http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_…
Hidden amidst the news that the GOP lost its two top contenders for Fossella’s seat was city councilman Vincent Gentile’s declaration that he’s going to run.
This took me by surprise because he seemed to be the only NY-13 candidate who hadn’t been discussed for a potential run. But he does have more experience in political office than most people in the area – he served in the state senate (in my girlfriend’s district) from ’96-’02 before losing to Republican Marty Golden, and proceeded to win the special election for Marty Golden’s city council seat in ’03.
He is a Brooklynite, and in the Daily News article offers that as a reason for his run, “saying he doesn’t believe the “myth” that a candidate from outside Staten Island can’t win.” I would suggest that the fact that he’s term-limited out of the council in ’09 is probably his real reason behind an unlikely run. Although his prior career as a prosecutor may make him a good match for the district, where lots of policemen live and “tough on crime” attitudes were what made Donovan so attractive a candidate for the GOP.
I don’t know too much about his politics – he did support the corrupt homophobe Noach Dear for Civil Court Judge despite the fact that Dear was not licensed to practice law, lumping him together in the same undesirable company of some other Brooklyn pols such as Marty Markowitz and former NY-13 candidate Domenic Recchia.
http://www.dailygotham.com/blo…
Anyway, I doubt he’s particularly progressive or electable given geography and associations – so I guess we’re still waiting on the two Michaels – McMahon and Cusick – to figure out which one is gonna run.