At his farewell dinner Major all but annointed Jesse Hamilton. He made his choice clear then, though I don't know why he waited until now to make a formal announcement. Perhaps he wanted to see if Jesse got the signatures needed.

Increasingly progressives seem to like Zenobia. I found her more evasive than Jesse on difficult questions, but others have perceived them the other way around: Jesse being more evasive.

Wellington seems to be viewed by some as too close to the machine. When I met him he was clearly trying to appeal to a more progressive audience and didn't come off too badly.

Haven't met Eugene yet, but mostly haven't heard much good.

...whenever someone talks about 'family values', it usually means something like 'filthy homos need not apply'. Whether or not that's the case here, I don't know.

Family Values. Wellington SHarp is the one who petitioned with the Family Values Party name. He stole it from the Hamilton Camp. Maybe someone should ask Sharpe.

ALso,this is what is on hamilton's site regarding Family Values.

"Family Values/Civil Rights for all:

Every resident of this city should be afforded the same rights as everyone else. This is the right to form, develop and advance their family and interests as families and is why the theme of my candidacy is Family Values. I support the rights of Gay Lesbian and Transgenders to have access to the same rights and privileges that are afforded to married heterosexual couples. The 1960’s civil rights movement and protests was about African American’s access to the same rights and privileges that white Americans had. It is in the same spirit of the civil rights movement that the Gay community be supported in its fight for the same rights as hetero couples.

The struggle remains, be it for African Americans, Latinos, Asians or homosexuals. The struggle for these basic civil rights and equality has not changed. I will lead that fight or any fight when basic individual liberty and tolerance are not respected."

I like Zenobia and Jesse too. It will be a close race.

Any one can win and if the weather is bad who knows what will happen.Someone can win by "23" votes.

1199 might be 0-2 for the year very early.

The Masterpiece

"More blue less red please"

McNally, Sharpe and Hamilton all appear well qualified to win this seat. I, for one, would be glad to see it go to someone who hasn't had the insider perspective that say James may have. Eugene a) doesn't live in the district and b) just is not as sharp as the others

While he didn't get Una's endorsement, he did get from some Carribean group that I never heard of. I expect that each voter will vote for the candidate from their own island regardless of the NY Times, Clarke, Owens, 1199. Everyone has a chance in this crowded field.

As far as progressives are concerned, Zenobia seems to be the clear choice. Major's endorsement seems to be based more on the gratitude that he may feel for Jesse for coming through for Chris.

But the Jesse-Chris alliance seems like it really happened by chance. I don't think we should assume Jesse's good on every issue simply because they had a mutually supportive campaign.

Zenobia, in contrast has gotten endorsements by organizations, not as much by individuals. Getting Lambda and NOW are pretty good signs. It's great to get a Caribbean candidate who is strongly in favor of same sex marriage and other LGBT issues. She's also against capital punishment and opposed to Ratner's land grab. She has developed better relations with our extended circle, and there seems to be genuine warmth between the progressives and her.

This special election has been very much under the radar. Not a lot of money has been spent, and it doesn't look like it will take much to push one candidate over the top.

I think Zenobia is worth our support, and I hope people can donate time or money. Here is her website:

www.VoteZenobia.com

For those political junkies following this there is candidate's forum tonight in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

Here are the details:

When: Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00 pm

Where: Church of the Evangel, 1950 Bedford Avenue corner of Hawthorne St.

Take the Q train to Parkside Avenue and walk east on Parkside to Bedford. Make a left on Bedford, church will be on your right.

I saw Sharpe get questioned about "family values", and he said he defines "family" as whoever one loves (I suspect that some here have bigger families than others). Mostly, I think, a non-issue, as Sharpe's been endorsed by Lambda in the past, and sought it's endorsement again this time.

Seems to me that marriage is a family value. Sharpe is pro-marriage; pro-marriage for EVERYONE.

Sorry, to keep beating on this drum, but I think the whole idea that "family values" belongs only to reactionaries is part of our problem. Why are we letting the religious right steal what is rightly ours.

During the Vietnam era, anti-war State snator Manny Gold was questioned by a fellow liberal for wearing an American Flag pin. He's said he wore the flag for the same reason he opposed the war, because he loved his country. Family Values are too imporatnt to be ceded to the religious right without a fight.