Political arena

Di Napoli draws Riverdale crowd

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It is forgivable if you have not really noticed elections for some of the most powerful offices in the state this year. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s reelection bid appears to have consisted primarily of him leaving the country to sound off on high-profile international issues and attempting to ignore his Republican challenger, Rob Astorino, out of existence.

For most New Yorkers, the main question raised by State Comptroller Tom Di Napoli’s reelection campaign is probably: what is the state comptroller? It so happens that the state’s chief auditor is also facing challengers, although Google News search results for Republican Robert Antonacci are few and far between (nothing at all comes up for Libertarian John Clifton.)

Nevertheless, a dearth of competition is not known to dampen Riverdale Democrats’ enthusiasm, and a number of them turned up for the Bronx Democratic Party’s official endorsement of Mr. Di Napoli on Oct. 8.

“One day in the very, very distant future, I may collect a state pension,” quipped Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who is also facing a perfunctory challenge, from a Conservative Party member, for his seat. “I know that thanks to Tom Di Napoli, our pension funds are not only in good hands, they’re in great hands.”

Mr. Di Napoli used the podium to effusively thank assembled Bronx Democrats including Riverdale’s Councilman Andrew Cohen and Rep. Eliot Engel. 

“I remember when I first arrived in Albany, there was this young assemblyman named Eliot Engel, and everybody said he’s going places,” Mr. Di Napoli said. 

“The only place I’m going is supporting this candidate,” replied Mr. Engel, who is a sure bet for reelection to a 14th term.

Mr. Di Napoli recalled Bronx County as tipping the 2010 vote in his favor, when he faced stiff competition.

This time around, he is far ahead of his next closest rival in the polls. Amid the joking and bonhomie at the Oct. 8 endorsement announcement, it seemed good to be an incumbent in the Bronx.

Tom Di Napoli, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Eliot Engel, Andrew Cuomo, Chuck Schumer, Jeff Klein Aleksander Mici, Carl Lundgren, terrorism, Riverdale Monument, Shant Shahrigian
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