http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/10/former_yassky_aide_to_seek_yas.html
NY Daily News
The Daily Politics
Oct. 31, 2007
Evan Thies, a 28-year-old former aide to Councilman David
Yassky - not to mention Hillary Clinton and Andrew Cuomo - confirmed he's
running for his old boss' 33rd CD seat, which Yassky is barred by term limits
from seeking again in 2009 (he's running for comptroller instead).
Thies, who's currently working at the
communications/consulting firm Berlin Rosen, has a campaign committee, although
he hasn't banked any cash yet, and will make a formal announcement some time
next month.
After serving in both the public and private sectors, Thies
said, he's decided that "if you have ideas about fixing government, you
should probably be in government."
"In New York City, local government is the way you can
affect a lot of people very quickly," Thies said, adding that his work
with Yassky on high-profile issues like 421-a and hybrid taxis taught him that,
although it may take a while, Council members with good ideas has a good shot
at getting those ideas implemented.
Thies has never held elected office, with the exception of
the post of homeroom monitor during his sophomore year of high school. But he
comes from a political family (Republicans in his home state of New Hampshire;
his grandfather was mayor of Manchester, giving him a front seat to the
presidential Granite State mayhem) and has worked for a number of pols and
candidates, including Clinton in 2001, LG candidate Jane Steiner Hoffman in
2002 (who dropped out due to health reasons), Yassky's congressional race in
2006 and, after that was unsuccessful, Andrew Cuomo's AG bid.
He's also perhaps best known in certain circles for getting
arrested while protesting the Iraq War during the 2004 Republican National
Convention.
Thies is not alone in eyeing Yassky's soon-to-be-vacated
seat. Joanne Simon, a district leader in the 52nd AD, is also mentioned as a
contender, as are Ken Diamondstone, unless he challenges Sen. Marty Connor
again; and Steve Cohen, an attorney and Brooklyn Democratic Party stalwart whom
Yassky defeated in the 2001 Council race.
Just to name a few. I'm sure there are more.
Plus, it's likely Brooklyn Democratic Chairman/Assemblyman
Vito Lopez will push his own candidate.
Posted by Elizabeth Benjamin on October 31, 2007 3:21 PM