Independence Party Endorses Carrión in NYC Mayoral Race

Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr., received the endorsement of the Independence Party last night in his long-shot bid to become New York City’s first Latino mayor.

The endorsement guarantees the former head of the White House’s Office of Urban Affairs and one-time regional director of the Obama administration’s housing agency a coveted spot on the November ballot.

“I think that New Yorkers are ready for an independent mayor,” declared an elated Carrión after winning the party’s endorsement last night.

Jacqueline S. Salit, political strategist for the Independence Party, told the New York Times last weekend that the 51-year-old Carrión, a prodigious fundraiser, shared many of her party’s goals, including nonpartisan elections in New York City.  She also predicted that he would wage a fiercely competitive campaign for the city highest office and could surprise a lot of people.

Carrión, who was initially elected to the City Council in 1997, was arrested and imprisoned with the Rev. Al Sharpton and two others in 2001 for courageously protesting U.S. bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.  Carrión is of Puerto Rican descent.

Already bankrolled to the tune of $878,000 — funds raised during an aborted campaign for comptroller in 2009 — Carrión is hoping to augment his Independence Party nomination by persuading GOP leaders to allow him to enter his name in the Republican primary in September.

If allowed to enter that contest, the former Bronx Borough President is expected to face stiff competition from colorful Greek billionaire John Catsimatidis and former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chief Joe Lhota, a protégé of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.  Media executive Tom Allon and George McDonald, a wealthy executive-turned-homeless advocate and founder of the Doe Fund, are also seeking the Republican nomination, as is state Senator Malcolm Smith of Queens, the latter of whom — like Carrión — isn’t a Republican.

Carrión already has the blessing of Republican leaders in Brooklyn and the Bronx, but will need the approval of three of the five GOP county leaders to enter the Republican primary.

Having left the Democratic Party late last year, Carrión currently has no party affiliation.