With all the excitement that has grown out of the seemingly likely appointment of Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. to lead President-elect Obama’s White House Office of Urban Policy comes the news that for the first time in decades, an east Bronxite could emerge as a leading contender for the borough presidency.
Councilman Jimmy Vacca has not announced a run for the seat, but sources say he is interested and would likely make a formidable candidate, given his advantage in fundraising, his over 30 years of public service in the Bronx, and the short timetable for the special election, which would take place 45 days after Carrion stepped down, most likely in mid-March.
Rumors that Vacca might be considering a run grew louder when his campaign committee sent out an invitation to a fundraiser on January 8 which did not specify which position Vacca is seeking and is earlier in the year than previous fundraisers, which typically have coincided with Vacca’s March birthday.
“I love the Bronx, and have fought for its residents my entire life,” Vacca said, when asked about his possibly candidacy and the upcoming fundraiser. “I haven’t decided either way, and am assessing which opportunity provides me the best way to continue doing what I have always done.”
The last borough president to hail from the east Bronx was Robert Abrams, who left office in 1979.
Community leaders said they are excited about the prospect of a local councilman like Vacca occupying the borough president’s offices at the Mario Merola Building/Bronx County Courthouse at 851 Grand Concourse.
“I’d love to see Councilman Jimmy Vacca as borough president,” said Al D’Angelo, president of the Morris Park Community Association. “I think he is a hardworking guy. Councilman Vacca would definitely carry the areas that know him because of his hard work and dedication. He would be a great asset for all of the Bronx.”
D’Angleo said he thought Vacca would do well in the crowded field of a special election.
Residents of the Pelham Bay area, where Councilman Vacca grew up, were equally enthused about the possibility of him running for borough president.
“I am excited to hear the good news and I think this is fantastic,” said Mary Jane Musano of the Waterbury-LaSalle Community Association. “Councilman Vacca serving as borough president would be better not just for the community but the entire Bronx because he is such a strong advocate for local issues. He has been advocating for the community his entire life.”
Vacca could benefit from a crowded field, which could include Senator-elect Pedro Espada, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr., Councilwoman Helen Foster, and Councilman Joel Rivera.
Vacca has already outfundraised all of the talked about potential opponents by a significant margin, and when the city’s 6 to 1 match for special elections by residents contributing up to $250 multiplies this financial advantage, Vacca would have nearly twice the campaign funds as other candidates.
Based on these numbers, many agree that it would be difficult for any of Vacca’s likely opponents to catch up to him in such a short period of time.
Vacca would also be advantaged by the typical low turnout of special elections. The parts of the Bronx where Vacca is most popular include Throggs Neck, Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, and Co-op City, which he represented as Community Board 10 district manager for 26 years.
In addition, in non-partisan special elections, voters of any party could cast a ballot and Vacca would be expected to draw a sizeable portion of independent and Republican voters. These voters could total up to a quarter of the borough wide vote in this type of an election.
According to sources close to Vacca, the big question for him is whether he wants to give up his current position in the Council, where he is fresh off a major victory against Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Department for the Aging, which withdrew a senior center modernization Request For Proposals on December 19 after pressure from a City Council contingent which included Vacca, as well as Council speaker Quinn, and several others.
While the victory could help Vacca reach out to older voters across the Bronx where he may be less known, it is also a sign that he is gaining more influence within the City Council, which he could use to benefit district 13 in the east Bronx.
Ultimately, whoever wins the special election for the remaining months on Carrion’s unfinished term, will have to run again in the primary and general election for the next four-year term for borough president in the fall.
