Top Dogs in NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary -- A Cheat Sheet

Election season is in full swing and, for the first time in 12 years, we’re going to have a new mayor. To help you figure out who’s who, we’ve compiled some Cliffs Notes® on the top three Democratic candidates…and Anthony Weiner. Use the information wisely when voting and/or jumping into water cooler conversations.

Bill de Blasio (Dem)

• Vegas odds*: 13-to-8

• Money raised/spent (in millions):  $4.18/$2.38

• Key accomplishment: Public Advocate for the City of New York, 2011 to present.

• Fun fact: Married a former lesbian (ceremony was held in Prospect Park).

• Sad fact: Boston Red Sox fan.

• Endorsed by: The Nation, New York State Nurses Association, Howard Dean, Steve Buscemi,  Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon, Cynthia Nixon.

• On taxes: Increases for higher earners; less tax breaks for economic development; supports taxing vacant lots for more revenue.

• On crime: Calls for an inspector general; no stop & frisk; wants to keep the size of current police force; supports the use of cameras in public areas to detect crime.

• On education: Universal pre-K; universal after school programs for middle schools; less testing; changes to current school evaluation systems; more training for teachers; increased funding for CUNY.

Christine Quinn (Dem)

• Vegas odds*: 13-to-8

• Money raised/spent (in millions): $7.66/$2.49

• Key accomplishment: Speaker of the New York City Council, 2006 to present (first woman and the first openly gay person to hold this office).

• Fun fact: Openly gay and married in May, 2012.

• Sad fact: Spends her summers on the Jersey Shore.

• Endorsed by: The New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, United Food and Commercial Workers, George Takei, Tim Gunn

• On taxes: Supports tax increases as a last resort; backs commuter taxes; no changes to property taxes.

• On crime: Calls for an inspector general;  wants increase the police force; no stop & frisk; supports the use of cameras in public areas to detect crime.

• On education: Change minimum dropout age to 18; reduced standardized test for student assessments; longer school days; establish best-practices for all schools.

Bill Thompson (Dem)

• Vegas odds*: 5-to-1

• Money raised/spent (in millions): $4.11/$2.20

• Key accomplishment: New York City Comptroller, 2002 - 2009

• Fun fact: Born and raised in Bed-Stuy.

• Sad fact: Left Brooklyn for Harlem in 2008.

• Endorsed by:  United Federation of Teachers, New York Firefighters

• On taxes: Does not support any more increases; supports commuter taxes

• On crime: Has supported stop & frisk as long as not racially-targeted; wants to increase the police force.

• On education: Supports the Common Core; longer school days and years; less reliance on test scores to evaluate teacher effectiveness; would consider merit pay for teachers.

Anthony Weiner (Dem)

• Vegas odds*: 7-to-1

• Money raised/spent: $5.75/$1.36

• Key accomplishment: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 9th district, 1999 - 2011 (7 terms)

• Fun fact: Park Slope native.

• Sad fact: Using the pseudonym “Carlos Danger” when sexting.

• Endorsed by: Jimmy “The Rent is Too Damn High” McMillan.

• On taxes: Less taxes for multimedia messaging.

• On crime: Supports more cameras in his home.

• On education: Mandatory classes on using Snapchat.

Have you decided who to vote for on September 10th?

* Vegas odds as reported by paddypower.com