Over 20 East Side Politicos Endorse Keith Powers for Boro Pres—Including 5 Candidates Looking to Fill His Council Seat

Now that it is January, the political campaign season is moving into high gear in several major races.

East side City council member Keith Powers, who is term limited, has announced he has picked up over 20 endorsements from East Side political brokers in his race for Manhattan borough president. He is squaring off against NYS Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal in the Democratic primary in June.

Powers and Hoylman-Sigal are looking to fill the seat that is being vacated by Mark Levine. The incumbent Democrat could run for re-election but is opting instead to vie for for citywide office as comptroller. Brad Lander, the current comptroller, could have also run for re-election but is instead one of the many candidates challenging Eric Adams in the primary race for mayor.

In Powers race, he has picked up endorsements from five of the candidates looking to fill his city council seat including Virginia Maloney, an executive at Meta and the daughter of former Congress member Carolyn Maloney; Rachel Storch, who served as a legislator in Missouri before moving to the Upper East Side and getting active locally; Ben Wetzler, who grew up on the UES and district leader who ran the Four Freedoms Democratic Club for several years; Vanessa Aronson, a former community 8 board member who is the current president of the Lexington Democratic Club, a Judicial Delegate and a member of the New York County Democratic Committee; and lawyer Faith Bondy, who is the current president of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club, legal advisor to, the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy and an officer of the Board of Directors of the East Sixties Neighborhood Association, and a former member of Community Board 8.

The district includes parts of Midtown from the East Side to Broadway, Times Square, Turtle Bay, Murray Hill, and Koreatown, Rockefeller Center and as far north on the UES as E. 93rd St.

In addition to the quintent seeking his seat--and no doubt his favor-- Powers has picked up support from a half dozen present and past district leaders who are often behind-the-scenes power brokers.

“Council Member Keith Powers has consistently delivered for Manhattan’s East Side,” said Michael D. Corbett, 74th Assembly District (AD) District Leader. ”With a proven track record on issues such as safety and affordability, Keith’s thoughtful, engaged leadership will be critical to improving the quality of life for all Manhattan residents. As a fellow lifelong Manhattanite, I’m proud to endorse Keith Powers for Borough President because I know he will continue to get the job done.”

“For the past seven years, Keith Powers has been a trusted leader for his constituents in Council District 4, and I know he will continue to build that trust as Manhattan’s Borough President,” said Kim Moscaritolo, 76th Assembly District (AD) District Leader. “Keith knows that effective public service comes from showing up and listening to your community— and that’s exactly what he’s done in the City Council. He has my full endorsement for Borough President.”

Elyssa Kates of the 74th Assembly district state committee member was also endorsing the lifelong East Side who grew up in Stuyvesant Town and has represented that neighborhood and the Upper East Side. “Keith’s distinguished tenure in and around city and state government will enable him to deliver results on day one as our next Borough President.” she said. “As a life-long Manhattan resident, he understands the needs of our communities because he’s lived them— which is why he has my complete endorsement in his race for Manhattan Borough President.”

Powers was the first candidate to declare for Borough president back in August. So far it is a two man race. Powers thanks to his early start has built a more sizeable campaign war chest. In his announcement, he said he has $128,240.59 in campaign contributions and $312,435 in matching funds for a combined war chest of $410,675. Hoylman-Sigal, who entered the race last month, showed no funds raised in the tally by the campaign finance board although his contributions will undoubetedly be noted in the next month’s report.

“I am thrilled to have the support of the political leaders representing my community,” Powers said in a statement. “I am deeply proud of my record on the East Side–whether it’s protecting senior affordable housing, increasing public safety, investing in our schools, boosting our amazing parks, combating homelessness, or fighting for more waterside access.”