Engel, Dinowitz poised to sail to reelection

Correction appended.

You might not have noticed it, but two of Riverdale’s most powerful politicians are up for reelection this year.

Rep. Eliot Engel and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz’s bids for their 14th and 11th terms, respectively. have been out of the headlines thanks to the fact no one so far has announced a challenge against them.

Unlike area officials such as state Sen. Jeff Klein, who recently won a tough primary race, Mr. Dinowitz and Mr. Engel have sailed through September without appearing on the primary ballot at all due to the absence of any Democratic challengers. It seems unlikely opponents from other parties will emerge in the days between now and the Tuesday, Nov. 2 general ballot.

Still, Mr. Engel, 67, says he is not taking anything for granted.

“I am going out and asking people for their vote the way I always do,” said Mr. Engel, who regularly shuttles between Washington, D.C. and the 16th congressional district, which includes Westchester and a wide swath of the Bronx. “The moment you take it for granted is the minute you shouldn’t be asking people for their vote.”

For his part, Mr. Dinowitz said he plans to spend the weeks between now and the general ballot helping other candidates.

“I don’t want to sound arrogant or cocky or anything like that, but I think I’m going to spend most of my political energy between primaries and the general election helping Democrats who have contests, real contests,” he said.

Mr. Dinowitz, 59, pointed to Assemblyman Victor Pichardo along with Marsha Michael and Latoya Joyner, who are running for the vacant 79th and 77th seats, respectively, as candidates he is supporting.

While neither Mr. Engel nor Mr. Dinowitz — themselves longtime allies — has to fight for his own seat, both men rattled off a list of recent accomplishments and future goals in recent phone interviews.

Each of them took a strong stance against a string of anti-Semitic vandalism that has afflicted Riverdale in recent months. Mr. Engel said he would support installing more cameras in the neighborhood to help catch future perpetrators.