Mayor's Race 2005: Despite polls, Weiner looks ahead

by JAMAL E. WATSON — Amsterdam News Staff

Henrietta Morgan has never been much interested in politics. But just mention the name Anthony Weiner and the 62-year-old Harlem grandmother perks up.

Oh, I think he's really smart, said Morgan, whos planning on voting in the mayoral primary for the congressman who represents Brooklyn and Queens.

Every time I open the paper hes got some new idea here or there and quite frankly hes a handsome young man.

For Weiner, support from individuals like Morgan reassures him that his running for mayor is worthwhile even though some have long written off his candidacy.

With just six weeks to go before New Yorkers cast a vote in the Democratic primary, Weiner still trails behind the two major Democratic candidates: Fernando Ferrer and C. Virginia Fields, according to recent polls.

Im the least known, said Weiner, who served as an aide to then-Congressman Charles Schumer before winning a seat on the New York City Council.

When it comes to this campaign, I have won the ideas debate, he said, adding that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has not done enough to focus on education, homeland security and affordable housing during his tenure as mayor.

I know how to win these races. I never had a race given to me.

In an interview with The New York Amsterdam News, the congressman outlined his support for the recent subway searches by the New York Police Department in an effort to deter terrorism, but dismissed calls by New York State Assembly member Dov Hikind who recently suggested that police should use racial profiling to determine who should be stopped and search.

I have trust in law enforcement and believe that the NYPD will follow protocol, he said.

Weiner said that he admires the job that police Commissioner Ray Kelly has done and said that if elected, he would consider keeping the commissioner on during his term.

Like all of the Democrats, he said, however, that he would get rid of Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, adding that he has deep philosophical differences with Klein and Bloomberg over how best to educate schoolchildren.

He has even gotten in trouble with the United Federation of Teachers for advocating that the systems more experienced school teachers should not be placed in the systems best schools.

He argues that, instead, they should be placed in the more challenging schools where students need additional guidance and assistance.

Some political pundits suggest that Weiners bid for mayor is a long shot. They argue that hes likely running this time around to introduce himself to voters so that he might seek a higher office down the road.

But Weiner says that hes in the race for the long haul and seems bewildered by the support that Democratsincluding large portions of the African American communityseem to be giving Bloomberg this time around.

I think, first of all, the standard has to be, Has he been a good mayor, not whether he has been as divisive and dogmatic as [Rudy] Giuliani, said Weiner. Thats not what this election is about. This election is about whos best to lead New York City.

And hes making the rounds, barnstorming all five boroughs, taking his message to voters like Morgan who seem impressed by Weiners years as a congressman legislating on Capitol Hill.

On a substantive level, I will hold up my public record to anyone, said Weiner, who downplays the lack of endorsements hes received from Black leaders who have largely supported City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Fields and Ferrer.

I think my public experience shows that Im the best person to beat Bloomberg, he added.

Jamal Watson can be reached at jamalwats@aol.com.