As we reported in our last issue, a race for the Civil Court is doubling as a proxy between two factions of the Bronx Democratic Party. The faction of six Assembly members and three senators who are challenging the leadership of Party Chair Jose Rivera took the unusual step of holding a rally for their candidate Elizabeth Taylor on the steps of Borough Hall on Aug. 22. Those present were Assembly Members Aurelia Greene, Michael Benjamin, Michael Benedetto, Ruben Diaz Jr., Jeffrey Dinowitz and Carl Heastie as well as Senators Rev. Ruben Diaz, Eric Schneiderman and Ruth H. Thompson.

The level of political interest is unusual for this low profile position.

While Taylor is feeling the love from her political backers (which Diaz, Jr. referred to as the “Rainbow Coalition”), Bronx Civil Court candidate Maria Matos hasn’t received the same sort of support from party leaders. The Norwood News couldn’t get Rivera or anyone at the Bronx Democratic Party headquarters to speak on her behalf despite several attempts.

Seeking comment from those on Rivera’s side, we reached Assemblyman Peter Rivera (no relation) who also supports Matos, by phone. In an interview, he said he’s backing her because she was the only candidate that he’s met with personally.

And he acknowledged that there was a split in the party.

“It depends on who you ask, but there have been multiple issues that went unaddressed that have culminated to the point we’re at now,” Rivera said. “Some of the issues are about disagreements over how the water filtration system was handled as well as certain promises that were made regarding appointing judges to the bench that went unfulfilled.”

A Civil Court judge serves a term of 10 years. The Court has jurisdiction over civil cases that involve amounts of up to $25,000 as well as any other civil matter referred by the state Supreme Court.