Liu and de Blasio Win Runoffs

By Roy Edroso Tue., Sep. 29 2009 at 10:17 PM

Categories: Elections, Featured, Politics

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Two councilmembers who voted against Mayor Bloomberg's term limits overthrow won today's runoff elections. Queens' John Liu will be the Democratic comptroller candidate, and Brooklyn's Bill de Blasio will be the Democratic public advocate candidate. With nearly all votes counted, Liu is up on Yassky, 56 to 44 percent, and de Blasio on Green, 62 to 38 percent. (None of the candidates got 40 percent or more in the September 15 primary, necessitating the runoff.) Liu had an eight-point lead on Yassky in the primary, but de Blasio had less than two points on Green, who was once upon a time considered the front runner -- Green's candidacy scared off a few contenders, including (it seemed) John Liu, who switched to the comptroller's race.

Both winners has mini-controversies in the race: Liu was accused of faking a childhood sweatshop gig, and de Blasio was blasted for Charles Barron for featuring his black wife in a flyer, and by others for his contract with questionable vendor Data and Field Services. The New York Times endorsed Yassky and de Blasio in the runoff.

de Blasio and Liu will face, respectively, Republicans Alex Zablocki and Joe Mendola, neither of whom is given much of a chance.

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