Stanton first to declare Council candidacy

Community activist Cliff Stanton has announced his desire to run for the City Council seat now occupied by Councilman Oliver Koppell. The term-limited incumbent is serving his third and final term representing the Bronx’s District 11.

Mr. Stanton, a Democrat, is the first official candidate for the open seat. The primary will not take place until 2013, but he said he wanted to get a leg up on the competition and begin raising money.

Although other names have been batted around by local politicos as potential candidates, it is unlikely that there will be a clear rundown of contenders until after this year’s state Assembly and Senate elections are concluded.

Mr. Stanton, 48, grew up near the Jerome Park Reservoir in Kingsbridge Heights, a stone’s throw away from where he currently resides with his wife and three young children, on Cannon Place.

He is the treasurer of the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation, serves on the executive board of the PS 24 Parents’ Association (he previously served as its president) and is an organizer of the Recycle the Review campaign, a boycott of the Riverdale Review, a free local tabloid.

Mr. Stanton, a University of Michigan graduate, founded and owns his own business, United Snacks, a food vendor company that operates the popular Nuts4Nuts pushcarts.

In an interview at his home on Monday afternoon, Mr. Stanton presented himself as a man who will represent the entire district.

“My universe is an interesting Venn diagram,” he said, describing his connection to organizations and institutions across District 11, including Mosholu Montefiore Little League, South Riverdale Little League, Kinneret Day School, Amalgamated Nursery School, Riverdale Senior Services, PS 24, Bronx High School of Science and KRVC. He is a frequent contributor to The Riverdale Press.