This doesn't mean that she is not a worthy contender in this race however. As always, it is refreshing to see a woman who is willing to take a risk and be the only one standing among the "big boys".
Katz is running for one of the most important jobs in this city, to be the New York City Comptroller. The city comptroller is in charge of the financial health of the city. And during these recessionary times, we sure do need someone new in charge.
According to news reports, Katz seems to be one of the top two favorite candidates out of the four Democrats in this race (the other being John Liu). She is a candidate that has the support of women, the LGBT community and several of her fellow politicians.
Katz also an intriguing individual from a creative family. According to Gay City News: "Born and raised in New York, she is a single mom raising her 14-month-old son, Carter, in the same house in Forest Hills where she grew up, which she bought after the death of her father 22 years ago. Her father founded the Queens Symphony Orchestra, whose maestro he served as, and her mother, who died in an auto accident when Katz was just three, started the Queens Council on the Arts - there was, apparently some level of creative competition in the family from the get-go. Her three brothers, all older, have followed in their parents' footsteps - two of them leading performing arts programs, the third designing women's haute couture."
In this blogger's eyes, Katz may already have one vote, not only because of her intriguing life but because of this statement she gives on her website about why she is running for comptroller:
"People ask me why I'm running for Comptroller and three simple words come to mind: I get it."
"I get that New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet during the economic crisis of our lifetime. I get that people are angry with Wall Street excess and the enveloping repercussions of its unchecked greed. I get that parents in every borough are worried about their children's education. And my approach to solving these vexing public problems is the same as any family's approach to solving its own private ones: common sense and accountability. I get that, for Comptroller, we need a no-nonsense New Yorker who will work for everyone."
Powerful words that certainly got to this blogger in more ways than one.
You can find out more about Melinda Katz at her website, http://www.melindakatzforny.com