Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson Announces for 16th Council Seat

  In what may have been the worse kept secret this past month 77th A.D. Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson officially announced her intention to run for the soon to be term limited seat of Helen Diane Foster in the 16th City Council District. The announcement came with many Bronx elected officials (as you will see in the photos below), and even Manhattan Councilman Dan Garodnick who may be eyeing the position of city council speaker next year. 

  Deputy Borough President Aurelie Greene was the host of the Gibson for Council event, and it was then Assemblywoman Greene who gave Vanessa Gibson a job in her assembly office over ten years ago. Gibson later won election to the 77th A.D. in a special election when New Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. took Ms. Greene to be his Deputy Borough President. Diaz Jr. had only words of praise for the job of Assemblywoman Gibson, and said that she is good for the district, the Bronx , and will be for the city when she becomes a city council member. 

   Current 16th Councilwoman Helen Foster said to Assemblywoman Gibson that it is your time now, and that she (Foster) was passing the baton to Gibson. Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl E. Heastie, Congressman Jose Serrano, and other Bronx Assembly members said that they were sad to see Assemblywoman Gibson leave Albany, but that they knew she can do the job needed down at City Hall. It was a little strange to see Manhattan Councilman Dan Garodnick who had announced last year that he was going to run for City Comptroller only to pull out of the race when Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announced that he was going to run for comptroller instead of mayor. It could be that Garodnick may attempt to become the next speaker of the council as the current speaker is term limited out next year.

 

Left - Assemblywoman Gibson poses with Congressman Jose Serrano before the event.

Right - A group photo of the elected officials.

Left - Current 16th Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster at the mike.

Right - Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl E. Hestie has words of praise for council candidate Gibson.

Lefy - Bronx Borought President Ruben Diaz Jr. speaks highly of Assemblywoman Gibson.

Right - It was Congressman Jose Serrano's turn.

 

Left - State Senator Gustavo Rivera had his turn.

Right - A shot from the back of the packed room as Manhattan Councilman Dan Garodnick winds up the list of elected officials. Assemblymen Dinowitz, Crespo, & Castro, and State Senator Serrano also spoke.