The extension of term limits for New York City’s elected officials from two to three terms has allowed veteran lawmaker Oliver Koppell to make a bid to retain his City Council seat in District 11, which includes Norwood, parts of Bedford Park, Riverdale and Woodlawn.

This time around, he faces Tony Cassino, a former chairman of Community Board 8 (Riverdale), who officially kicked off his campaign on June 7.

At first glance, these two Democratic candidates appear to have similar platforms. Both Koppell and Cassino are Riverdale residents who were raised in the Bronx and have been involved in borough politics. Also, the candidates are both highly concerned with providing District 11 with improvements in education, transportation and public safety.

Community Board 7 Chairman Greg Faulkner says the district is “lucky to have two good candidates.”

So what separates them?

Cassino says that one of the major differences between his candidacy and Koppell’s is his “ability to listen to people and build coalitions.” Cassino believes that Riverdale gets preferential treatment by Koppell. If he were elected, Cassino says he will “raise standards throughout the Bronx” and “deliver the same results of services throughout the different areas.”

Cassino also says that he wants to “have a close relationship with the community and the police” to “solve problems.” He believes that communication between residents and politicians is essential in all neighborhoods in the Bronx and he is willing to “fight for more resources” to ensure “we get services that we need.”

Koppell is building his campaign on his reputation and experience, which includes more than two decades in the Assembly and stints as the state’s attorney general and as president of the now-defunct Community School Board 10. “I’m running on my record,” Koppell says. Cassino “doesn’t have nearly the experience or the record that I bring to the job.”

Included in Koppell’s record is a history of providing the Bronx with senior citizen services, money for education and initiatives to encourage business and reduce housing deterioration, he says.
Koppell says he believes he has worked hard to “provide services to all of the communities in [his] district.” He confirmed that he is “constantly involved with the community,” attending community board meetings and tenant meetings “all the time.”

During his eight years as councilman, many residents of the Bronx feel that Koppell has been “hands on,” says Sam Gillian, president of the Tracey Towers Tenant Association. Still, some residents, like Felix Gibson, also a Tracey Towers resident and a member of Community Board 7, believe Koppell’s effort to extend term limits “was a slap in the face to the voters.”

As the election draws closer, Koppell and Cassino both say they are prepared to campaign vigorously throughout District 11 and they have the money to do so. According to the latest campaign finance records, Cassino is close to the incumbent in fund-raising. The first-time candidate has raised less than Koppell ($93,549, compared to $105,558) and spent more ($57,792, compared to $54,031).