New York City voters are heading to the polls today to narrow down the long list of mayoral hopefuls seeking to succeed the dozen-year run of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and usher in a new era of governance for the nation’s largest school system.
Education has been at the heart of the campaign, with Democratic frontrunners Bill de Blasio, William Thompson Jr., and Christine Quinn all pushing schooling ideas. Among the marquee proposals: de Blasio is promising universal pre-K, Thompson would temporarily halt schools from being shut down, and Quinn would extend the school day.
The leading Republican candidates—Joe Lhota and John Catsimatidis—have also made their education positions known. Lhota is a staunch supporter of charters and would allow more of them to open across the city. Catsimatidis is on record as being in favor of shutting down underperforming schools.
GothamSchools has comprehensive coverage of the field of candidates and the ground they’ve staked out on education issues.
To become the nominee, candidates from both parties have to garner at least 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff against the second highest vote getter. The general election is in November.
A sampling of Election Day tweets from the candidates:
Because our City will be an #Education City #VoteThompson #NYC2013
— Thompson2013 (@BillThompsonNYC) September 10, 2013
Today you have a choice: continue the Tale of Two Cities or vote for progress. #VotedeBlasio
— Bill de Blasio (@deBlasioNYC) September 10, 2013
Joined by Kim and my dad to cast my vote this AM in Chelsea! We have work to do and a world to change! #VoteQuinn pic.twitter.com/OH7NYoDKEH
— Christine Quinn (@Quinn4NY) September 10, 2013
Keep NYC moving forward & #VoteJoe //t.co/fCUm1nGeZP
— Joe Lhota for Mayor (@JoeLhota4Mayor) September 10, 2013
PIC: In front of the Press Corps after voting this morning. #nyc2013 #VoteCats pic.twitter.com/BnTp0TNgmX
— John Catsimatidis (@JCats2013) September 10, 2013