For more than four years, Councilman Andrew Cohen has represented Norwood at the ready, overseeing a robust constituent services department, regularly appearing at community meetings across the 11th Council District, and carrying himself wholesome and scandal-free.

But despite his popularity among constituents, political rumblings originating in Riverdale indicate Cohen is considering a judgeship nomination that’s guaranteed, triggering a vacancy, according to several sources who spoke to the Norwood News.

Cohen, a Democrat in his second term, was upfront about the rumors, telling the Norwood News he is mulling the prospect of serving on the bench. “If it comes this year I’m going to be ready; if it comes next year that would be good,” Cohen said. “I’d be thrilled to serve in that capacity.”

Cohen is a trained attorney, having served as a clerk for Bronx Supreme Court Judge Edgar Walker before being elected councilman in 2013, succeeding his predecessor, Oliver Koppell.

It’s unclear what’s prompted Cohen to consider leaving office. A a total of nine vacancies for court judge across the system—three Bronx Civil Court judgeships and six Supreme Court judgeships—are on the ballot for the September primary, increasing Cohen’s chances of obtaining a seat.

Winding the gears would be the Bronx Democratic Party, which will likely nominate Cohen to a judgeship through the Bronx judicial convention, where Bronx delegates nominate office seekers to fill vacancies for Bronx court judges, according to several political observers across the Bronx who asked not to be named. The Bronx Democratic Party can convene a judicial convention between September 18 and 24 this year.

It’s a strategy the party took when securing a judgeship for former Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, who resigned after his primary win in 2015 to become a Bronx Supreme Court judge. Johnson was appointed judge by the judicial convention. The empty district attorney slot was filled by Darcel Clark, a move largely criticized by good government groups at the time for its underhanded orchestration.

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, who doubles as the Bronx Democratic Party chair, was unavailable to comment.

Should Cohen relinquish his seat, de Blasio would have to call a special election shortly afterward. The 11th Council District covers Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Van Cortlandt Village, Woodlawn, and Fieldston.

This would speed up plans for at least one challenger who already filed papers to run for Cohen’s seat in 2021, Dan Padernacht. Padernacht, an attorney who once served as chair of Community Board 8, has deep ties to the Riverdale community, a stronghold for the 11th Council District. In 2010, he ran against former State Senator Pedro Espada of the 33rd Senate District, but withdrew from the race “for the good of the Democratic party.” Gustavo Rivera ultimately won the seat.

“For me, running for City Council is an opportunity to expand my role in public service and to take the next step in public service,” Padernacht said in a recent telephone interview with the Norwood News. “For ten years I’ve been a member of Community Board 8 and I’ve had an opportunity to get engaged in dozens—more than dozens—of local issues where we’ve been able to inform the community and help the community.”

Much of the pressing issues Padernacht would address as councilman would be the preservation of affordable housing and decreasing overcrowding in schools.

Padernacht’s Norwood connection is limited to personal experience, having friends who grew up in the neighborhood. Padernacht intends to door knock in the neighborhood.

But Padernacht is not the Bronx Democratic Party’s main choice, according to sources. For years, speculation has abounded that Eric Dinowitz, son of longtime Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz and Cohen’s closest political ally, was positioning for the seat. Eric, a special education teacher at Walton High School and district leader in the 81st Assembly District who’s been groomed for public office, told the Norwood News he has formed a campaign committee to “be prepared for when Andy Cohen steps down.”

“Running for public office is something I want to do,” said Eric in a telephone interview. Eric said he’s been encouraged to run by community residents.

Assemblyman Dinowitz’s seat in the 81st Assembly District overlaps with the 11th Council District.

The winner of the seat could theoretically be in office for at least a decade, finishing out Cohen’s term and later completing two consecutive terms should they win election and re-election.

Political machinations aside, Padernacht intends to give it all he’s got in vying for the seat.

“I’ll be at subway stations, I’ll be at bus stops introducing to many residents in our area,” said Padernacht.

admin

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.