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Eva Moskowitz Will Not Challenge De Blasio For Mayor in 2017

By Jeff Mays | October 8, 2015 3:35pm
 With protesters trying to drown her out, charter school entrepreneur Eva Moskowitz said she won't run for mayor in 2017.
With protesters trying to drown her out, charter school entrepreneur Eva Moskowitz said she won't run for mayor in 2017.
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DNAinfo/Jeff Mays

CITY HALL —Charter school entrepreneur Eva Moskowitz said Thursday she won't run for mayor in 2017.

Moskowitz, CEO and founder of Success Academy Charter Schools, said she felt that she could have a bigger impact on the future of education in New York City if she remained at the helm of her charter school network.

"I love kids," Moskowitz said during a 30-minute press conference outside City Hall. "My whole career has been dedicated to teaching and learning."

She said that public education is on the cusp of a big change akin to the changes Apple made to the computer industry or the work Google is doing on driverless cars.

"I am not running because I think what could be accomplished in public education is game-changing," Moskowitz said.

The announcement ended speculation on whether Moskowitz would challenge her long-time foe Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Moskowitz said she has not ruled out a run in 2021 or supporting other possible candidates such as Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. or Rep. Hakeem Jeffries in 2017.

Billy Easton, executive director of the teacher's union-supported group Alliance for Quality Education, said Moskowitz' announcement was anticlimactic.

"This was the biggest non-news conference I've ever seen," said Easton.

Anti-Moskowitz protesters had also gathered and picketed during the press conference, forcing her to talk over their chants.

Jeanne Zaino, a professor of political science at Iona College, said he wasn't suprised by the announcement, adding that he believes Moskowitz doesn't have a clear constituency or path to victory.

"If she chooses not to run now that will give her a chance to shore up her base and prove she can attract the larger numbers needed to win," said Zaino.