daily
News)
Michael Bloomberg has spent $41 million for his mayoral bid so
far, buying television advertising but also giving money and loaning
office space to political organizations that back his candidacy.
The outpouring of funds has alarmed some Democrats who say the
Democratic National Committee has been slow to spend money to
support Mark Green. But now, with a week to go before Election
Day, Green may finally be getting some help. (New
York Observer)
10/29
Michael Bloomberg and Mark Green participated in what was called
an "undebate," back-to-back half-hour television interviews, because
Green refused to debate Bloomberg directly. While Green attacked
Bloomberg for not having government experience, Bloomberg portrayed
that as a plus and defended his decision to spend more than $40
million of his own money on his mayoral campaign. (New
York Times)
Whoever is elected mayor will have to decide in his first few
months in office how to close a multibillion dollar deficit projected
for the city next year. Neither Mark Green nor Michael Bloomberg
has offered many specifics, but both candidates support hiring
freezes for city agencies and talk about trying to increase the
productivity of city employees. While saying he would seek ways
to preserve essential services, Green has outlined some proposed
savings, including consolidating criminal justice agencies, reducing
the capital budget for jails and various contracting improvements.
Bloomberg has ruled out raising taxes, but said he would consider
having the city borrow more money. (Newsday)
Michael Bloomberg announced a plan for fighting bioterrorism,
saying poor communication between the federal government and New
York police department slowed the response to the anthrax scare
in the city. The Republican mayoral candidate called for creation
of a task force linking city, state and federal agencies and health
care providers, for testing to be available at all times and for
an increase in laboratory capacity to reduce the time it takes
to get results of those tests. (Daily
News)
The New York Times endorsed Mark Green for mayor saying his opponent,
Michael Bloomberg, is "is ill matched to the job he covets." The
editorial concludes that Green "has not been the most lovable
candidate in New York City history, but he has demonstrated a
deep understanding of the issues, a sensible approach to public
policy, and the soul of a fighter. That may be the quality he
will find most useful if he becomes the city's next mayor." (New
York Times)
10/28
Mayor Giuliani finally endorsed Michael Bloomberg, praising the
Republican candidate as someone who "has the background, varied
experience, the kind of experiences" that could make him a great
leader. Despite the mayor's popularity, observers question how
much his endorsement would help Bloomberg, who is trailing in
the polls. But Bloomberg aides were happy to receive the support
and will use it in upcoming television commercials. (Daily
News)
Mayor Giuliani's endorsement of Michael Bloomberg gives Bloomberg
a boost in what many have characterized as his troubled campaign.
But a big question is how much effort Giuliani can or will expend
on the mayoral race. Bloomberg needs the mayor to make personal
and television appearances stressing that Bloomberg is the person
best suited to carry on his work and attacking opponent Mark Green.
But Giuliani has limited time and is eager to avoid being perceived
as too partisan at a time when he is so popular because of his
role since the attacks on September 11. (New
York Times)
Mark Green focused on his support from Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem),
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) and state Controller Carl McCall
as well as Crain's New York Business and the Empire State Pride
Agenda gay-rights group. Green's appearance with black elected
officials may indicate that the rift between Green and people
who had supported the mayoral bid of Fernando Ferrer has at least
partly healed. (Daily
News)
Despite all the campaign rhetoric, neither Mark Green nor Michael
Bloomberg has provided precise details of how he would address
a city budget deficit that could reach at least $4 billion next
year. (Daily
News)
The Green campaign has canceled plans for a fundraiser at the
home of Abraham Biderman, a former city commissioner and prominent
activist in the Brooklyn Orthodox Jewish community. Biderman was
one of the signers of a letter, published in the Jewish Press
immediately before the October 11 Democratic runoff election,
that accused Green's then opponent, Fernando Ferrer, of "dividing
the city racially." It also accused Sharpton, who endorsed Ferrer,
of inciting a mob against Hasidic Jews during the 1991 Crown Heights
riots. (Daily
News)
10/27
Republican Michael Bloomberg has already spent more than $40 million
of his own money on his mayoral campaign, almost four times the
amount spent by Democratic rival Mark Green. Bloomberg is financing
his own campaign while Green is participating in the city campaign
finance system. Last year, Hillary Clinton and Rick Lazio together
spent $69 million for their Senate race, making it the mostly
costly Senate campaign ever. Bloomberg now seems on the road to
spending $50 million, far more than either Clinton or Lazio. (Daily
News)
10/26
Mark Green refunded $13,500 in contributions yesterday from three
contractors whose firm oversaw the renovation project in which
five workmen died in a scaffolding collapse. Stephen Green, a
real estate titan who is the public advocate's older brother,
had solicited the donations from the firm, Nesa Roofing and Restoration.
A company Stephen Green controls, SL Green Leasing, had hired
Nesa for the renovation at 215 Park Ave. South, where the scaffolding
collapsed Wednesday. SL Green Leasing manages the building. The
Green campaign said it was returning the cash because of the "likelihood
of an extensive investigation." (Daily
News)
The United Federation of Teachers endorsed Mark Green for mayor
yesterday after passing him over twice for the primary and runoff
elections, causing renewed disagreements over education with his
Republican opponent, Michael R. Bloomberg. (New
York Times)
The three largest municipal unions -- United Federation of Teachers,
District Council 37, and Local 1199 hospital workers -- are beginning
to rally behind Mark Green, bringing their large memberships and
celebrated get-out-the-vote operations to his candidacy. (Daily
News)
Michael Bloomberg accepted the endorsement of the Amsterdam News
yesterday. (Daily
News)
Michael Bloomberg wants Mayor Giuliani's endorsement, but also
is trying to distinguish himself from his fellow Republican. At
a forum in the South Bronx, Bloomberg suggested his administration
would be more inclusive than Giuliani's. "I was talking to a City
Council person," said Bloomberg. "And they were complaining about
something, and I said, 'Well, the last time you talked to the
mayor, why didn't you say something?' And they said they've never
met the mayor." During the same meeting, Bloomberg also criticized
Giuliani's proposed 15 percent budget cut to CUNY as "penny wise,
pound foolish." (Daily
News)
10/25
Although aides to Mark Green are reluctant to say who might hold
top positions in a Green administration, senior posts could go
to some familiar faces,including people who have worked for previous
mayors. These include former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton
and former Emergency Management official Jerry Hauer, who both
worked under Mayor Rudy Giuliani but have supported the Green
candidacy. The inner circle in a Green administration could also
include aides from his years as public advocate and from the campaign,
such as campaign manager Richard Schrader, chief of staff David
Eichenthal, senior policy adviser Barry Ford, chief spokesman
Joe DePlasco and general counsel Laurel Eisner. Former Mayor David
Dinkins and Assemblyman Herman (Denny) Farrell, the Manhattan
Democratic leader, could also have clout in a Green city hall.
Dinkins says he does not want a government job but "would want
to be helpful." (Daily
News)
Two weeks before Election Day, the Quinnipiac University poll
shows Mark Green leading Republican mayoral rival Michael Bloomberg
by 16 points. Green has 51 percent to 35 percent for Bloomberg,
with 13 percent of voters still undecided. Green gets particularly
strong backing from Democrats and blacks, while the two candidates
are statistically tied with Hispanic voters. (New
York Post)
Governor George Pataki yesterday endorsed Michael Bloomberg for
mayor, citing the Republican candidate's leadership abilities
and business background. Mayor Giuliani, though, has still not
made a similar move. "When I'm ready to do that, then I'll make
a decision," Giuliani said. (New
York Post)
With Michael Bloomberg encountering difficulties in his campaign
for mayor, a number of Republicans have expressed concern over
the way the campaign is proceeding and note how tough it is for
a first-time candidate to succeed in New York politics. The task
facing Bloomberg is especially daunting because he is running
as a Republican in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans
five to one. Further, the campaign is short because of the postponement
of the primary election, and voters are preoccupied with world
events, the World Trade Center attacks--and the Yankee. (New
York Times)
Mark Green and Michael Bloomberg seem to have switched roles.
Green, who has spent a career as an outsider, is now the confident
front-runner, refusing to debate, appearing with law-and-order
supporters and avoiding his opponent. Bloomberg, a billionaire
Republican, is the challenger and protest candidate, offering
himself as the choice for disaffected minority voters and allying
himself with Independence Party followers of Lenora Fulani, the
former presidential candidate who once criticized fellow black
activists for their willingness to "pander to Jews."
As part of this, Green advisers are reportedly trying to keep
Mayor Giuliani from endorsing Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Bloomberg
has won the Independence Party line on the ballot, so Democrats
who like Bloomberg but do not like voting for Republicans can
cast ballots for him. But the support could hinder his efforts
to win over moderate Democrats and Jews who dislike Fulani. (New
York Observer)
10/24
The Bloomberg campaign yesterday quoted from a book rival Mark
Green wrote 20 years ago to try portray Green as a defender of
Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin. The charges is seen as part of an
attempt by the Republican mayoral candidate to question the move
by Green to the political center. "Mark is a very liberal, leftist
kind of guy," Bloomberg said yesterday. A Green aide called the
attack "complete crap and they know it."
Meanwhile, Mayor Giuliani has said he will not endorse Bloomberg
"right now." (Daily
News)
Citizens Union, a nonpartisan civic group, has announced its
support for Michael Bloomberg for mayor, citing his business background
and managerial skills. At least one member of the board of the
organization, Stanley Brezenoff, resigned in protest of the decision,
partly because Bloomberg is using his own fortune to finance his
campaign. (New
York Times)
The accord between Mark Green and supporters of Fernando Ferrer
is shaky at best. (Village
Voice)
10/23
With Mark Green looking on in approval, several of his top law
enforcement advisers asserted yesterday that Michael R. Bloomberg
was not qualified to assure the safety of New Yorkers in the face
of the threat of more terrorist attacks. They recited statements
that Mr. Bloomberg had made in the past that they said demonstrated
his lack of understanding of policing and of city government.
One adviser, William J. Bratton, the former police commissioner,
went so far as to invoke the image of Times Square packed at midnight
on Dec. 31 as a potential target for terrorism at the very moment
that Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's term will be ending. Asked if
it was appropriate to raise fears about New Year's Eve, Mr. Green
said: "When a lot of people congregate and there are terrorist
threats, we have to make sure that we elect a mayor of New York
City who has experience in public safety, has worked with the
leading experts on public safety, and has spoken to cops on the
street and in private meetings over eight years. That's not scaring
people, it's just being realistic." (New
York Times)
Republican mayoral nominee Michael Bloomberg portrayed Democratic
rival Mark Green yesterday as an enemy of the NYPD, while Green
assailed Bloomberg as unprepared to lead the nation's largest
police force. Bloomberg also said he would extend his proposed
citywide hiring freeze to teachers - a plan that brought swift
criticism from Green and the teachers union. The vitriolic exchange,
just 15 days before the Nov. 6 general election, focused attention
on two major issues facing New Yorkers - public safety in the
aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the crisis in
the city's public schools. On public safety, Bloomberg, a billionaire
media mogul, blasted Green, the city public advocate, as a politician
who reinvents himself each time he runs for office. (Daily
News)
Republican mayoral candidate Michael Bloomberg said Monday that
if elected, he'd stop hiring new teachers because of the city's
economic woes and his desire to raise teacher salaries. Bloomberg's
idea was criticized by Democratic nominee Mark Green as "defeatism,"
and the teachers union president warned that not replacing older
teachers could balloon classes, which are already larger in city
schools than in the suburbs. A hiring freeze would severely crimp
Schools Chancellor Harold Levy's aggressive recruitment efforts
at a time when two-thirds of the city's 80,000 teacher corps could
retire in the next five years. The school system hired 8,500 new
teachers this year and may lose another 10,000 teachers by next
summer. (Newsday)
Mike Bloomberg enters the last two weeks of an uphill campaign
without Mayor Giuliani at his side. (NY
Post)
10/22
John S. McCain, the Arizona senator and champion of strict government
regulation of campaign spending, campaigned yesterday on behalf
of Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire businessman who has declined
to participate in New York's campaign finance system and has already
spent more on his mayoral campaign than any candidate in the history
of city elections. (New
York Times)
Democrat Mark Green evidently liked a lot of the people he met
during his past 12 years in city government. He's relying on them,
most of them veteran government officials, to help craft his policies
in his run for mayor. By contrast, Republican Michael Bloomberg,
a businessman making his first run for public office, is relying
on a small group of academics-most with past political experience-to
develop policy positions. The irony is that while Mr. Green is
one of New York's staunchest liberals and Mr. Bloomberg hails
from the conservative world of Wall Street, many of Mr. Bloomberg's
advisers are more liberal than those advising Mr. Green. (Crain's
New York Business)
10/21
Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer, who lost the Democratic mayoral
nomination to Mr. Green in the runoff, moved yesterday to quash
any doubts about their public reconciliation and to appear united
in their opposition to Michael R. Bloomberg, the Republican candidate.
Campaigning yesterday in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Mr. Green was
joined for the first time on the mayoral stump by Mr. Ferrer,
who shook hands with voters and said he was backing Mr. Green
in the spirit of unity created after the Sept. 11 terror attack.
"I support Mark Green wholeheartedly," Mr. Ferrer said. (New
York Times)
His primary contest behind him, Mark Green has emerged, unexpectedly
and not by the design of his campaign, as the first Democratic
mayoral nominee in memory who appears to owe no obvious debt to
the major constituencies that traditionally stake a claim on New
York mayors. With a few notable exceptions, New York's most influential
unions, elected officials and party leaders "opposed Mr.
Green almost through the end". Whatever the reason, the result
may well turn out to be a welcome turn of events for Mr. Green
in the final weeks of this mayoral campaign and, should he win,
in a Green mayoralty.(New
York Times)
Mayoral hopeful Michael Bloomberg has increased his spending
on TV and radio advertising to at least $2.5 million a week. The
pre-Election Day ad blitz puts the Republican on a pace to burn
through nearly $40 million of his own money by the time his campaign
ends. No candidate for any office has ever spent so much on commercials
on a weekly basis in the New York market - not even Jon Corzine,
who shelled out $60 million last year in winning a Senate seat
from New Jersey. (Daily
News)
The Rev. Al Sharpton is now the target of a tough new TV ad for
the Conservative Party's mayoral candidate. "Thinking of voting
for one of these guys?" Terry Gray says in the ad, as pictures
of Democrat Mark Green and Republican Michael Bloomberg are shown.
"Then you're also voting for this guy," he adds, as the commercial
cuts to a shot of Sharpton. "Both Mark Green and Michael Bloomberg
say they'd welcome Al Sharpton's support. I won't. I'm Terry Gray,
Conservative for mayor." (Daily
News)
10/20
Eight days after the last vote was cast in the Democratic mayoral
contest Fernando Ferrer formally conceded to Mark Green yesterday,
and joined a packed platform of elected Democrats, party leaders
and union executives in an elaborate, if uneasy, display of unity.
(New
York Times)
Republican mayoral candidate Michael Bloomberg unleashed his
first attack ad yesterday, a 30-second spot that quotes New Yorkers
as saying Democratic rival Mark Green is racially divisive. The
media mogul launched the TV ad less than a week after stating
unequivocally that he would not use race in his campaign. (Daily
News)
No rebuilding plan can succeed without the enthusiastic participation
of the next mayor, and the two main candidates in the Nov. 6 election
have offered very different proposals.Mark Green, the Democratic
nominee, has proposed a city-state "superagency," accountable
to the mayor and governor with input from other voices around
the city.Michael Bloomberg, the Republican nominee, sees no need
for an additional authority and says the next mayor should be
the point person on the city's downtown's recovery. (New York
Times)
10/19
For the first time since their bitter runoff contest, the Democratic
candidates for mayor, Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer, met last
night in an apparent effort to keep their differences from continuing
to spill over into the compressed general election season. They
met alone and neither would comment afterwards to the press. Then,
Mr. Green met with Mr. Ferrer's supporters, including the Rev.
Al Sharpton. The friction between Mr. Ferrer and Mr. Green has
provided fodder for the Republican candidate, Michael R. Bloomberg,
who has criticized Mr. Green several times this week for the tenor
of his runoff campaign. In addition, Joseph L. Bruno, the State
Senate majority leader, announced that the Senate's Elections
Committee would hold a hearing in New York City on Wednesday to
look into the runoff. A news release issued by Mr. Bruno's office
said that the hearing would look into "miscounts, and allegations
of vote fraud, racism and questionable campaign tactics." (New
York Times) (Daily
News)
With the mayor's race shaping up as a fierce battle over qualifications
rather than issues, Michael Bloomberg decided yesterday to boost
his resume a notch by boasting he has more government experience
than anyone worldwide. "We deal with 100 national governments.
We deal with 50 state governments," said Bloomberg, the billionaire
founder of a financial communications company. "I have more experience
in dealing with governments than probably anybody in the whole
world." Democratic rival Mark Green, the city's public advocate,
responded tersely: "He's funny." (Daily
News)
10/18
It is official, or at least sort of official. With all machine
votes counted, Mark Green leads Fernando Ferrer by 18,000 votes,
virtually assuring that the public advocate is the Democratic
nominee for mayor. Some 30,000 paper ballots must still be counted,
making it mathematically possible but highly unlikely that Ferrer
could still pull out a victory. The machine count gave Green 393,385
votes, or 51.2 percent of the total, while Ferrer received 375,356
votes or 48.8 percent. Paper ballots typically mirror the percentages
recorded by machines
The count did not, however, end the controversy over the runoff
voting and tallying. The Rev. Al Sharpton plans to file a formal
complaint with the Justice Department, questioning why some election
districts were consolidated for the vote last week and alleging
a disproportionate number of minorities may have been required
to fill out paper ballots. And lawyers working with Ferrer say
they have documented cases in which machines malfunctioned or
security might have been compromised. (Daily
News)
Republican mayoral candidate Michael Bloomberg yesterday released
his plan for economic development. He called for reducing the
city's workforce by attrition, moving some city agencies from
Manhattan to the other boroughs, and bringing industries other
than finance to lower Manhattan, as well as a reduced state role
in city affairs, including redevelopment after September 11. At
the same time, Bloomberg proposed turning Governor Island, which
is federally owned, into a center for new high school and college
facilities. This, he said, would free up existing high schools
for use as elementary schools and would overcome opposition to
high schools from people who do not want them in their neighborhoods.
Mark Green, who is running against Bloomberg, dismissed the proposals
from the Republican nominee as "displaying the naivete of a novice."
(New
York Times)
Michael Bloomberg and Mark Green clashed yesterday over what
role, if any, the state should play in decisions over how to rebuild
lower Manhattan. Bloomberg wants the city to control money and
redevelopment, while Green has called for a joint city-state authority
to rebuild. Whatever the two say, however, Albany is considered
unlikely to surrender its role in the reconstruction efforts.
(Newsday)
Mark Green participated in a mayoral debate yesterday, but it
is safe to say he was the only one there with much of a chance
to be mayor. Green, the Democratic candidate, shared the stage
with Kenny Kramer of "Seinfeld" and candidates from the Marijuana
Reform, American Dream and Green parties. Green was required to
take part in the debate because he is participating in the public
campaign finance program. Republican candidate Michael Bloomberg
did not have to attend because he is not participating in the
campaign finance program. (Daily
News)
10/17
Republican Michael R. Bloomberg, inserting himself into a racially
charged dispute among the Democrats, yesterday characterized the
final days of Mark Green's runoff campaign against Fernando Ferrer
as racially hued and said Mr. Green owed the voters an explanation.
(NY
Times)
Republican Michael Bloomberg tried to reap gains yesterday from
a controversy roiling local Democrats by accusing Mark Green of
conducting a divisive runoff campaign. (Daily
News)
Mark Green's lead in the Democratic mayoral runoff swung to 19,000
votes in unofficial tallies yesterday as election officials tossed
thousands of uncounted paper ballots. The slim hopes of Bronx
Borough President Fernando Ferrer now hang on 34,000 paper ballots
yet to be counted. Bronx Democratic Party chief Roberto Ramirez,
a top Ferrer adviser, said the campaign "has as its utmost priority
that every one of the paper ballots that are bona fide votes gets
counted." (Daily
News)
Mark Green has two big guns waiting in the wings for him - Bill
and Hillary Clinton - as he waits to be officially declared the
winner of last week's primary runoff. (NY
Post)
Republican mayoral candidate Mike Bloomberg made a long-shot
pitch yesterday for the endorsement of one of the city's most
powerful and liberal-leaning unions - health-care workers Local
1199. But all Bloomberg came away with was a photo op and some
kind words from union president Dennis Rivera, who had backed
Fernando Ferrer for City Hall. (NY
Post)
Mark Green takes the heat for hate flyers passed out by supporters.
(Village
Voice)
10/16
As predicted, errors in the numbers reported last week have cast
a shadow over the Democratic mayoral nomination, with several
Fernando Ferrer supporters calling for a Justice Department investigation
of the election. Mark Green's 24,031 lead is 5,775 fewer votes
than was announced last Thursday, Associated Press said Monday
as it continued to analyze the numbers. Total voter turnout was
also inflated in the initial election reports and has been reduced
to 763,065, AP said. Those numbers, however, are still unofficial.
The official vote count will begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. and is
expected to be finished by Sunday. (Newsday)
"It is premature to state with certainty what the outcome of
this election is," board Deputy Director Joseph Gentili said in
statement yesterday.But in a later interview, he repeated assertions
that Green's victory was expected to stand after the ballots were
counted. "There's nothing here that makes me believe the proportions
will change," he said. (Daily
News)
The results of the Democratic mayoral nomination remained in
limbo yesterday, with no official vote count from the Board of
Elections, and thus no certified winner.The leaders of the state
and national Democratic parties both worked to reconcile Mark
Green and Fernando Ferrer and their supporters yesterday, trying
to head off any lasting rift between the two campaigns that could
damage the party's chances of recapturing City Hall in November.
(New
York Times)
Four days after the polls closed for the final time on the extended
Democratic mayoral primary in New York, relations between Mark
Green and Fernando Ferrer were more antagonistic yesterday than
during the campaign itself, in a lingering and perhaps, for Mr.
Green, debilitating dispute over racial politics in the city.
Mr. Ferrer's chief adviser, Roberto Ramirez, yesterday lodged
a complaint with the Democratic national chairman, Terry McAuliffe,
about his contention that Mr. Green had run a racially charged
and unfairly harsh campaign. Another Ferrer adviser, Representative
Charles Rangel, met conspicuously with the Republican mayoral
candidate, Michael R. Bloomberg, and then held a news conference
to offer warm words for Mr. Bloomberg, while lamenting the "the
racist calls that were made, the racist cartoons that were sent."
As of yesterday evening, Mr. Ferrer had still not returned the
call Mr. Green had placed to him the day after last Thursday's
vote. By Sunday, Mr. Ferrer had withdrawn the concession he had
made on Thursday, releasing a statement that criticized Mr. Green's
campaign tactics and took note of confusion about the vote tally.
(New
York Times)
If the fallout from the hotly fought runoff and the ensuing vote-count
controversy was meant to make Green sweat about securing a strong
turnout by black and Latino voters in the Nov. 6 general election,
he didn't show it. During a stop in a senior center, Green went
down a long list of prominent blacks who have endorsed him, from
state Comptroller Carl McCall to rap impresario Russell Simmons,
and later collected the endorsement of City Council Speaker Peter
Vallone in front of City Hall. Vallone had backed Ferrer in the
runoff. Green predicted Ferrer and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem)
- who met with Republican nominee Michael Bloomberg - would come
around to him as the party designee. And Green added he's certain
the city Board of Elections will certify his victory when it finishes
its official count. "Democrats are uniting behind me," he said.
(Newsday)
Mark Green yesterday picked up the endorsement of Peter Vallone
- a onetime supporter of Fernando Ferrer who urged the Bronx borough
president to "throw the towel in" on becoming mayor. Vallone warned
that by not backing Green, Ferrer is helping Republican nominee
Michael Bloomberg's chances in next month's general election.
(New
York Post)
10/15
Mayor Giuliani yesterday ripped the city Board of Elections for
its bungled vote count in the Democratic mayoral runoff and renewed
his call to do away with the board. (New
York Post)
Fernando Ferrer seized on reports that some votes were counted
more than once in the Oct. 11 Democratic mayoral runoff to essentially
rescind the concession he made to his opponent, Mark Green, declaring
yesterday that "we don't know who" won the nomination and calling
for a "fair, complete and accurate final count." Mr. Ferrer's
statement came after the Board of Elections announced that unofficial
returns reported on election night included roughly 42,000 votes
that had been counted twice. A new unofficial tally by the board
showed that Mr. Green still won the election, but that his margin
of victory had narrowed by roughly 9,000 votes to 21,056 votes.
Mr. Ferrer suggested the election's outcome was far from certain.
(New
York Times)
10/14
The unofficial vote totals in the Democratic mayoral runoff Thursday
night, narrowly won by Mark Green, were overcounted by perhaps
200,000 votes or more, according to the city's Board of Elections.
Joseph Gentili, the deputy director of the Elections Board, stopped
short of saying that the final count - still under way - would
change the outcome. Mr. Green received about 52 percent of the
vote, according to the early unofficial returns, while Fernando
Ferrer had about 48 percent. Joe DePlasco, a spokesman for Mr.
Green, said yesterday that election officials had assured the
campaign that the overcount would not affect the outcome. And,
he added, Mr. Green appeared to have won by nearly 30,000 votes,
and he did not expect that margin to change considerably. Elections
officials said the overcount was the result of votes' having been
recorded more than once in dozens, and perhaps hundreds, of instances.
(New
York Times)
As Mark Green tried to build support among black voters yesterday
in Brooklyn, the Rev. Al Sharpton called Mr. Green's campaign
tactics racially divisive and hinted that he might not endorse
either Mr. Green or his Republican opponent, Michael R. Bloomberg.
(New
York Times)
The challenge Mark Green now faces in winning over minority voters
was underscored yesterday by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who angrily
accused Green of having "played the race card" in his bid to beat
Fernando Ferrer. "You all think you forced us out of the game?"
Sharpton asked, referring to Green's camp. "Good. Then we'll stay
home and watch." (Daily
News)
For six months, Michael R. Bloomberg presented himself as the
independent businessman whose lack of experience in politics made
him the ideal next mayor of New York. But running now in a general
election campaign against Mark Green that will last only three
weeks, that same scant electoral experience is stirring concern
among Republicans about his prospects. (New
York Times)
10/13
Democratic mayoral candidate Mark Green and Republican rival Michael
Bloomberg fired away at each other yesterday in the first day
of campaigning following the Democratic runoff. The candidates
began exchanging barbs before the sun rose in a series of TV and
radio interviews. Each argued passionately that his experience
is what New York City needs following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center. "I'm a professional manager. He's a
rookie. We want Joe Torres or Bobby Valentine. This is not the
time to have a Little League manager in there," said Bloomberg,
the billionaire media mogul who is running his first campaign
for elected office. Green, who has served as the city's public
advocate for the past eight years, said he's "going to fight"
to become the city's 108th mayor. "If the public wants the person
who has created and has made billions selling a gizmo on a desk,
he's your guy," Green said of Bloomberg. "I have experience in
government, an experience money can't buy." (Daily
News)
Many of Fernando Ferrer's strongest supporters say they were
outraged by what they considered heavy-handed and racially charged
tactics of the Green campaign in the final days before Thursday's
runoff election. And many of these supporters have insisted that,
while Mr. Green prepares for his contest with the Republican nominee,
Michael R. Bloomberg, he has significant repair work to do within
the ranks of his own party. Congressman Charles Rangel, a Ferrer
supporter, and Bill Lynch, one of Mr. Ferrer's main campaign advisers,
plan to meet with Mr. Bloomberg on Monday. (New
York Times)
Now that the Democratic mayoral primary runoff is over, Mayor
Rudolph W. Giuliani is making it clear that he meant what he said
about wanting to stay. "Mike [Bloomberg] and Mark Green both agreed
to the idea of a three-month additional transition," the mayor
said during a guest appearance on Howard Stern's morning radio
show. "And maybe we can still convince the Democratic State Legislature
to go along with it now that the two candidates agree to it."
Charles Carrier, a spokesman for Sheldon Silver, speaker of the
State Assembly, said: "The Assembly Democratic majority's position
on extension of the mayor's term has not changed. It will not
be considered." (New
York Times)
10/12
Public Advocate Mark Green won the Democratic runoff to be mayor
by 52 percent against 48 percent for his rival, Bronx Borough
President Fernando Ferrer. Out of a total votes cast of 804, 852,
Green had 417,329 votes to Ferrer's 387,523, a difference of 30,000.
Green's percentage in each borough is as follows: Manhattan, 61.3
percent; Brooklyn, 51.4 percent; Queens, 55 percent, The Bronx,
29.1 percent, Staten Island, 74.2 percent. (Daily
News)
Against a backdrop of civic trauma and deep anxiety about the future of New
York City, Mark Green won the Democratic nomination for mayor last night. He
defeated Fernando Ferrer in a racially divided contest in which voters
embraced Mr. Green's declaration that recovering from the World Trade Center
attack should be the central focus of New York's next mayor. The victory by
Mr. Green, the city's public advocate, derailed the second attempt in four
years by Mr. Ferrer, the Bronx borough president, to become New York's first
Puerto Rican mayor. But Mr. Ferrer came close to assembling a winning
coalition of Hispanic and black voters, in a way that suggested that this
election marked a new chapter in the continuing ethnic and political
realignment in New York. One-quarter of the primary electorate was Hispanic,
and the turnout of more than 800,000 was even higher than it was in the
first round of Democratic voting on Sept. 25. (New York Times)
Mark Green gobbled up the lion's share of votes from people who cast ballots
for Peter Vallone and Alan Hevesi in the Sept. 25 Democratic primary, exit
polls showed yesterday. Even though Vallone endorsed Fernando Ferrer the day
after he lost in the primary, some 80 percent of Vallone's backers went for
Green, according to the survey by Edison Media Research of New Jersey. Green
fared almost as well with people who originally backed Hevesi - snaring 74
percent to Ferrer's 26 percent. Hevesi endorsed Green in the runoff.
(New York Post)
Ferrer got just 16 percent of whites' votes on Tuesday, while Green got just
16 percent of Latinos' votes. But whites outnumbered Latinos at the polls,
and Ferrer, to win, needed about twice as many white votes than he received.
Among black voters, Green picked up 29 percent compared with Ferrer's 71
percent, another lopsided result.Green's anemic support from minority
Democratic voters wasn't the only discouraging news for him in the exit
survey of 1,380 voters last night. The survey showed that 60 percent of
voters who pulled the lever for him on Tuesday voiced reservations about
him, compared with 40 percent with reservations about him on Sept. 25. One
in seven voters said they wouldn't return to the polling sites for a Nov. 6
showdown between Green and Republican mayoral nominee Mike Bloomberg.
(Newsday)
Green's victory over Fernando Ferrer in the Democratic runoff was propelled
by voting patterns surprisingly similar to those that installed City Hall's
current occupant, Republican Mayor Giuliani. Green snatched 84% of the white
vote and 29% of the black vote against the Hispanic Ferrer, with some of his
strongest margins coming from the Giuliani strongholds of Staten Island and
Queens, where the city's white ethnic population is anchored. In the
clearest sign of the irony for a frequent Giuliani critic, Green picked up
nearly half his winning margin in Staten Island, a bastion of the city's
conservative white middle class. (Daily News)
If the past is prologue - and the Democrats' 5-to-1 edge in registration
shapes this election - the mayoral contest is Mark Green's to lose. But this
year's vote for mayor, shaped by term limits and conducted in the shadow of
the city's worst calamity, is already different than any other.
Now, because the primaries were delayed two weeks by the World Trade Center
disaster, the general-election campaign is unexpectedly short. So watch for
the rhetoric to heat up quickly.
Republican mayors tend to be a once-in-a-generation quirk. And the contest
between Green and billionaire businessman Mike Bloomberg poses a man long
steeped in public issues against a self-made success from the private
sector. (Newsday)
Ferrer's staff tried to find solace - even in defeat. If nothing else, they
said, there was satisfaction in having proved that black and Latino voters -
the devoted core of Ferrer's support - had arrived as a dominant force in
city elections."I think history will write that this election changed the
political landscape," said Roberto Ramirez, the powerful leader of the Bronx
Democratic Party and a key Ferrer ally. Added Ferrer, "You opened a door
that will never be closed." (Daily News)
Elections officials and monitors reported generally smooth going at the
polls yesterday, the third time in a month Democrats have been asked to cast
ballots. (Daily News)
10/11
The New York Times has reiterated its support for Mark Green for
mayor. While noting that neither Green nor his opponent, Fernando
Ferrer, is "an ideal mayoral candidate," its editorial states,
"But the differences between the two men, which were noticeable
before, have stretched to formidable over the last few weeks.
Mr. Ferrer is the product of the Bronx Democratic machine, and
his career has hewed closely to the party organization's political
rulebook. Mr. Green has always been a political outsider who had
to fight for what he wanted, an idea man who specialized in problem-solving.
In a time of quiet prosperity, perhaps either man could have handled
the job. But now the city needs Mr. Green, who knows how to operate
in uncharted waters." (New
York Times)
The Daily News urges anyone who cares about New York to vote
today, and to vote for Mark Green. "A Green victory is crucial
to the city," the paper says, noting that he is opposed to raising
taxes, "best equipped to deal with the economic downturn," and
"committed to the city he loves." Previously, the paper had endorsed
Betsy Gotbaum for public advocate. (Daily
News)
The New York Post endorses Mark Green, commenting, "It speaks
volumes about the choice facing voters in [the] Democratic mayoral
primary runoff that The Post today endorses the candidacy of Mark
Green." The editorial adds, "We don't agree with Mark Green about
much." (New
York Post)
In early September, the Village Voice endorsed Mark Green for
mayor and Norman Siegel for public advocate. (Village
Voice)
There has been a lot of grumbling about Mark Green in the days
since he said he would agree to allow Mayor Giuliani remain in
office for an extra 90 days. The Voice explains why it still supports
the public advocate in his race for mayor. (Village
Voice)
In early September, writes The Observer in an editorial, "we
were adjusting ourselves to a world in which Public Advocate Mark
Green, the perpetual outsider, would become New York's 108th mayor
on January 1." But now after the terrorist attacks and the bid
by Mayor Giuliani to extend his time in office, Fernando Ferrer
has become the favorite. The weekly says, "In battling his way
back from the dismal polls of summer, Mr. Ferrer has shown political
smarts and no inconsiderable amount of guts. These days, such
qualities are in high demand." (New
York Observer)
Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer spent the day before the runoff
election for the Democratic mayoral election trying to shore up
support and make sure that their voters go to the polls. Green
campaigned among black voters in Harlem and white voters on the
Upper West Side, in Queens and Brooklyn, while Ferrer urged his
union supporters to deliver a victory. Green picked up the endorsement
of the union representing New York firefighters, the Uniformed
Firefighters Association. (New
York Times)
Unions are making a major effort to get out their voters for
today's runoff election. The big unions, Service Employees International
Union, the United Federation of Teachers and District Council
37, support Fernando Ferrer, but a number of smaller unions are
backing rival Mark Green. Many are operating phone banks urging
their members to come to the polls. (Newsday)
With the Democratic mayoral nominee finally about to be chosen,
Republican candidate Michael Bloomberg is hoping to regain some
of the spotlight. He has resumed his television ad campaign and
hopes to announce his plans for economic development in the next
few days. (New
York Post)
10/10
The New York mayoral campaign is certainly one of the most
critical elections in the city's history. Yet it may also prove
to be among the least noticed - time and again overshadowed by
events both global and local. As the campaigning for the Democratic
primary runoff tomorrow moves into its final hours, the pull of
these somewhat contradictory forces are consuming and confounding
Fernando Ferrer and Mark Green. Over the past week, they have
seemed to trade political personalities. The once cautious Mr.
Green is suddenly running a forceful, hard-hitting campaign, unleashing
an uncharacteristically harsh advertisement attacking Mr. Ferrer.
The Bronx borough president seems intent on coming across as the
confident favorite, much the way Mr. Green was acting only two
weeks ago. (New
York Times)
The Democratic mayoral runoff election grew nastier yesterday on its
next-to-last day, with an exchange of attack ads on the airwaves, sharp
words between the candidates and even a circuslike confrontation, complete
with an acrobat, between supporters of Fernando Ferrer and Mark Green on a
Midtown street. It began when supporters of Mr. Ferrer, including former
Representative Geraldine A. Ferraro and Ruth W. Messinger, the former
Manhattan borough president, assembled outside Mr. Green's campaign
headquarters on Lexington Avenue near Grand Central Terminal for a news
conference to denounce a Green campaign ad that calls Mr. Ferrer "borderline
irresponsible" and asks, "Can New York afford to take a chance?" But chaos
broke out as the news conference ended when young Green campaign aides
poured out of the building with a street-theater counteroffensive. To draw
attention to Mr. Ferrer's shifting positions on the death penalty and
late-term abortions, Mr. Green's supporters chanted "flip-flop! flip-flop!"
and gave out flip-flop sandals picturing Mr. Ferrer along with the words
"Death Penalty" and "Choice." An acrobat, wearing a shirt that said "Death
Penalty" on one side and "Choice" on the other, then began performing flips
in the air.
(New York Times)
(Daily News)
(NY Post)
(Newsday)
It is all about turnout. With the contest virtually deadlocked, tomorrow's
runoff likely will hinge on which side does a better job getting its
supporters to the polls. And it appears Fernando Ferrer's camp has the
advantage in getting out the vote, most political strategists agree.
(Daily News)
A top Board of Elections official warned yesterday that there is not enough
time to prepare the city's thousands of voting machines for next month's
election. As a precaution, the board is printing thousands of extra paper
ballots in case the machines break down during the Nov. 6 general election.
(Daily News)
While the Rev. Al Sharpton, one of Fernando Ferrer's biggest backers, has
been battled over by the Democratic mayoral hopefuls in the past week, the
reverend has kept a fairly low profile. (NY Post)
Strategists for Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer say privately that they've
taken a special interest in the L.A. race for its parallels and its
differences. (Newsday)
10/9
Former Governor Mario M. Cuomo endorsed Mark Green for mayor
yesterday. (New
York Times) (Daily
News)
The campaign of the Democratic mayoral candidate Mark Green unleashed
the first negative ad of the runoff election last night, labeling
his opponent, Fernando Ferrer, "borderline irresponsible" and
a proponent of "higher taxes" and a "divided city." (New
York Times)
An umbrella Muslim group is backing Fernando Ferrer - two months
after it pulled back its endorsement of Mark Green. But Ferrer
said he's "not interested." (New
York Post)
Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer has squeezed out a small
lead over Public Advocate Mark Green as they barrel toward Thursday's
Democratic mayoral runoff, a Daily News/New York 1 poll shows,
Ferrer at 46 percent, Green at 44 percent. This is a statistical
tie, given the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage
points. An additional 10 percent are undecided. Voters who backed
also-rans Alan Hevesi and Peter Vallone in the primary balloting
are supporting Green over Ferrer more than 2-to-1, the poll found.
But Green's gains have been offset by some erosion, especially
among blacks. A key reason appears to be his support of - and
Ferrer's opposition to - Mayor Giuliani's now-dead push for a
90-day extension of his term. The poll found 13 percent of Green's
voters in the primary planned to switch to Ferrer. (Daily
News)
10/8
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver slammed the door shut yesterday
on Mayor Giuliani's request for a 90-day extension of his term,
saying the mayor's gambit was finished. "I've heard from enough
of my members to know the Rudy extension won't happen," Silver
(D-Manhattan) said in a telephone interview. "It's finished."
The decision means that, barring unforeseen events, Giuliani's
term will expire Dec. 31 and a new mayor will succeed him New
Year's Day. (Daily
News)
The candidates in the mayoral race in New York once again shifted
to a more somber tone last night, this time with the commencement
of retaliatory attacks by the United States military on targets
in Afghanistan.The Republican nominee, Michael R. Bloomberg, and
a Democratic candidate, Mark Green, continued to seek out voters
in public appearances in Staten Island and Manhattan, respectively.
But Fernando Ferrer, who faces Mr. Green in the runoff Thursday
for the Democratic nomination, canceled a series of afternoon
campaign stops in the Bronx as the military action continued.
(New
York Times)
In two back-to-back caustic and testy debates, Fernando Ferrer
and Mark Green challenged each other's credibility yesterday,
as Mr. Green said Mr. Ferrer had flip-flopped on abortion and
the death penalty, and Mr. Ferrer disparaged Mr. Green for aligning
himself with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's attempt to extend his
term. With four days left before the Democratic mayoral primary
runoff on Thursday, and polls showing those two Democrats in a
dead heat, Mr. Green and Mr. Ferrer clashed with an intensity
that had not before been seen in this campaign for mayor. (New
York Times)
10/7
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center has created
sharp stylistic and policy differences between the two Democratic
candidates for mayor, with Mark Green seizing on it as the central
focus of his campaign, and Fernando Ferrer arguing that it should
not overshadow existing problems confronting the city. The responses
by Mr. Ferrer and Mr. Green expose the divergent views of the
crisis by two public officials with very different political and
personal backgrounds. Each is trying to measure the impact of
the bombing on the city he is seeking to lead, and on his campaign
for mayor, in the heat of a tight contest. The divergent reactions
are the latest evidence, aides to both men said, that New Yorkers'
response to Sept. 11 may vary based on where they live and their
economic situation. Both campaigns are regularly polling voters
to prepare for the primary runoff on Thursday. The central point
of contention between Mr. Ferrer and Mr. Green is over where the
rebuilding should occur. Mr. Green, the public advocate, who lives
in Manhattan, argued that the city should swiftly replace the
office space lost in Lower Manhattan. Mr. Ferrer, who has been
the Bronx borough president for almost 14 years, said that some
of the construction should be spread out across New York, and
that the attack was "an opportunity to pursue much- needed redevelopment
opportunities" in boroughs that have resented Manhattan's economic
dominance. But the differences go beyond what or where to rebuild.
(New
York Times)
With polls showing the Democratic race for mayor a tossup, the
two contenders have launched 11th-hour TV commercials targeting
undecided voters. Public Advocate Mark Green's new spot, called
"A Decade of Experience," pushes his years of public service and
his "specific plan" to rebuild lower Manhattan, and bills him
as the "Democrat who can lead in times of crisis." Bronx Borough
President Fernando Ferrer's spot, called "Unity," features five
prominent current or former elected officials, including ex-mayor
Ed Koch, who passionately extols Ferrer's "intelligence and courage."
(Daily
News)
The Democratic campaign for Thursday's mayoral runoff took on
a more personal tone yesterday, as Mark Green sought to portray
himself as someone who would not change his opinions on issues
like abortion and the death penalty for political gain - implying,
none too subtly, that Fernando Ferrer is someone who would. While
Mr. Green made his attack, there was a political spectacle of
sorts in Brooklyn as Mr. Ferrer campaigned with former Mayor Edward
I. Koch and the Rev. Al Sharpton - two former adversaries whose
sudden jovial camaraderie marked another twist in a campaign that
now seems to have had a lot of them. (New
York Times)
The Rev. Al Sharpton says he doesn't want a job from Democratic
mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer - or any other candidate. "I
have never engaged in patronage," he told applauding supporters
in Harlem yesterday."All I ask is that whoever is in, that they
do what is right for the people of this city. That's all I've
ever asked," he said. (Daily
News)
Roberto Ramirez, the Bronx Democratic leader, is wielding a great
deal of behind the scenes influence in the mayoral campaign of
Fernando Ferrer. (New
York Times)
10/6
Mark Green charged yesterday that Fernando Ferrer was not
prepared to rebuild the city's economy in the wake of the attack
on the World Trade Center, saying his plans did "not measure up
to the crisis" and warning that his call to decentralize office
space could break up the financial district. "Anybody who understands
how integral financial services is to New York, anyone who understands
the way markets operate, should know that you don't break up Wall
Street," said Mr. Green, the public advocate and a Democratic
candidate for mayor. "You don't break up Broadway, Detroit doesn't
break up the auto industry, and New York doesn't break up downtown
Manhattan and financial services." His remarks were the latest
in a series aimed at raising doubts in the minds of voters about
whether his opponent for the Democratic mayoral nomination, Mr.
Ferrer, the Bronx borough president, was prepared to guide the
city through the current crisis. (New
York Times)
Mayoral hopeful Fernando Ferrer said yesterday that the Rev.
Al Sharpton "wants nothing from me" and "will get nothing from
me" in a Ferrer administration. "He won't be recommending or picking
any commissioners," Ferrer said. Seeking to refute critics who
wonder whether Ferrer's election would give Sharpton a large voice
at City Hall, Ferrer added, "I owe him - like I owe all the people
that pulled the lever for me." (Daily
News)
Democratic rivals Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer are heading
into next week's runoff in a dead heat - with signs that Ferrer's
support from white voters is on the rise, a new poll yesterday
showed. The Marist Institute survey - the first since the Sept.
25 primary - had Green and Ferrer tied with 45 percent each. (New
York Post)
As the union representing New York City teachers formally endorsed
Fernando Ferrer for mayor, its leader sought to portray him yesterday
as the candidate who would rebuild Lower Manhattan and make New
Yorkers feel safe without abandoning the goal of making teachers'
salaries competitive with those in the suburbs. Randi Weingarten,
the union president, harked back to the fiscal crisis of the early
1970's and warned that the impending recession must not have the
same devastating impact on the school system. "Freddy understands
that you cannot rebuild New York unless you ensure that our schools
work for all our children," Ms. Weingarten said in a news conference
at the Manhattan headquarters of the union, the United Federation
of Teachers.But it remains unclear whether the union's 100,000
members who live in New York City will follow Ms. Weingarten's
lead and vote for Mr. Ferrer in the runoff on Thursday. After
the union endorsed Alan G. Hevesi for the Democratic primary,
only 20 percent of teachers voted for Mr. Hevesi, compared with
29 percent for Mr. Ferrer and 32 percent for Mark Green, according
to surveys of voters leaving the polls. (New
York Times)
Republican mayoral nominee Michael Bloomberg has spent nearly
$30 million of his own money in his rookie campaign - with a month
still to go before Election Day, his campaign records show. Bloomberg's
campaign spending is 2 1/2 times as great as the total combined
outlay of the two Democratic rivals. (Newsday)
10/5
The New York City teachers' union voted last night to endorse
Fernando Ferrer for mayor, giving him a clean sweep of the three
most sought-after unions in local politics: health and hospital
workers, city employees and now teachers. (New
York Times)
Mark Green charged that Fernando Ferrer, the Bronx borough president,
is unprepared to lead the city in the fights against terrorism
and crime. And he accused Ferrer of waging a "polarizing" campaign.
Ferrer has "said next to nothing on security and safety issues,"
Green charged. "When it comes to safety and security, it's all
about citywide experience ... decisive leadership ... strong plans,"
Green said (Daily
News)
The Rev. Al Sharpton's emergence as a central player in the Democratic
primary runoff for mayor in New York presents vast political opportunities
and a thicket of risks for both Fernando Ferrer and Mark Green.Mr.
Sharpton's presence poses a complication in the two-way runoff
on Thursday, as Mr. Ferrer searches for a way to break beyond
the minuscule showing he posted among white voters in the primary.
He is understandably wary of being held accountable for any excesses
that Mr. Sharpton might display, like Mr. Sharpton's remark last
weekend that in the wake of the September 11 attack, even Bozo
the clown could have brought the city together the way Mayor Rudolph
W. Giuliani did. On the radio yesterday, Don Imus referred to
Mr. Ferrer simply as "Reverend Al's guy." For Mr. Green, not having
Mr. Sharpton's backing is highly problematic as he battles in
a runoff with an opponent who is apparently succeeding at forming
a coalition of black and Latino support behind his effort to become
New York's first Puerto Rican mayor. But Mr. Green's advisers
see opportunities here as well, providing they can untangle this
political knot: How to link Mr. Sharpton to Mr. Ferrer in a way
that will galvanize the sizable number of white voters who dislike
Mr. Sharpton, without risking the loss of other Green voters.
(New
York Times)
A week before a Democratic runoff that will pit Mr. Green against
Fernando Ferrer, the Bronx borough president, there is much soul-searching
and hand- wringing in Greenwich Village, SoHo, TriBeCa, Chelsea
and Battery Park City - overwhelmingly white, mostly middle-class
neighborhoods that make up the 66th Assembly District. It is not
the first time that voters in this district, a Democratic stronghold,
are reacting to political events in unexpected ways. In 1997,
more than half voted for Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, even though
four years earlier the majority of them had flatly rejected him.
Now, with thousands of bodies entombed in the rubble of the World
Trade Center a few blocks from their homes, voters in this district
may be gearing up to help rearrange the city's political map once
again. Some voters who used to despise Mr. Giuliani - who has
said he would like to extend his term by three months - now love
him for his command of the city after the collapse of the twin
towers. Some who voted for Mr. Green in the primary are ditching
him for Mr. Ferrer because they like how Mr. Ferrer stood up to
Mr. Giuliani's pressures to prolong his mandate. And still others,
who had rarely ever voted Republican, are inclined to vote for
Mr. Bloomberg because, they say, he is the only one with the business
experience to resurrect Lower Manhattan from the ashes. (New
York Times)
10/4
Mayor Giuliani announced that he would abandon his bid for
a third term because any attempt to overturn the city term limits
law, which requires him to leave office in January, would create
too much acrimony. The mayor said he would still like to stay
in office for an additional three months to help the next mayor
with the transition. (New
York Times)
In a 90-minute debate last night, Mark Green accused Fernando
Ferrer of "risking divisiveness." The two Democratic candidates,
who will face each other in a runoff primary on October 11, also
offered their ideas for rebuilding the city after the World Trade
Center attack. (Daily
News)
While many observers had expected Mark Green to be aggressive
in the debate last night, the public advocate took a cautious
approach. (New
York Post)
When Fernando Ferrer rejected Mayor Giuliani's bid to extend
his term, the Bronx borough president gained a central cause for
his campaign and a good chance of winning. But his anti-Giuliani
posture will make it more difficult for him to capture the white
votes he needs. (New
York Observer)
10/3
The chemistry of the mayoral race has changed. For
a variety of reasons - starting with Fernando Ferrer's decision
to challenge Mayor Giuliani's attempt to stay in office, in contrast
with his opponent Mark Green's quick agreement to the mayor's
demands - the contest for mayor has taken a crucial and potentially
decisive turn. (NY
Times)
Former Mayor Edward Koch endorsed Fernando Ferrer in the mayoral
race, yesterday, praising Ferrer for standing up to Mayor Giuliani
and sharply criticizing Mark Green for failing to do the same.
(NY
Times)
The owner of a Queens company that was barred from school-construction
work has raised $20,000 for Fernando Ferrer's mayoral campaign,
The Post has learned. (NY
Post)
How Mark Green and Fernando Ferrer used the mayor to define themselves.
(Village
Voice)
10/2
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's chances of staying in office
past Dec. 31 dimmed markedly today. State lawmakers declared the
idea of extending his term by 90 days all but dead, and some in
the mayor's camp said he would not try to run for a third term.
(New
York Times)
In what aides touted as a "major policy address," Fernando Ferrer
said giving Giuliani an extension to manage the city through the
World Trade Center crisis would "allow terrorists to force us
into changing our system of government." He did not mention his
rival in the October 11 Democratic runoff, Mark Green, who backs
Giuliani's proposed 90-day extension. But, Ferrer said, "the willingness
of anyone to capitulate in the face of a threat to our orderly
constitutional transition of government" should "give every New
Yorker pause." (Daily
News)
"I actually believe that if - God forbid - I had been the mayor
during such a calamity, I would have done as well or better than
Rudy Giuliani," Mark Green said in an interview on WLIB radio.
(New
York Post)
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver charged yesterday that Mark
Green's support of a three-month extension for Mayor Giuliani
is simply a bid to grab votes."Quite honestly, it is a political
calculation," Silver said. "He thinks that the public supports"
Giuliani's term extension bid. The swipe at Green came as Silver
suggested that Giuliani could instead oversee the rejuvenation
of lower Manhattan by taking charge of the Port Authority or by
being appointed to a federal rebuilding post. The comments marked
Silver's strongest words yet in the hot debate over Giuliani's
future and the mayoral race. Last week, the powerful Manhattan
Democrat left open the possibility of an extended term for Giuliani.
But on Sunday, he said there weren't enough votes in the Assembly,
and by yesterday, he was suggesting alternate career paths for
the mayor. (Daily
News)
Mark Green's decision last week to support Mayor's Giuliani request
for a three-month term extension isn't going over very well with
Democratic leaders. Green is having a hard time finding support
for his position, even among political allies trying to install
him as the next mayor. (New
York Post)
Republican mayoral nominee Michael Bloomberg renewed a call yesterday
for the Board of Education to develop a voice mail system, saying
the technology would prove especially helpful during an emergency.
"We should have a voice mail system, which would have been particularly
useful on Sept. 11, where a parent can call up from any phone,
any place in the world, any time of day or night, punch in a number
and find out what is happening with their child," he said. (Daily
News)
Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer today picked up the endorsement
of District Council 37, the city's largest municipal union and
one of the big prizes in the Democratic runoff for mayor. The
125,000-member union had endorsed City Council Speaker Peter Vallone
in the Democratic primary. Green also picked up endorsements today,
most notably from Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, and
Helen Marshall nominated to be her successor. (Newsday)
10/1
The confidence of business leaders in the city's future has been
shaken by the outcome of last week's Democratic mayoral primary
and the efforts of Mayor Rudy Giuliani to extend his stay in office.
Corporate titans fear that the city's ability to handle the enormous
problems associated with rebuilding lower Manhattan could be undermined
by political instability created by the mayor's ambitions. They
are also unsettled by the two Democratic finalists, especially
Fernando Ferrer. Many for the first time are considering backing
Republican Michael Bloomberg. (Crain's
NY Business)
Three weeks ago, Mark Green seemed a good bet to be the next
mayor, in a soporific race. Now he's playing Rudy and Freddy in
a scintillating power-politics poker game. (New
York Magazine)
Fernando Ferrer and Mark Green continued to trade barbs yesterday
over plans to rebuild Lower Manhattan and whether Mayor Rudolph
W. Giuliani should be allowed to stay on after his term ends,
as each candidate tried to suggest - in the time- honored political
tradition - that the other one started it. Mr. Ferrer, the Bronx
borough president, also distanced himself from comments that a
key supporter, the Rev. Al Sharpton, made on Saturday. Mr. Sharpton
suggested that Mr. Giuliani had been excessively praised for his
handling of the World Trade Center crisis and said that "we would
have come together if Bozo was the mayor." Mr. Ferrer said that
he "would have chosen far different language." (New
York Times)
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