Clement, a city resident for only about six years, represents “the new Kingston,” which in terms of political logic means Gallo, brother of the late mayor T.R. Gallo, must represent “old Kingston.” So why, I asked one of the keener observers of local politics, is “old Kingston” — aldermen, Democratic party leaders, the city committee — with Clement? “Maybe old Kingston doesn’t like Gallo,” she replied. Here, Shayne may be paying for the sins of his brother.
Turco-Levin burst out of the Republican convention as the hot ticket, seemingly the only Republican who might stand a chance against any Democrat in a city with a near 3-1 Democratic enrollment. This takes nothing away from challengers Rich Cahill Jr., Ron Polacco and Jean Jacobs. Fact is, they’re not Andi, another version of the “new Kingston” candidate.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the primary landslide. Cahill, combative, sometimes vindictive as an alderman and mayoral candidate (in 2007), the quintessential sore loser, reinvented himself as the idea man, the guy who really understands what goes down at City Hall, the big issue candidate. At times, he’s been almost as pleasant as Turco-Levin.
Turco-Levin, by comparison, played small ball, talking about smoking in the parks, sidewalks, ethics panels, etc. Her one notable excursion into major policy, when she attempted to plug into public dismay over school district shenanigans by suggesting the city investigate fiscal irregularities, left people wondering whether she really understood the duties and boundaries of the mayor’s office.
Jacobs, with so little traction she barely raises dust, came up with an idea now and then, however curious. How about calling for a city manager? Note to the Jacobs braintrust: the mayor is a city manager, for better or worse, and directly accountable to the electorate. Polacco is the ultimate stealth candidate, tirelessly going door to door, repeating platitudes about lower taxes, better services, public safety. That he pounds the pavement like a latter-day buffalo herd — visiting some neighborhoods two and three times — causes his opponents deep concern. Weird things can happen in low-number turnouts.
Turco-Levin, smart, engaging and likeable, remains the candidate to beat. If she is to be competitive in November against Clement or Gallo, she must demonstrate the ability to rally her base and take a substantial plurality in this primary. Unless she has one helluva whiz-bang closing act — the letter! — that’s not happening.
Not to relegate somebody running on a dog of a ticket as an also-ran, but here goes. Like most minor minor party hopefuls, Red Dog candidate Steve Ladin brings something to the fore. Ladin, not to be confused with Levin, is reasonably well informed with some pretty good ideas, but he is very much a man entering a gunfight with a knife, maybe even a spork. Ladin might better advance his political career by running for alderman in a couple of years. In the mayoral sweepstakes, he is but an interesting distraction. He is not on the primary ballot, there being only one Red Dog candidate in town.
Alder-mania
With an unusually high turnover in the Common Council this year — a majority of five seats are open — the outcome of aldermanic primaries in two words could have a profound impact on who rules the roost in 2012-13. Given substantial enrollment majorities in every ward, Democrats are almost certain to maintain their 7-2 majority; they might even take another seat.
