It has been awhile since I was able to look beyond my local city council races, or even my own personal life, to some of the other city council races in NYC. I am trying to play catchup a bit, and I am starting with Marq Claxton, running for the 31st City Council district in Queens. While I have been busy with scientific research and conferences, visiting family and friends, negotiating a laundry room contract for my building, and various other distractions, Marq Claxton has picked up three important endorsements: DC 37, the city’s largest municipal employee union, the Social Service Employment Union-LOCAL 371, and the New York Community Council.

I find this an interesting mix of endorsements. For example, I see that DC 37 has almost exclusively endorsed incumbents and career politicians...with the exception of Marq Claxton. By contrast I see that the New York Community Council is endorsing far more challengers and reform-minded candidates, including Marq Claxton. For example, the NY Community Council has endorsed progressive reformers like Norman Siegel for Public Advocate, Eugene Myrick for Brooklyn Borough President, Yetta Kurland for the 3rd City Council district, Jerome Rice for the 12th City Council district, Daniel Dromm for the 25th City Council district, Jo Anne Simon for the 33rd City Council district Josh Skaller for the 39th City Council District and Rock Hackshaw for the 40th City Council district. It seems Claxton appeals to both regulars and reformers and this suggests quite a weakness in his main opponent, James Saunders, jr. To see both DC37 and New York Community Council endorsing Claxton is something to take note of!

Recently, in more bad news for Saunders, Saunders also recently received a failing grade from the New York League of Conservation Voters, suggesting that any environmentalists in the district might want to consider voting for Marq Claxton.

For more on Claxton, here is a video of State Senator Eric Adams endorsing Marq Claxton: