Annabel Palma is safe – unopposed by any Democrat in her bid for re-election to the City Council. The Parkchester pol will stroll to victory in the 18th Council District primary on September 15.
Not all her fellow incumbents are so lucky, however. Maria Baez is up against New Life Outreach International Church pastor Fernando Cabrera and Dominican organizer Yudelka Tapia in the 14th Council District. Oliver Koppell is stuck with former Community Board 8 chair Tony Perez Cassino in the 11th Council District. Larry Seabrook has four challengers in the 12th Council District.
So far, Palma has stayed on the sidelines. At the 43rd Precinct National Night Out celebration in Parkchester on Tuesday, August 4, the one-term councilwoman took stock of the borough’s political landscape.
“There are some interesting races going on,” Palma said. “The 14th District and the 12th District are going to be hotly contested. I’m evaluating what’s going on.”
Palma, a leader in the Bronx County Democratic Party, has endorsed Brooklyn Councilman Bill de Blasio for public advocate and William Thompson Jr. for mayor.
“I’m active in the county committee,” Palma said. “So eventually I’ll come out and make the decisions.”
Palma, who lives in Parkchester, is a former nursing assistant and 1199 SEIU organizer. 1199 SEIU ran the Monroe College grad for City Council in 2004 and has endorsed Palma again. Whether Palma will rally the union behind candidates in other Bronx districts remains to be seen.
1199 SEIU has endorsed Cassino and Cabrera; it hasn’t yet endorsed Andy King, an Olinville resident and 1199 SEIU organizer, or Maria del Carmen Arroyo, the 17th Council District incumbent.
