2025 Primary Election

Harvey Epstein is a State Assembly Member who currently represents roughly half of this City Council district in Albany. After seven years in the Legislature, he is seeking a Council seat to have a more direct impact on his community. A consistent reform advocate, Epstein has sponsored or supported bills to expand voting access, increase transparency in state government, strengthen campaign-finance rules, and more. He endorsed every item of CU’s reform agenda in our questionnaire. In his interview he showed a strong command of policy and clear strategies for advancing his priorities, noting that he would focus on closing the revolving door between lobbyists and government. Citizens Union is impressed by his legislative record and commitment to reform and believes he will be an effective representative for his community in city government. We prefer him as our first rank in this race.

Sarah Batchu, program director at a Brooklyn community nonprofit, began her public-service career at the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and later held policy roles in the Mayor’s Office and at NYCHA. She endorsed every item of CU’s reform agenda in our questionnaire and demonstrated a firm grasp of the issues. Citizens Union appreciated her concrete, substantive responses on topics such as her Community-Level Assessment and Equity in Planning Act, NYPD oversight and discipline, and the Council’s advice-and-consent role. Her deep understanding of district needs and of reform policy makes her well suited for the Council, and we rank her second.

Andrea Gordillo is a nonprofit professional, chair of Community Board 3, and former president of the Coalition for a District Alternative, a Lower East Side political club. She has served the community in many roles, working to increase the number of community land trusts and to expand access to affordable housing and child care. Gordillo endorses all elements of CU’s reform agenda and has been a longtime advocate of ranked-choice voting. Citizens Union values her commitment to the community and public service and ranks her third in this race.

Anthony Weiner, a former Congressman who served seven years on the City Council representing southern Brooklyn and 12 years in Congress representing parts of Brooklyn and Queens, is attempting a political comeback after a series of sexting scandals that culminated in prison time for transferring obscene material to a minor. A talented politician with a sharp grasp of policy, he offered specific and thoughtful responses but diverged from CU’s reform agenda on numerous points, including his opposition to open primaries, to restrictions on lobbyists who bundle donations, to limits on campaign consultants who lobby former clients, and to curbing the Council Speaker’s complete authority over floor votes. In conversation with Citizens Union, Weiner spoke candidly about his past mistakes, said he has taken steps to improve, and acknowledged that he is not trying to win over those who believe his criminal record should disqualify him, but instead offers to be a “problem solver” for voters who have lost faith in government. Citizens Union appreciates his candor.