Rubencito Staying ... Now What?

Exactly one month ago today, we wrote a piece on the effects if our Borough President decided to go for a citywide office in 2013. Last week, he announced that the "needs of the people of the Bronx are foremost on my mind and in my heart" had therefore "decided to run for re-election as Bronx Borough President in 2013.” We believe that had he decided to run, he would have been the strongest candidate from those who have thus far announced, but we respect his decision.

Now, the word 'en la calle' was that if he the Borough President had decided to go citywide, who would be best suited to replace him at Borough Hall. The names that have been out there are those of Council members Fernando Cabrera (Northwest Bronx), Jimmy Vacca (Pelham Bay/Throgs Neck), and Majority Leader Joel Rivera (North/Central Bronx) who is term-limited. Another long shot is that of NW Bronx Assemblyman Nelson Castro, who would have become the first Dominican-American Borough President in the history of our borough (and in NYC for that matter). However, the latter is known to have many ghosts in his closet, which is why we say he's a 'longshot.' Rivera and Cabrera would probably have been the favorites of the Bronx Democratic Party. Vacca would be interesting candidate given the borough's high population of Latinos. 

Now that BP Diaz is staying put, there's no place to go for most. Cabrera, Vacca and Castro would remain in their current positions. 

Rivera, however, has options. He could opt to swap seats with his dad, former County Chairman Assemblyman Jose Rivera. As of date, Joel has a pretty nice campaign war chest - $208,262.00 to be exact. 

Should this scenario play out, where father and son trade seats, whoever decides to challenge either of them would probably be committing political suicide. 

District Leader Yudelka Tapia has been actively fundraising for Joel's seat. Odd given she resides in Cabrera's district (note: due to 2010 redistricting, anyone can seek office even if he/she does not reside in the district at the time). Tapia has another problem she must first resolve before been considered a serious candidate: with the Campaign Finance Board (CFB). Tapia's 2009 campaign for the City Counciil seat Cabrera ultimately won, was fined $47,774. From the $78,828 she received from matching funds, the CFB ordered Tapia to repay $59,930. As we all know, this is not pocket change. 

Another possible candidate is Radame Perez, who has almost $155,000 ready to go. This would be an uphill for Tapia but definitely would be an interesting race. We predict this would be the Bronx race to watch in 2013.