Carrion to Run For Mayor as a Republican

    Is former Democratic Bronx Borough President Adolpho Carrion going over the edge? Carrion has announced that he will be running for Mayor next year, but as a Republican and not as a Democrat. Comments are already coming in to Carrion's announcement. Some who requested that they remain anonymous have said that Carrion is committing political suicide running on the Republican line, is doing it because as a Democrat he is politically finished, and "Carrion is just plain crazy by doing this".

    There has been a comment by Tom Allon (announced Republican candidate) questioning Carrion's interest in the Republican line for mayor. Allon questioned Carrion's decision when as Bronx Borough President Carrion for having gratis work done on his City Island home by a developer who needed a project approval by him. Carrion was fined $10,000 by the New York City Campaign Finance Board and forced to pay for the work done on his home.

    Carrion needs the support of three of the five Republican county leaders. It has been said that Brooklyn chair Craig Eaton, and Bronx Chair Jay Savino have already committed to a Carrion Republican candidacy. Carrion would then need only one of the three remaining Republican county leaders to join with Eaton and Savino to be able to obtain the Wilson Pakula certificate. 

    There has been talk among political pundits that as a Democrat Carrion could not win the primary outright, and would have had to run in a run off election that he could not win. Carrion brings his one million dollar plus war chest from an aborted race in 2009 for comptroller with him. Carrion could also be hoping to be one of the Republican rising stars of the future. 

    Current Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. released the following on Carrion's decision-

 “I think that Adolfo Carrion would have been a formidable candidate for mayor in a Democratic primary, and it breaks my heart that my friend has chosen to stand as part of the Republican Party.

“It will be interesting to hear his positions on the issues that New Yorkers care about, like stop-and-frisk, living wage, paid sick leave, the budget process, public education and tenants’ rights, among others.

“As my predecessor, I wish him the best of luck. But it is disappointing that he is rushing to become part of the Republican Party, especially at a time when more than 80 percent of our City’s electorate just voted to reject their policies.

“I am a Democrat, and I will do everything in my power to elect a Democrat as our next mayor,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.