Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who has grumbled about running for mayor, was introduced before his State of the Borough speech last night by Christine Quinn, a much-discussed–but undeclared–mayoral candidate.
What was that like?
“Listen, we’re both professionals,” Markowitz told me last night. “I was very thrilled and honored that she was here. She’s a superb public official and I’m honored that she’s here. And I don’t know whether or not we’ll be competitors or not. I don’t know. If we’re competitors, I’m sure the same warm relationship we’ve enjoyed, we’ll continue to enjoy.”
Markowitz ended his approximately 90-minute speech by pulling out a Magic Eight Ball, and telling the audience it may help decide what to do when he’s term-limited out of office in 2009. While I was speaking with Markowitz after the address, State Senator Kevin Parker gestured to the Eight Ball and said, “Does that thing say anything about us taking over the State Senate?”
I asked Markowitz if he would ever think of running for a State Senate seat again (he served for in that legislative body for more than twenty years).
“Nah, never. You don’t go back,” he said.
