For the privilege of a life of comfort in The Capitol, two contestants from District 11 will do battle to the death, as part of an elaborate system to control the residents of District 11. No, wait… I’ve got that confused with something else. Wait… I’m not sure.
Primary elections for Representatives to the U.S. Congress are being held today across New York State. But all will be quiet across the renumbered 11th District spanning across the Verrazano from Staten Island to Bay Ridge and Gravesend. Incumbent Congressman Michael Grimm will win the Republican nomination for the seat unopposed, and general election challenger Mark Murphy will do the same in the Democratic party.
Last week, the Bensonhurst Bean took a look at the changes from the old District 13 to the new District 11, both in terms of geography (jetisoning some pieces of Bensonhurst, picking up some pieces of Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay) and demographics (nearly unchanged ethnic makeup, but slightly more Democratic in terms of party registration). They also took a look at both of the major-party candidates, along with the Green Party candidate.
The article is definitely worth a look if you haven’t paid much notice to this Congressional race before now, or if you’re just looking for a refresher course, or if you didn’t know the Greens fielded candidates at the local level:
Michael Grimm, a Republican, is currently seeking re-election after representing New York’s old 13th District for one term. Grimm’s campaign website states that his record in Congress indicates that he is committed to limiting the role of the government in the lives of individuals, cutting government spending, and rolling back the healthcare reforms…
Mark Murphy, a Democrat, has worked as a businessman in media and real estate. According to his campaign website, Murphy hopes to help middle class families economically by helping businesses grow and creating additional jobs. Murphy feels that his experience in the field of business makes him the best candidate to achieve these goals…
Hank Bardel is running to represent Congress on the Green Party ticket, with a progressive agenda of helping the poor and middle class obtain control of society, as stated on his website. If elected to Congress, Bardel hopes to achieve peace, reform the healthcare system, create more jobs, and improve education and the environment…
The Bean article also touches on the current investigation into Grimm’s fundraising practices and Murphy’s father’s scandal-shortened career. All three candidates, naturally, are from Staten Island.
For those in the very northern section of Bay Ridge that is in old District 8/new District 10, check out the Bean’s profile on the race between Congressman Jerry Nadler and Republican challenger Michael Chan – two more candidates who will not need primary wins to secure their parties’ nomination.