It was an exciting year for the followers of Bronx politics with two heated local races, a rash of political scandals, and some unexpected new alliances.

The year started with Bronx Democrats fighting over whether another hearing should be held on the Kingsbridge Armory, pitting Assemblyman Jose Rivera or Council members Maria Baez and Joel Rivera against Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión. The divide over who would control the armory’s fate widened during the year, as Assemblyman Rivera appeared to take the lead in negotiating where to relocate the armory’s remaining National Guard units.

Rivera further consolidated his power by successfully advancing his daughter, Naomi Rivera, to an open Assembly seat last fall. The jockeying began when Assemblyman Jeff Klein abandoned his 80th District post to run for the Senate in the 34th District. That seat became available when former state senator Guy Velella stepped down after pleading guilty to bribery charges. In a four-way primary, Rivera faced another political boss’ progeny — Anthony Friedman, son of former Bronx Democratic Party leader George Friedman — along with community activist Joe Thompson and lawyer Anthony Chiofalo.

Rivera ultimately triumphed, along with all local incumbents, in a primary characterized by poor voter turnout. Klein won the Senate seat in a closer race.

State Senator Efrain Gonzalez also prevailed against his challenger, former state senator Israel Ruiz, despite damaging press right before the primary. Last August, reports circulated that federal prosecutors were investigating Gonzalez for improperly funneling campaign contributions and government grants to three nonprofit organizations that employ his family and associates. Two of the organizations share Gonzalez’ office and one, the West Bronx Neighborhood Association, racked up hefty expenses despite employing no staff. Gonzalez denied any wrongdoing.

Congressman Jose Serrano also found himself in some hot water last August when news accounts revealed that an arts group he funded, and whose Board he allegedly had ties to, had little to show for his support. Serrano allocated $1.7 million to the House of Artful Expression to build a Puerto Rican heritage museum in the Bronx, but after three years, they had made little headway on the project. Serrano moved to reclaim a portion of the money, and he denied any allegations of contract steering.

While Bronx Dems fought off the bad press, Council Member Oliver Koppell
unexpectedly reached out to the machine. Long aligned with the Riverdale side of the Bronx Democratic political split, Koppell made the unusual move last August to endorse Naomi Rivera in her Assembly bid and Jeff Klein in his race for Senate. Koppell admitted the move was meant to gain favor with the organization, and more specifically, a Council committee leadership post. Council Speaker Gifford Miller should assign the chairmanships later this month.

The new alliance also resulted in Koppell and Jose Rivera agreeing last fall to work together on the Kingsbridge Armory’s redevelopment.

Carrión was busy making overtures to the borough’s Jewish community this year, visiting Israel last May with a delegation of Hispanic and African-American clergy. “The explicit motive was to build strong ties between the Hispanic community and the Jewish community,” said Carrión last month. After the trip, he established the Jewish Hispanic Youth Council, which took 30 young people on a cross-cultural trip last November.

Koppell will face a challenger for his Council seat next fall from within the ranks of his own Benjamin Franklin Democratic Reform Club. Ari Hoffnung, an investment banker and Riverdale activist, stepped up to run against his former mentor last month.