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Jessica Lappin Snags East Side Endorsements for Borough President Run

By Jill Colvin | December 14, 2012 4:45pm

UPPER EAST SIDE — City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin snagged endorsements from top east side officials, including Rep. Carolyn Maloney, as she officially launched her bid for Manhattan Borough President Friday.

Lappin, who grew up in the city and is chairwoman of the council's Aging Committee, also received nods from Assemblymen Micah Kellner and Dan Quart.

"Jessica Lappin understands that no issue is more important for Manhattan than creating new jobs and spurring economic development. And she has a record that shows she knows how to do it,” Maloney said in a statement, pointing to Lappin’s role in bringing the Cornell-Technion Applied Sciences and Engineering campus to Roosevelt Island.

Lappin made the announcement at P.S. 15, the Yorkville Community School — one of three new elementary schools in the district that supporters said she'd helped to launch.

In her campaign's release, Lappin's team stressed her "commitment to reform and leadership" and her work trying to preserve affordable housing and opening new parks.

She has also been a staunch opponent of the planned East 91st Street waste transfer station, which she filed a lawsuit to halt, and has pushed for a crackdown on electric bicycles, as well as more air monitoring near the Second Avenue subway construction.

Lappin is expected to face a crowded field, including Upper Manhattan City Councilman Robert Jackson, former Community Board 1 Chairwoman Julie Menin and Upper West Side City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, in a contentious battle to replace outgoing Borough President Scott Stringer, who is running for comptroller.

Menin, who formally launched her bid earlier this month, got an early start on fundraising, and has already raked in nearly $1 million — as much as she is allowed to spend in the Democratic primary when combined with matching funds.

Jackson, who has argued that he holds the advantage as the only minority candidate in the race, got off to a later start and currently has just under $80,000 in the bank.

He'll be holding a high-profile birthday fundraiser next Monday with guests including former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charlie Rangel and City Councilwoman Inez Dickens, according to an invitation for the event.

Brewer, who can not run for reelection for her current council seat because of term limits, has yet to formally announce a borough president run.

Lappin had $650,000 in campaign funds as of July, and expects to be done with fundraising by January, her campaign spokesman said.