Pols Press Koppell to Make
Council Bid By HANNAN ADELY Community School Board 10 president Oliver Koppell is considering a bid for City Council at the urging of several local politicians. As a former state attorney general and assemblyman, he is expected to be a formidable candidate. Several Bronx elected officials, including Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel and State Senator Eric Schneiderman, are trying to recruit Koppell to run for the 11th Council district seat, which includes Norwood, Bedford Park, Wakefield, Kingsbridge, Woodlawn, Bronx Park East and Riverdale. "Me and Congressman Engel and a few others have asked him to run because of his long experience and his stature," Dinowitz said. "... We think he would be an excellent candidate. We are trying to convince him." Koppell may just throw his hat in the ring. "I am giving it serious consideration," Koppell said. "Part of it is so many people have been encouraging me. That's been a significant factor." Reports that Koppell might enter the race came as a surprise, especially since his wife, Lorraine Coyle Koppell, who unsuccessfully ran for state Senate last fall, was considered a potential candidate. While Koppell is regarded as a local political giant by some, other candidates are unfazed. "This is an open seat and anyone is eligible," said Terry Bastone, a Democratic district leader for the 81st Assembly District who is running for the seat. "He will probably get many votes, but I have my own base of people." Laura Spalter, a teacher at MS 80 in Norwood and head of the Riverdale Community Association had a similar reaction. "I have a very strong record and a very large enthusiastic base," said Spalter, who is expected to announce her candidacy soon. "I have worked with people outside the community." Mark Vogel, a Riverdale resident, has already immersed himself in campaigning for the seat and has raised $70,000. "If Koppell decides to run, I still have every intention to run," he said. "The more people who run, the better it is for voters." Community Board 8 chair Lawrence Hockert is unsure whether Koppell's decision will influence his candidacy. "I'm waiting to see what comes out of the woodwork," Hockert said. A recent report in The Riverdale Press cited sources in the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club -- home to Dinowitz and Koppell -- who said the push to get Koppell to run was meant to derail Spalter's candidacy. The club's relationship with Spalter reportedly soured because she didn't work to help Coyle Koppell unseat Republican State Senator Guy Velella last fall. Spalter has a close working relationship with Velella. But Dinowitz was emphatic that his club is not trying to block Spalter. "That's ridiculous," he said. "Oliver Koppell is not going to make up his mind to run because of someone else." Dinowitz said the decision to support Koppell was based solely on his qualifications. "There is nobody out there who would be a better candidate," he said. "This absolutely is a positive move and not a move to block anybody." Koppell responded, "I don't know what the motivations are of everyone who is asking me to run. The principal reason is that they think I would do a good job." The winner of the City Council election will take the torch from Councilwoman June Eisland who has held the seat since 1979 but is ineligible to run again because of term limits. Special Election Feb. 20 for Fordham Seat A special election on Feb. 20 will decide who will occupy the seat being vacated by Councilman Jose Rivera, who was elected to the state Assembly in November. Four candidates will run for the 15th Council District seat, which covers parts of Fordham Bedford, Belmont, Crotona and Tremont. Candidates are Joel Rivera, a 21-year-old Fordham University student and son of Jose Rivera; community organizer Edward O. Ortiz, Jr.; Joseph Padilla, a state corrections officer; and Julio Munoz, a former member of Community Board 6. All applications to register to vote must be in by Thursday, Feb. 1. For registration information, call (866) VOTE-NYC.
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