The city’s largest municipal union jolted the slumbering mayoral campaign yesterday by throwing its clout behind a surprise choice – City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, a Democrat running last in most polls.
“I think this is probably the most significant thing that’s happened in the entire race,” an ebullient Vallone said after District Council 37’s executive board announced its endorsement recommendation.
It comes as a big blow to Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer and City Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who were both thought to be the leading candidates for the union’s nod.
With 125,000 members, DC 37 is one of the city’s most politically potent unions – with the power to swing lots of votes in the four-way Democratic primary for mayor.
The DC 37 announcement could not come at a better time for Vallone, whose campaign strategies have come under fire.
“They say Peter is lackluster. They say he’s in fourth place. They say he can’t get the job done. This shuts up everybody,” said one Vallone aide.
DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders said Vallone got the nod because “we have worked with Peter and – I think this is the defining factor – his door has always been open.”
A few weeks ago, the City Council enacted a law to reimburse 40,000 DC 37 retirees for Medicare Part-B co-payments. Officials put the cost at $35 million a year.
Ferrer, who was counting on DC 37’s support to build his black-Latino coalition, said he still expects to garner votes from its heavily minority membership.
“I know where I stand with the rank and file of that union,” he declared.
Aides to Hevesi, who was also heavily courting DC 37, had no comment.
Delegates from the 56 locals of DC 37 still have to approve the endorsement recommendation next week, which is expected.
In other campaign news:
* Republican mayoral hopeful Mike Bloomberg rolled out a transit plan that called for city control of the Transit Authority and cameras on buses to photograph license plates of cars blocking bus lanes.
Bloomberg, who carries a MetroCard, also promised to take “one form of mass transit” every day to City Hall if he’s elected.
As he spoke at the Grand Street subway station, the billionaire media mogul’s black SUV idled nearby. Mindful of his promise, he hopped on a B train back to his Midtown office.
* Public Advocate Mark Green began airing radio spots featuring former Mayor David Dinkins and ex-police commissioner Bill Bratton.