Hiram Trains for a Rematch

In yesterday's local political blogs, the future political fortunes of Hiram Monseratte got front and center attention. At the City Room, Jonathan Hicks focused on the councilman's strenuous physical fitness regimen: "In the last three months, City Councilman Hiram Monserrate has been on a fitness program and has lost 25 pounds. He said that he has been undertaking a regimen of weight lifting, running and kick boxing to trim down."

What needs to be said, is that Monseratte's new found health kick coincided with his support of Dr. Mehmet Oz's HealthCorps initiative that was funded by the City Council this year. At a press conference earlier in the year, Hiram stood with Dr. Oz and committed to the weight loss. He's proven to be a man of his word when it comes to being a role model for health.

The potential re-match between Monseratte and incumbent state senator John Sabini is, of course what most interests our local political observers; the election battle in 2006 saw Sabini narrowly defeat Monseratte by 260 votes, making him appear to be the most vulnerable of the Democratic incumbents. As Azi points out, Sabini's vulnerability is enhanced because of his recent drunk driving beef.

The Sabini court fight over this charge, highlighted by Liz's Daily Politics blog, will continue to underscore some of Monseratte's arguments that he is better suited to represent the 13th Senatorial district; but the real challenge for the incumbent will be the changing demographics in this largely Hispanic district.