Politics

Races Shaping Up as Bronx City Council Hopefuls File Finance Reports

Candidates running in city elections this year were required to file campaign finance reports this week, giving us a pretty good idea of who the leading contenders for a handful of open Bronx seats will be. Of course, it’s still early and candidates will continue to emerge over the coming months, but those who filed this week are already off and running. Here’s a look at the most interesting City Council races in the Bronx and who’s leading the fundraising game in the 11th, 15th, 16th and 12th districts, which should all be competitive this year.

The Year in Politics: Redistricting Leads to Heated Political Races in NW Bronx

The northwest Bronx saw a flurry of political activity this year starting with a furor over redistricting, the realignment of legislative district lines that happens every decade following the Census. So politically charged was the debate over district lines that a federal judge had to step in and draw new Congressional lines. (State lines were agreed upon after several delays.) The result of the judge’s decision gave birth to the new 14th Congressional District, which stretches from Harlem through upper Manhattan and into the northwest Bronx. It includes much of Norwood News’ primary coverage area, including Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge and University Heights.

Race to Replace Norwood/Bedford Park Councilman Heats Up

Last week, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz showed up at Scott Tower in Bedford Park to address the audience at the November Community Board 7 general meeting to talk about a few issues facing the state legislator. He also brought along a friend and ally, Andy Cohen, who he introduced as the Aging Committee Chair of Community Board 8, which includes Kingsbridge and Riverdale.

Bronx Senator Klein Forms Coalition With Republicans

The full Bronx News Roundup (we’re back!) will cover this in more depth later on today, but this is big news in the Bronx and the rest of New York: Democratic State Senator Jeff Klein, whose 34th District now stretches from the far east Bronx to Riverdale (including a narrow stretch of Bedford Park), and his Independent caucus have formed a “bipartisan governing coalition” to lead the State Senate.

Bronx BP Scraps Citywide Bid, Running for Re-Election

After exploring and raising significant funds to make a run at a citywide position, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced today that he has decided to scrap his bid for Public Advocate and seek re-election as borough president in 2013. Diaz explained his decision to supporters in an email, saying “the needs of the people of the Bronx are foremost on my mind and in my heart.”

Northwest Bronx Election Results All Over the Map

If you live in the Norwood Newscoverage area, which includes Norwood, Bedford Park, University Heights, Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham and Fordham-Bedford, you may very well be in store for new representation in state government come Jan. 1.

Riverdale Pols to Push Board 8 Member for Council Seat

For a while, Cliff Stanton had candidacy for the 11th Council District, which includes Norwood, Bedford Park and Riverdale, all to himself. Now, however, Riverdale’s political establishment, including current 11th District rep Oliver Koppell, is throwing all of its weight behind another candidate, Community Board 8 member Andrew Cohen.