Reports: Diaz Petitions North of 16,000 Signatures

We don’t have official word yet, but we’re hearing that the campaign of Assemblyman Ruben Diaz has already collected more than 16,000 signatures on its nominating petitions, which is quite a number given that they only started on Monday.

Only 4,000 signatures are required to run in the special election, though candidates typically come in much higher than that to prevent challenges.

Since this is a special election, candidates cannot use traditional party labels and must come up with their own unique ballot line names. Diaz has chosen to place his campaign under the “Bronx Unity Party” banner.

We can also tell you who makes up Diaz’s committee to fill vacancies, which would decide who would take over the ballot line in the (highly unlikely) event that the assemblyman declined to run in the special election. That trio is State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz (his father) and Assembly Members Aurelia Greene and Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Diaz Reacts To Rivera News, Seabrook Still In?

After yesterday's big announcement that neither City Councilman Joel Rivera or his father, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, would be entering the race for borough president, I reached out to Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, who is now the clear front-runner for the seat, for some reaction.

“I’ve always maintained that my candidacy was about the people of The Bronx, and not predicated on any other candidate," said Diaz, who added that he expected the team he has built and his support from all over the borough to lead him to victory on April 21.

Yesterday, I also reported that City Councilman Larry Seabrook had declined to run as well, confirmation of which came from Rivera spokesman Mike Nieves.

According to Liz Benjamin, Nieves might have spoken too soon. Seabrook's chief of staff Cleveland Beckett told Benjamin that his boss was still in the race and was circulating petitions.

As for challengers from other corners, Anthony Ribustello also told me this morning that the news about the Riveras was not affecting his candidacy, and that he would continue to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.

--John DeSio

We Have A Date

The mayor's office just sent over a press release announcing that April 21st will be the day the Bronx will pick a new borough president in a special election.

That means, despite the snow, the petitioning season starts now and continues for the next ten days.