Simcha Felder Hires Again With an Eye on Comptroller Race
Councilman and all-but-announced city comptroller candidate Simcha Felder of Brooklyn hired another staffer: Eric Kuo, who will be the new new press person.
Kuo previously did press for Councilman Vincent Gentile, a Democrat in the conservative-leaning Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn (the same area that produced Democratic operatives George Fontas, Scott Gastel and Sam Cooper). He also worked for Councilman Oliver Koppell in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. (There are probably some notable operatives from there too, but I'll need some help on that one.)
Felder’s most recent hire before Kuo was an operative with experience in Queens, which happens to be home to three likely opponents: Council members Melinda Katz, David Weprin and John Liu. Kuo's hire, if we feel like parsing the significance, not only gives Felder access to someone with experience in yet another part of the city but may help him, around campaign season, to appeal to any Chinese-American media and voters that aren't locked down by possible candidate Liu. (Kuo told me in a laudibly precise email that he can speak enough Chinese to hold basic conversations but not enough to put out statements.)
Also, Kuo should help with the ultimate Frisbee vote.
Other Democratic officials eyeing a run for comptroller are Assemblyman James Brennan of Brooklyn, and possibly Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion (if he doesn't run for mayor), David Yassky, who is term-limited, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer (who could join a crowded field and run for an open citywide seat in 2009, or run against a first-term incumbent in 2013 when he's term-limited from his office).
Let me know if I'm missing anyone.
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 48.3
- 42.8
- Obama +5.5
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 61.2
- 32.5
- +28.7
- McCain
- 55.7
- 37.3
- +18.4
Eric is an excellent political operative and a rising star in democratic politics. His prowess and ability is nothing short of admirable. I am sure that he will do very well and wish him the best at his new post. Very good pick up, Simcha. On to '09.
anyone who worked for koppell must be useless. Koppell looks like and acts like a walking corpse, dont know if there could be another official for whom you would have to do less working for.
Love staffers who post their own praises. Very professional.
"...Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn (the same area that produced Democratic operatives George Fontas, Scott Gastel and Sam Cooper)."
Democratic Operatives? Wow.
Seriously, just WOW.
Flackery is all well and good, and Felder sure could use some sensible PR guidance. Comptroller-wannabe Felder's little pigeon morology, if turned into legislation and passed by his buddies on the council, will cost the city a cool $8-$10 million. Based on prior form (you think pigeon control is a new issue), it won't work.
This might be a good thing. Pigeons are diurnal, and they eat up all those pizza crusts and half-munched hot-pretzels during the day before the rats get to them. Better pigeons you can't get sick from (sic the city health dept, as well as CDC and NCID) than rats who are vectors for all sorts of human diseases, and hosts to still other human disease vectors. Then too, if Felder has his way, we will be treated to the sight of pigeons being ripped apart live, by hawks and accipitrine robots -- so edifying for the tourists. They can take home a pigeon snuff film as a souvenir of Gotham.
Simcha, regardless of his name, is a rather sad sort of person; Eric Kuo will have his work cut out for him.