Along with his wife Carrie, Kerpen is the founder of KBuzz, a marketing firm that utilizes new communications methods along with word-of-mouth “buzz” to draw attention to events and businesses. The company is based in Glendale.
While his decision isn’t final, he is already bringing his marketing methods to the campaign trail.
During the announcement, Kerpen asked the roughly 50 people in attendance to take out their cell phones and text his website address to one person.
And if elected, he would bring the same approach to Borough Hall.
Kerpen said he wants to follow President Barack Obama’s lead on using the Internet to create a more democratic society.
“The only way to begin getting our government back is to insist upon transparency,” he said. “I want to put every item of our borough budget online and post all contracts signed by the borough president on the web for all to see.”
He also wants to create the first social networking site for an educational system to enable communication between parents, teachers, students and administrators.
This is Kerpen’s first foray into politics, though it has taken a turn of late. He originally planned on running for the District 23 Council seat, currently occupied by David Weprin (D-Hollis). However, that race is getting more and more crowded, with Weprin’s brother, Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D- Little Neck) recently announcing he will also vie for the seat.
Kerpen said he decided to consider the switch after receiving encouragement from people in the borough. Upon thinking about it, he realized he could make a much bigger impact if he pursued that race.
“I realized I could affect the lives of 2.5 million people in Queens,” he said.
Kerpen took several jabs at Marshall during his announcement, deriding her for seeking $20 million for a glass atrium at Borough Hall while two hospitals —St. John’s Queens and Mary Immaculate —went bankrupt and shut down.
Likewise, he said he would immediately eliminate the money the borough president gets to hire a team of chauffeurs and instead invest it in small grants and loans for local businesses.
If Kerpen does run, he expects to ruffle some feathers. Marshall has said she will likely take advantage of the elimination of term limits in the city this year and run again for the seat. She has filed with the Campaign Finance Board to do so.
The only other candidate to file in the race so far is Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park); however, Pheffer began her campaign prior to the change in term limits.
Pheffer said on Tuesday that she ceased campaigning and will continue to do so as long as Marshall plans to run and has the endorsement of the Democrats. “If for some reason that changes, I’m ready to go,” she said.
Kerpen’s message, and his attempt to take on the status quo, was one that resounded with his audience, which ranged from college students to young parents to retirees.
Dodge Landesman is an 18-year-old Manhattan resident, who is running for the Council District 2 seat. “I’m of the same mind as Dave,” Landesman said, expressing his desire to run against “the machine” and cut wasteful spending from government.
“I had to show up for him because he’s a great candidate,” Landesman continued. “He’s committed to government transparency.”
Kerpen also brought out a strong showing from St. John’s University students. Ian Rivera, communications director for the St. John’s College Democrats, said he knows Kerpen well and has worked with him closely in the past.
Rivera admitted the race could cause difficulties within the party, but said he would back the newcomer. “I will support him in anything he does,” Rivera said. “We’ll see how everything works out.”
Kerpen is expected to make a decision on whether to run in the next few weeks.
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