The beep race gets tougher

Nobody really believed Assemblyman Jose Rivera when he said his son Joel wasn't going to run for borough president, but the Daily News' omnipresent Bob Kappstatter got Joel committing to it last week. Ruben Diaz Jr. — "Rubencito" in some circles — has already said he'll run if Adolfo Carrión Jr. doesn't go for re-election.

Now Pedro Espada Jr., another perennial beep contender, has let slip that he's strongly considering a run, too.

It's another one of those moments where the word "surprise" comes with heavy sarcasm. Mr. Espada's always wanted to be borough president. He tried in 2001, but couldn't beat the organization of party boss Roberto Ramirez, who backed Mr. Carrión.
He told Liz Benjamin of the Daily News that he'll basically run for borough president if he doesn't get what he wants out of the state Senate leadership fight.

Mr. Espada tried several weeks ago to seal a deal with the Senate Democrats that would install him as majority leader but separate that gig from that of the Senate president. It would basically make him number three in the Senate power structure. The same deal also promised him a $700,000 payroll. In a nod to his colleague in the deal, Ruben Diaz Sr. — Rubencito's father — it also promised no legislation supporting gay marriage in that legislative session.

Many Dems cried that their de-facto leader, current Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, sold the store. Upon further examination — as it came out that the minority leader position came with no stipend and no constitutional authority — Mr. Espada seemed to figure out that he didn't. Saying he was angry that the deal would see him gain no real power, Mr. Espada backed away from the deal at about the same time Mr. Smith announced that the Democrats would rather be a minority than sacrifice too much control.

If he can't have power in the Legislature, Mr. Espada in essence told Ms. Benjamin, he'll have power in the borough.