Catsimatidis: It's Me or Lhota

In advance of today's presser, John Catsimatidis told Celeste Katz of NY Daily News that he's serious about his run for the city's top office -- and that he's to be taken serious this time. "The city has been very good to me, and I want to make a difference,"' he said

Adopting Carl Paldaino''s promise running for Governor in 2010, Catsimatidis vowed a one term proposition "I'm willing to give four years," he said, adding that "I think it’s only me and Joe Lhota. Nobody else is going to get [considered] seriously." 

City Republican Chairmen 'Almost' Behind Billioniare Catsimatidis

Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión’s mayoral candidacy is in jeopardy, since he has failed to secure the support of three of the city’s five Republican county chairmen, the WSJ reported on Friday. 

The two GOP chairmen that have previously committed themselves to Mr. Carrión, Brooklyn’s Craig Eaton and Jay Savino of the Bronx, have now privately shifted their support to Republican grocery billionaire John Catsimatidis, Chris Bragg reports in The insider. “Almost everyone is with John, it’s just not official yet,” one Republican insider told Bragg. 

In Crowded Field, WSJ Barely Finds a Handful of Mayoral Candidates

Though most of the potential mayoral candidates havens officially declared their candidacy for mayor of NYC, the field has filled up on both sides of the aisle, with various candidates just waiting for the right timing to do so.

Following Bill de Blasio's official entry to the race on Sunday outside his home in Park Slope, the WSJ made note that the Democratic primary also included Christine Quinn and Bill Thompson, facing Joe Lhota from the Republican side. In an updated version, the WSJ with the help of AP listed City Comptroller John Liu who is also running for mayor, as a potential 'Republican' candidate.

de-Blasio Planning 'Major' Announcement on Sunday

In an email to supporters and reporters, Bill de Blasio writes:

"My family is making a very big announcement this weekend — and I hope that you can join us. 

This Sunday, we will be making a very important announcement about 2013. 

...Nearly 15 years later, I still believe this is the best way to represent a community — by introducing my family to yours, speaking face to face with folks from across the five boroughs, and making sure my ears are open to the needs of all New Yorkers. 

Please join us as we come together this Sunday in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 12 PM outside our home on 11th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues — located two blocks from the 7th Avenue F train..."

The Race begins: Its Thompson vs. Lhota - Orchestrated by Giulian

Joe Lhota seems trapped with Giuliani, despite his weekend claims that he's his own man. 

Rudy Giuliani slammed the Democratic candidates fiscal plans, telling NY1 that they would give away the store to municipal unions if elected. “It frightens me because I think what they [the unions] have in mind is trying to elect their candidate so they can get sweetheart deals,” Giuliani charged. “We’re going to need a mayor who’s capable of striking fair deals, but striking tough deals that protect the taxpayers of this city, not just deliver the city over to the union members.”

Bill Thompson: ‘Read My Lips’ - No Tax Hikes if Elected Mayor

In a speech to a civic group Thursday organized by the Association for a Better New York, William C. Thompson Jr. vowed that he would not raise taxes.

Mr. Thompson made his pledge after delivering a speech to a civic group in which he proposed to increase the number of police officers to 37,000 from the current level of 35,000, and to make the boroughs outside of Manhattan bigger hubs for back-office jobs. To pay for his ideas, he told the audience, he would look for a “better bang for the buck” in government “without increasing taxes.”

Lhota Wants You to Know: No, I'm Not Giuliani, I'm a Businessman

As Republican Joe Lhota filed paperwork today to run for New York City mayor, he stressed he would be different from his former boss, Mayor Rudy Giuliani. "I am a completely different person from Mayor Giuliani both on personality, on approach, on education and background. I'm not an attorney, I'm a businessman,” Lhota told every reporter he granted a debut interview for, on Thursday.

 “I’m going far beyond the Giuliani coalition,” he told Colin Campbell from Politicker. “There’s not a community in the city that I won’t go to. There’s not a community in this city that I won’t try to get their votes. This idea of tying me to Giuliani is quite unique. I know Rudy Giuliani. I like Rudy Giuliani. I worked with him during his administration. But we’re completely different people. “

It's Official: Former MTA Boss Enters Mayoral Race

It's official: Republican Joe Lhota is running for mayor. Lhota filed the paperwork necessary to formalize his candidacy on Thursday. “It’s official. Joe Lhota is a candidate to be the 109th mayor of New York City,” Lhota tweeted about 10 a.m. 

“Since I left my position as chairman and CEO of the MTA just two weeks ago, I’ve been asked over and over, 'Joe, why do you want to be the mayor of New York City?,’” Lhota said in a “From Joe” message on his Web site. 

Politicker Profiles Candidates in Wide open Mayoral Race

As they always do, Hunter Walker and Colin Campbell from The Observer had a little fun putting together the never-ending list of candidates vying to succeed Mayor Bloomberg. Who is the front-runner, who are the favorites, who are the inclusive underdogs, and what about the assortment of protest candidates and oddballs who bring more color to the race? Will the packed primary pull out a winner, or a runoff?  

To G-d the answers. 

Nonetheless, Walker and Campbell left the steamy office in Manhattan to tour the forest, and came back with lots of nuts to crack.