Brooklyn community activists think they've found a small-bore way to bring about big changes in city politics.
They're putting up candidates for the borough's Democratic county committee - a possible 6,000 slots covering districts no bigger than a few city blocks, but potentially wielding considerable clout.
Committee members help influence party policy on a range of issues - from schools to the economy - and have a hand in picking candidates for judgeships and other offices.
New Kings Democrats, a group which aims to field some 50 candidates, hope an influx might also clean up Brooklyn's legendary political corruption - most recently illustrated by the conviction of a former party leader, ex-Assemblyman Clarence Norman.
The effort is catching the eye of digital-savvy young voters. The Web site HollaBackNYC - best known for touting the use of cellphone cameras to end street harassment - recently hailed the movement as a way "to bring folks into the political fold."
Running is easy, activists say. Candidates need to gather just 20 to 25 signatures to run for a slot.
"It doesn't take a lot of work to get your name on the ballot," said Rachel Lauter, an organizer of the New Kings Democrats.
And you win automatically if no one runs against you in the September primary, which is very likely given the lack of interest in the office and the local party's bad rep. (The party machinery was once chided by an editorial critic as regarding reform the way Dracula looks at a wooden stake.)
The four other boroughs also have county party committees, and an organization called Grassroots Initiative would like to boost their memberships, too. Citywide, about 14,000 of 30,000 county committee seats are open.
"They're the basic building blocks of the party structure," said Alex Carabelli, of Grassroots Initiative. "Over the years, they've become less and less relevant. Those at the top of the party are emphasizing it less."
Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Vito Lopez knows he has to pay attention to the New Kings Democrats. His predecessor, Norman, last year began a three- to nine-year prison sentence.
"I welcome their participation in the political process of the borough," Lopez said.
Candidate Oscar Muñoz of Dyker Heights says he was surveying people in his district to "gauge where they're at and what issues are affecting them."
"Nobody in Albany should tell me what's bothering me. Nor could they tell me what laws are good for me. It's the other way around."
