“Mayor Marty” continues to have a nice ring to it with city voters, according to the latest poll related to the 2009 mayoral race.
The Quinnipiac University poll found that voters preferred Borough President Marty Markowitz for mayor over other expected candidates in the race.
Eleven percent of the voters polled favored Markowitz while 10 percent favored U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, 7 percent for City Comptroller William Thompson, 7 percent for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and 4 percent for Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.
“I love New York City with all my heart, so it’s certainly flattering, especially in such a distinguished field, that so many residents approve of the job I do and my commitment to enhancing the spirit and passion that defines New York City,” Markowitz said.
Term-limited Mayor Bloomberg topped the poll with 38 percent, and 12 percent of likely voters chose Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
But the poll also found voters oppose overturning the current city term limits, 65-32 percent, and Kelly has said repeatedly he is not running for mayor.
Markowitz said the poll also indicates voters feel his approach would continue to advance the goals of the city.
This includes affordable housing, public safety, quality education, world-class transportation, revitalized waterfronts, expanded open space, smart planning for the future and a robust economy that generates good jobs for the city’s growing population, he said.
“The voters are my bosses so, believe me, I feel the way any working person feels when we get a good performance review — it inspires me to work even harder every day to make people even prouder to be New Yorkers,” Markowitz said.
Markowitz spokesperson Mark Zustovich said his boss hasn’t made a decision yet on whether he will make a mayoral run.
“Marty has been very public about the fact he opposes term limits, and if not for term limits he would love to run for another term as borough president,” Zustovich said.
While Markowitz led in the poll, his showing was aided by popularity among the city’s African-American voters, and a strong popularity in Brooklyn.
Twenty-five percent of African-Americans favored Markowitz for mayor, topping both Bloomberg (24 percent) and Thompson (18 percent), the only African-American presumed to be running for mayor.
While 27 percent of voters polled from Kings County favored Markowitz, he got only 2 percent in the Bronx, 5 percent in Manhattan, 7 percent in Queens and 4 percent in Staten Island.
According to the City’s Campaign Finance Board’s latest figures, Markowitz has raised $935,116 and spent $408,856.
