13th District (Pelham, City Island, Throgs Neck, Allerton and Morris Park): Single-family homeowners worried about overdevelopment give this Democratic district a conservative streak. The current council member, Madeleine Provenzano, a Democrat, has straddled party lines on many votes. To fill her seat, she has endorsed Stephen Kaufman, who ran a ridiculous and losing State Senate campaign last year as both a Democrat and a Republican. In this race, Mr. Kaufman, who also has the Conservative Party line, is one of six Democrats in the primary.
The candidate whose credentials make him the standout in the field is James Vacca. As the district manager for Community Board 10, he has become renowned as a solver of problems large and small. He has blocked oversized construction, challenged City Hall on the aggressive proliferation of parking tickets and been a longtime advocate for senior citizens. Mr. Vacca would be a welcome dose of steady energy on the Council. We endorse James Vacca.