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Reformed Political Junkie Ferrer Endorses Gleason
August 3, 2009
In another sign of trouble for embattled Councilman Alan Gerson, former Bronx BP and 2005 mayoral contender Freddy Ferrer endorsed one of the incumbent Manhattan lawmaker's primary challengers, Pete Gleason.
Ferrer noted that both he and Gleason were "born in the Bronx," but that's not the main reason behind his decision.
"I know he won't be one of those go-along-to-get-along faces in the crowd." Ferrer said of his chosen candidate at a City Hall press conference covered by the DN's Frank Lombardi. "He served in the trenches long enough to know this is about people."
Ferrer also said: "You don't elect a potted plant to the City Council" - a clear dig on the body that is often criticized as being little more than a rubber stamp for Mayor Bloomberg.
This is one of the few endorsements of a Council candidate Ferrer has made to date this year. He's also backing Comptroller Bill Thompson for mayor and Queens Councilman David Weprin for comptroller in their respective Democratic primary races.
As to whether he harbors any notions of running for office again himself, Ferrer quickly and emphatically replied: "No!" He added: "I've gotten over that narcotic."
Gleason, who is making his second bid to unseat Gerson, praised Ferrer as "an icon" of city government, and said he "embodies the ideas, the dreams and visions of all New Yorkers."
Both Gleason and Ferrer opposed the extension of term limits pushed by Bloomberg and approved by the Council last year. Gerson voted "yes," which Gleason said "violated not only democracy but the public trust."
Gleason's campaign that challenged Gerson's qualifying petitions, which resulted in Gerson being bounced off the ballot by the city Board of Elections due to technical deficiencies on his cover sheets.
Unlike Councilmen Robert Jackson and Bill de Blasio, who were restored to the ballot despite their petition problems, Gerson remains off. That legal dispute continues with several hearings before a court referee today.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/08/reformed-political-junkie-ferr.html#ixzz0NECeAdMh
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