Endorsement By Mayor Brings Cries Of Betrayal
By WINNIE HU
October 11, 2003 -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg endorsed the Republican candidate for Speaker Gifford Miller's Council seat yesterday, prompting Democratic council members who voted for the mayor's unpopular tax increase to accuse him of going back on his word to support them in next month's election.
As the cameras rolled, the mayor strolled down the City Hall steps arm in arm with Jennifer Arangio, the Republican candidate for District 5 on the Upper East Side. Mr. Bloomberg praised her background and her politics, and professed not to know that she was running in Mr. Miller's district.
"I don't know if there is somebody running against her or not, but she's a Republican," he said. "She is put forward by a party that gave me an opportunity to really make a difference."
A spokesman for Mr. Miller made light of the endorsement, pointing to the mayor's own dismal poll numbers. "Given that he's less popular than Gray Davis, we're not terribly concerned," said Chris Policano, the speaker's director of communications.
But other Democratic council members criticized the mayor's endorsement, saying that he had praised their courage and promised them his support at a dinner at Gracie Mansion this year after they voted for his property tax increase.
"I think it's the most crass, raw politics from a man who promised us otherwise," said Councilman Eric Gioia of Queens. "Clearly, the Republican bosses took him out to the woodshed and gave him a talking-to, and said, `You're going to back our candidates, or else.' "
Mr. Bloomberg acknowledged that he had asked the Council to pass the tax increase, but said that that did not mean he would not endorse other candidates. "Standing up to do what's right is something that they were elected to do, and I have certainly said nice things about people that did that," he said.
He commended Mr. Miller for doing a good job as
Posted by admin at October 11, 2003 12:00 AM
