Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Domenic Recchia Abandons Plans to Run for Comptroller

By Jill Colvin | December 4, 2012 4:31pm

NEW YORK CITY — City Councilman Domenic Rechhia Jr. has officially bowed out of the Comptrollers race.

The Finance Committee chair, who is being pushed out of the council because of term limits, has nixed his plans to run for the city-wide post — making him the second high-profile contender to do so in as many weeks.

“After months of consideration and conversations with my family, friends, and colleagues, I have decided not to run for Comptroller in 2013,” the Brooklyn councilman announced in a statement early Tuesday morning.

“Although as Chair of the City Council’s Finance Committee I remain dedicated to maintaining our City’s fiscal health, in the wake of the storm, my energy, focus, and heart are in Brooklyn,” he said.

Recchia said he is "still considering his options for the future," but is widely expected to run for Brooklyn Borough President, taking over from Marty Markowitz, who is also barred from running again due to term limits.

City Councilman Daniel Garodnick announced last week that he, too, was dropping his bid for the post, after Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announced that he would run for comptroller instead of mayor.

Stringer has already amassed a powerful war chest, with more than $2.3 million on-hand nearly a year in advance.

But while Recchia cited the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in his release, sources said his backers were strong-armed by Stringer, who has been working to steam-roll his potential field of challengers behind the scenes.

“Stringer went around threatening people,” said a source familiar with the dealings. “He’s a bully,” the person said.

But Stringer's camp dismissed the notion. “We’re not going to comment about these accusations,” his campaign spokeswoman Lupe Todd said.

Recchia, however, endorsed Stringer Tuesday, saying his "knowledge and many years of experience in government will allow him to make significant contributions to the future of our city as the next Comptroller."

Rechhia represents the 47th District, which includes Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Sea Gate, which were all devastated by the storm.

State Sen. Eric Adams has already filed paperwork to run for Brooklyn Borough President, and has $195,000 in his war chest.  Recchia has $614,000 on-hand.