By Harold Egeln
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

BROOKLYN – At the 2009 City Council campaign starting gate are several hopefuls, declared and undeclared, preparing for their races, from Bay Ridge to Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island. They are ready to challenge incumbents or replace legislators not seeking a third term.

In Bay Ridge, two Republicans, Bob Capano and John Quaglione, both with a decade of experience in government, are considering challenges to well-established Democrat Councilman Vincent Gentile (43rd CD), running for his second full term.

Capano worked for Borough Presidents Howard Golden and Marty Markowitz, both Democrats, as a community aide, and as district community director for Republican-Conservative Congressman Vito Fossella.

Quaglione serves as community and media aide to state Sen. Marty Golden, who also worked with him when he was a councilman. He has not discouraged speculation and plans to discuss his future soon with Golden.

Boosting Capano’s hopes is his strong showing in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights in his losing race for the Assembly in 2008 against Democrat incumbent Alec Brook-Krasny. Capano won 53 percent of the vote in these neighborhoods, although overall, he lost the election two-to-one. Capano has crafted a coalition-building style and has said, “I have a proven track record of working across party lines.�

Councilman Gentile, also a former state senator, is set for another re-election run. He twice defeated Republican Pat Russo of Bay Ridge in the 2003 and 2005 elections.

Taking note of Capano’s political strength was a feature article in December’s City Hall monthly newspaper: “Capano’s ’08 Loss Might Be His ’09 Gain in Bay Ridge – Assembly Race May Prove Precursor to Gentile Challenge in GOP-Friendly District.�

Democrat Races From Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island

With Councilman Bill de Blasio (39th CD) running for public advocate, Park Slope activist Brad Lander, director of the Pratt Center for Community Development and Community Board 6’s housing committee chair, is already out on the streets and on line with a voters survey of issues. The survey’s results will be unveiled after mid-January.

Lander, former Fifth Avenue Committee director and currently 78th Precinct Youth Council Little League coach, is running on a platform of “preserving livable neighborhoods, keeping housing affordable, creating a more sustainable city� and expanding public education.

De Blasio, Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate campaign manager in 2000, had planned to run for borough president until the two-term limit became three terms, allowing Markowitz to run for a third term.

Other candidates already in the race to replace de Blasio are information technologist Craig Hammerman, Community Board 2 district manager; and Association of Brooklyn District Managers president, and Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats activist Josh Skaller.

“Brooklyn Street, Carroll Gardens� blogger and attorney Gary Reilly is running. He is also transportation chair of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, a member of the Coalition to Curb the Use of Curb Cuts and Transportation Committee chair for Community Board 6. Also running is Bob Zuckerman, executive director of the Gowanus Community Development Corporation and a Community Board 6 member.

Councilman David Yassky (33rd CD) is campaigning for City Comptroller, though he would be able to run for a third term under the recent change in term limits.

Five candidates, however, are already in the political parade to oppose Yassky, with Boerum Hill civic and attorney activist JoAnne Simon out front with a mailing to voters sailing on a campaign war chest of more than $55,000. The mailing cites the Boerum Hill activist and attorney’s civic involvement and leadership, and her political activity as a district leader.

Evan Thies, a Community Board One member and former Yassky staffer, is set to launch his campaign full blast as he plans to take time off from his public relations job. Campaign veteran Ken Diamondstone, who ran for state Senate, is stepping up to the campaign plate once again.

Also preparing for their campaigns are Stephen Levin, chief of staff for Assemblyman Vito Lopez; the Brooklyn Democratic Party chair; Ken Bauer, formerly leader of the Sierra Club’s state chapter; and Hasidic civic activist Isaac Abraham in Williamsburg.

In Southern Brooklyn, if Councilman Dominick Recchia Jr. (47th CD) does not run for a third term, a trio of candidates, all community activists, may be ready to jump into the race, all focusing on the controversial Coney Island redevelopment issue.

They are electrician Todd Dobrin, a Community Board 13 member; attorney Brian Gotlieb, a former Board 13 chair and School Board 21 member; and Ukranian immigrant John Lisyanskiy of Bensonhurst, an aide to Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

In East New York, Paul Washington, chief of staff to Councilman Charles Barron (42 CD), is running for Barron’s seat as Barron’s term ends at 2009’s end.

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2008 All materials posted on BrooklynEagle.com are protected by United States copyright law. Just a reminder, though -- It’s not considered polite to paste the entire story on your blog. Most blogs post a summary or the first paragraph,( 40 words) then post a link to the rest of the story. That helps increase click-throughs for everyone, and minimizes copyright issues. So please keep posting, but not the entire article. arturc at att.net