From Debates to Petitioning

The Greenpoint Gazette’s 33rd District Council debate this week marked the end of a whirlwind period of debates, public forums and endorsement meetings, as the seven candidates for City Council will move to the next major phase of their campaign: petitioning to be on the ballot.
Seventy-five people attended the candidate’s forum, sponsored by the Greenpoint Gazette, Stonewall Democratic Club, Town Square, and North Brooklyn Development Corporation, held Tuesday night at the John Ericsson School (424 Leonard Street), to learn more about the candidate’s stances on the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning, support for the arts, parks priorities, crime and the Broadway Triangle development.
After five forums and debates held throughout the district, many constituents in the audience were familiar with the candidates but were eager to hear more about their stances on specific issues in Greenpoint. Community leaders in the audience, including District Leader Steve Cohn, MetroEnergy and NCMC member Paul Pullo, Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee Liaison Christine Holowacz, NBDC Executive Director Rich Mazur, Town Square Executive Director Susan Anderson, YMCA Chairman Mel Tse, Waste Management’s Rachel Amar, I.S. 318 Assistant Principal John Galvin, Urban Solution’s Martha Holstein, and Stonewall Democrats President Rich Allman listened attentively throughout the ninety-minute debate.
Holowacz thought Gazette staff members would press the candidates more on environmental issues such as the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s pollution, and the intermittent presence of garbage barges in Newtown Creek, but was pleased with the format that allowed candidates to tackle a variety of subjects.
“I thought it was interesting in the way that it allows us understand where the candidates stand on affordable housing versus development,” said Holowacz. “As the debates go on, it becomes very clear which candidate is a community listener and which are saying ‘I will do this because I was a councilmember.’ It’s pretty obvious which candidates will listen to their constituents, because that’s what they will be doing as a councilmember.”
Candidates and their staff members used the opportunity to emphasize strengths on particular issues, hone their message, and look for differences to separate themselves from a crowded field. Many of the potential councilmembers share similar political philosophies and sensibilities but very different backgrounds, and drawing attention to their contrasts remains a challenge.
“I am a lot less nervous than some people are, simply because it’s a forum in which Jo Anne excels,” said Kelly Donnelly, Campaign Manager for Jo Anne Simon. “When she is talking about the issues and policy, it’s definitely a time when her strengths come through. Her genuine affection for the community and all the neighborhoods in the district is apparent and genuine and the voters can sense that.”
City Council candidate Steve Levin was pleased with the debate and relished the opportunity to talk with audience members about his community organizing and affordable housing work.
“As a resident of Greenpoint, I thought it was great we were able to discuss in detail our views on affordable housing, the environment and development. Those are all going to be extremely important issues for the next city council member.”
In June, the candidates will focus on an exhaustive petitioning process, requiring staff and volunteers to collect 900 valid signatures from Registered Democrats living in the 33rd District. Staff members ideally expect three times that and are scouting high visibility locations in the district for petitioning such as subway stops, city parks, grocery stores, and public events in June.
Some speculation centers on what Diamondstone and Levin may do in the race, to either attempt to thin the crowd or, interestingly, keep more candidates on the ballot. Sources say Evan Thies stands to gain the most by challenging other progressive candidates like Ken Baer, Ken Diamondstone or Isaac Abraham who could take votes from his base in the northern parts of the district, but challenging petitions in ballots can be expensive and tedious.
There are no runoffs in city council races, which means that a candidate could win the seat with only 12 percent of the electorate. Most likely, if no one drops out, the winner will receive between 25 and 40 percent.
Kevin Lawler, Evan Thies’ new campaign manager, believed that the debate will help his candidate develop relationships with the most engaged voters in Greenpoint and Williamsburg and get his message out to the public.
“These are great opportunities because he knows these issues very well and he has accomplishments regarding, environmental and affordable housing issues he can point to,” said Lawler. “Anytime he’s speaking to voters about what he wants to do in City Council is good for us.”