Publisher Tom Allon Purchases News Organization, Drops Out Of Mayoral Race
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Newspaper publisher Tom Allon announced Monday that he has given up his long-shot bid to become mayor of New York City and acquired a political news organization, City and State Media.
"While no longer a candidate, I will continue to passionately and relentlessly pursue a reform education agenda as an education activist, a columnist and blogger, and as the co-owner of the influential political news organization,'' Allon said in a statement.
The former Democrat had switched parties for his attempt to make it to the 2013 general election ballot.
The Republican field now includes businessman John Catsimatidis, former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joseph Lhota and George McDonald, who heads a nonprofit for the homeless.
Former Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrion is unaffiliated but running as the Independence Party's candidate. He's also seeking the Republican nomination.
On Sunday, City Comptroller John Liu launched his bid for the Democratic nomination from the steps of City Hall. Already the first person of Asian descent to be elected citywide in New York, Liu hopes to become its first Asian-American mayor.
Other Democratic contenders in the mayoral race include former City Councilman Sal Albanese, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former Comptroller Bill Thompson.
"I entered this race in 2011 to offer the voters of New York City a choice that was different from the career politicians who at the time seemed likely to be the only Mayoral candidates in the campaign-to-come, but the equation has changed in the months since," Allon said in a statement posted to his campaign's website. "I have been gratified to hear Joe Lhota, John Catsimatidis, Bill Thompson, Christine Quinn and others voice some of my education and economic development ideas and I hope the next mayor will see them to fruition."
Allon is the president and CEO of Manhattan Media.
He had campaigned actively, participating in candidate forums, doing interviews on local television and radio and joining in calls for the city Housing Authority chairman's resignation and opposition to the way public school student data is being used in a state database. In addition to education, his campaign emphasized economic development and reforming city budget practices.
He also had the Liberal Party's backing.
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