Fresh from his last-place finish in a race to succeed his father in Congress, Chris Owens is preparing his next campaign: to be your next borough president.
Owens may have arrived dead last in the 11th District primary for Major Owens’s seat — and he may be $42,000 in debt — but he’s not giving up on his political future.
“Politically speaking, I’m looking for some other office, either Brooklyn Borough President or the Public Advocate,” Owens told The Brooklyn Papers.
Thanks to term limits, the present occupants of those offices — Marty Markowitz and Betsy Gotbaum — will be retired at the end of 2009.
Owens compared himself to the current officeholders — favorably, of course.
“I’m not happy with all of Marty’s decisions, but he’s not happy with me, either, and we’ll leave it at that. And I’m less impressed with Betsy.”
At least one political consultant said Owens would have an easier shot at winning the borough presidency — but not that easy.
“Owens had trouble placing fourth in a Brooklyn district where his father served for 25 years,” said political consultant Stefan Friedman, who helped City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke (D-Flatbush) win September’s Democratic primary against Owens, City Councilman David Yassky (D-Park Slope) and state Sen. Carl Andrews (D-Crown Heights).
“But he is a dynamic speaker, a true progressive — and if he can get his message out, who knows?”
Owens has indeed been working to get his message out. He’s been producing a show called “Inside the Congressional Black Caucus” for the Black Family Channel, and he’s been sending out press releases on issues of the day, such as the North Korean nuclear test.
He’s even had time to weigh in on less-weighty controversies, such as The Brooklyn Papers’ recent use of a photo of a scantily clad Maggie Gyllenhaal (see letters, page 4).
Yassky, who finished second in the congressional race, said he hasn’t thought about his next move.
