Uncontested Council Races Spur Debate: Is System Working?

Boosters of New York City’s public campaign-finance system say the number of contested City Council races where incumbents are facing primary challenges is on the upswing, and proves the reforms are working.

Yet incumbents holding 17 of the 51 Council seats were facing no opponent Sept. 12 and, because of Democrats’ 6-to-1 registration edge in the city, are considered shoo-ins in November. That means almost 2 million voters will be represented by a Council Member who had no opposition for a job that pays $148,000 a year. And with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito forced by term limits to leave office at the end of the year, the winners will also be choosing a successor to what’s considered the second-most-powerful post in city government in January.