Is Bob Capano literally trying to run his campaign out of the Trump playbook ? ? ?

THE ANSWER IS  “YES ! ! !” if you ask JUSTIN BRANNAN’S  “Campaign Rep”  --- JON GREENFIELD

According to a report from Julianne Cuba, my favorite young reporter working the Brooklyn hustings for  “Courier Life’s – Brooklyn Daily”  ---  “….  ‘ [Clearly referring to Republican Candidate Bob Capano]  This is simply more Trump-style tactics from a third-rate candidate desperately looking for attention. Justin Brannan is a lifelong Bay Ridge resident with a demonstrated commitment to this community and the record in public service to match,’ said campaign rep Jon Greenfield.  ‘Justin recently joined Council Member Gentile’s office as Deputy Chief of Staff to assist his former boss of five years to continue important community work during the Council member’s final months in office. In doing so, he took a significant pay cut from his previous job with the Department of Education. To suggest that this is somehow illegal or improper is simply ludicrous.’…”  (See   “Mud-slinging in Bay Ridge’s Council race”  by Julianne Cuba,  2/23/17,  Courier Life/ Brooklyn Daily/ “Party Line”… Julianne Cuba   [http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2017/8/pl-party-line-capano-versus-brannan-2017-02-24-bk.html]).

HERE'S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.....

Capano’s complaint is that the NYC Charter says that no public servant,  who has “substantial policy discretion” is allowed to do campaign-style fund-raising  ---  other than an elected official.   According to Capano’s interpretation of that ordinance, the law would specifically include somebody like his prospective Democratic opponent Justin Brannan,  who is working for Councilman Gentile.

Here’s the rub for Capano  ---  NYC outlines which positions subject to the rule above are on the so-called “policymaker list.” Specifically, it includes members of agencies such as the Parks Department or the Department of Transportation; and it lists staffers for certain elected officials,   like, for example, the Borough President, also specified named positions for other officials,  like the City Council Speaker’s chief of staff.

According to Julianne Cuba, from her article cited above,   “....   The Conflicts of Interest Board, which rules on such matters, would not comment specifically on Brannan’s situation unless a formal complaint is filed and adjudicated, but a rep said individual council staffers are not typically barred from mounting their own campaigns….   ‘The individual chiefs of staff for Council members [have] not historically been on the list, and the board has not historically required them to be on that list,’ said rep Wayne Hawley….”

As near as I can tell, Capano is expected to be filing a complaint with the NYCCOIB shortly.   Who knows when we all might get a definitive answer on any of it ! ! !