(Photo: Robin Platzer/Twin Images)

Have two terms of Bloomberg taught city Democrats that what they really need to do is run a businessman for mayor? Sources say that the technocrats’ fantasy candidate right now is Jonathan Tisch, the co-chairman of Loews Corporation and a big Democratic donor (his dad is Preston Robert Tisch, the billionaire New York Giants co-owner who died last year). Longtime Democratic operative and top Andrew Cuomo adviser Tonio Burgos admits that he made the suggestion to Tisch “a few weeks ago.” “Whether Jon Tisch self-finances or raises a lot of money, which he can, the Bloomberg model showed that unknowns with no political experience but extensive resources can not only win but govern effectively,” Burgos says. And it’s not just Dems: Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg’s chief political operative,is said to have asked Tisch if he’s interested, too. Just as Bloomberg did pre-mayoralty, Tisch has lately elevated his profile in civic circles, chairing NYC & Company, the city’s tourism bureau. A close friend of Tisch’s responds that a mayoral run isn’t on the hotel mogul’s radar: “He’s wholly focused on running the business with his two cousins. Could he become more engaged in public service down the road? It’s certainly a possibility.”

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• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Greg Sargent
• Table of Contents: Feb 20, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!