Rock,

you have got to be kidding me. Her campaign has been stuck in neutral since it began. I can't believe you don’t see it, a second campaign shakeup in less than a couple of months (says allot about the "staff" she had serving the community in the first place), hell, if they are not qualified to manage her campaign how where they qualified to serve the needs of the community? She is spending more money on high priced consultants than she is on getting her message out. To my knowledge she has not had any high profile endorsements or has done anything noteworthy in the counsel that is drawing attention to her campaign. 

I must say that its sad that some in our community think that someone has the inside track because of their race, sex or place of birth. This is an election, she is running to serve the people and as such she should run on her record. I don’t like Yassky (and wont vote for him) but the guy is passing bill after bill in the counsel and most have an immediate impact on the residents he serves, THAT is what I want to hear Yvette, Carl and Chris (he has NO chance or qualifications) talk about. I like your blog so you let me know if I am wrong, give me one bill that Yvette has created (not co-sponsored) that is of use in all her time in office (please not the potty bill) in fact give me one that Carl or Chris have sponsored (ok, I will give you a pass on Chris). Let’s start talking about the issues, what matters to young people without jobs, old people without Medicare and young adults trying to afford a home.

"Word is that Yvette wants to shift gears and move into winning stride. It’s her race to lose."

 Her race to lose? That's just crazy! Rock, I think your big scoop yesterday has gone to your head. I'm not saying Clark has no chance but she is certainly not the favorite at this point.

 I have never publicly critiqued Yvette, and to some extent it's because I like her personally. I do think that she has some potential, but I really don't want to elaborate at the present time for many reasons which I choose to keep to myself.  I will say this however, I have been castigated for years for taking black electeds to task for their glaring inadequacies and failures. Need  I say more.

In Yvette's defence, I must say that I knew her long before  she was elected. She was a member of Erasmus Neighborhood (non-profit), and has been active in many communities  beyond Brooklyn (including the Bronx). I believe her heart is in the right place and that she is well meant. I am more concerned about that sad-look on her face, than her ability to be an effective rep. There might be deeper issues to her than we all know.

Hey Mork where is Mindy ? ( Just kidding/lol). Seriously: Yvette ran 2 years ago and came in second in a 4 -way race. She has around 10,000 votes to build on for this race.She has been on the voting machine 7 times in 5 years, winning 6 of 7. Her visibility and name recognition is high all around. It is even substabntially higher in the Caribbean-American community. She is the only female in the race, which is sure to get her an added 5% at least. Her mother is still an icon in this area (albeit a bit tarnished and tainted from her Pataki appointment), and will bring Yvette lots of votes. That will also get her entre to many churches and events, where Yvette is articulate enough to handle herself on the issues (although I think Chris Owens is a lil better in this regard); all this combined makes her the favorite in my estimation. Believe me when I say that I am trying to be objective here.

The most interesting thing about this race is the lack of polling... everyone claims to be the frontrunner (and almost always has good reason for it.)

Owens is the real frontrunner, for a variety of reasons. He's a better fundraiser than Clarke and Andrews. Andrews has zero support outside his own district. Clarke will get fewer votes in this race than in '04 because of this is a tighter race with more candidates and for a variety of other reasons. Chris Owens will win much of Park Slope, while his only other competition there will be David Yassky. I'd say it's Owens by 5% over Clarke, with Andrews four or five percent back, and Yassky nipping at their heels. Nobody breaks 35% of the vote, that's for sure.

Ok Rock,

 I appreciate the fact that you don’t want to critique Yvette so I will make it easy for you, just name a bill, any bill that she has written (besides the potty parity bill).  Cant do it, neither can I.

In a community with so many issues, where are our elected officials with the solutions? I am tired of hearing about how much money they "get" for the community (when we all know that they are all allotted this money for their communities just by being on the counsel).

I have heard you were a firebrand who is extremely loyal to those he likes but from reading your work I know you cant be satisfied with the pool of candidates.

If Chris where to try this in any other congressional district he would be laughed out of the area, no experience, no record and he wants to run for congress. He of all people should have known when his father would step down, why didn’t he run for city counsel or state committeeman and show the community what he could do? Instead he wants to inherit the position.

There is too much at risk to talk of this campaign in hues of black and white.  As they say Rock, "friends are friends and business is business" Rock this is business and if no one will say it I will, Yassky is running because he sees an opportunity, a community void of leadership, if there were any real contenders out there he would never have gotten involved and if people saw any real option he would not have raised damn near a million dollars.

I think it's a waste of pixels to guess who is going to win this race. I consider anyone who claims that their candidate will win is just trying pathetically to gain votes by pretending to act all inevitable. This race has just begun, and the only prediction I will make is that we're in for many surprises. My vote is for people to stop making predictions.

That being said, I still don't think Yvette can win. She probably got as many votes as she could get in 2004, and this time she's fighting a lot more people who are a lot hungrier to win this. But it is interesting to look at the last race, and Andrews should do well in the same areas that Boyland did.

She's way ahead in one poll.

What impresses about Yvette Clarke is that she has the main ingredient - She is not the type that you can buy, sell, and buy back again.

Greetings

Come 2009 Hon. Kendal Stewart, the current council member will demit office due to term limit. WOW.

There are many prospects to replace him. Sam Tate, the eternal runner, is suppose to be the front runner. However, it seems that Sam had peaked & now become stale fish ready to rot. He should remain in his brother church at the organ. Mr. professor, as he liked being called, had not been visible, community-wise, since he lost to Kendal in 2005. Right.Keep on sleeping Sam.

Then there is Earline, the keep fit runner, King, who is not going anywhere, any time soon. She is only taking up valuable space.

Vaughn Tony is next. Some are rumoring that Vaughn, is the heir-apparent to Kendal. Rubbish. His claim to fame is running a Crown Heights community organ & was Chief of Staff for the failed Rev. Lloyd Henry. No way Vaughn. Stay in Crown Heights.

Other prospects include Wellington "poor ting" Sharpe. Please write to Santa so he can give Wellington a honorary elected title for Christmas. Poor Thing, Poor wellington. Terry Hines,Judge Sylvia Hines-Raddix's nephew wanna run also. No more dynasty mi bro. Please remain the ALSO RAN. Dr Raddix, the dentist husband of judge Hines-Raddix is wearing an oversize running shoes. No way Jose Raddix. Stick to dentistry & build up your expertises & clientele. Soime unknown lady a Gailene WHAT is slated to run also.Many more are in the woodwork just "waiting" for the wood to decay. WOW.

Dr. Dexter Mc. Kenzie, is the man of the hour for this seat. He is a professor of medicine at Downstate Medical Center, & specialized in Pediatrics & Internal Medicine. His community development experience include like who is who in community development where he is chairman of  the Health committee of Brooklyn chapter of NAACP. He is the first Jamaica president of the Provident Clinical Society, a 100 & odd year old Brooklyn based Black Doctor's Association. Dr. Mc. Kenzie has many, many more attributes that qualify him to be the MAN for the 45th. CD seat.

Brothers & sisters please help make this community stalwart the next 45th. CD elected official whether in early spring or in the fall of 2009. Tell your fellow & sister voters about this giant of a man.

ONE LOVE.