As a twist on the Breakfast-of-Candidates concept, Craig Hammerman (pictured with architect Gilly Youner, left, and artist Sheilia White, right)  invited me to have breakfast at his apartment. "I make a pretty mean omelet if you want me to cook," he wrote in an email.

So on the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day I arrived at Craig's small apartment on the ground floor of a brownstone, where he was already at work on a rather elaborate breakfast in his cramped kitchen. As Craig chopped mushrooms and Hungarian salami I asked him where he does his grocery shopping. "Sahadi's," he told me. "On Atlantic right across from my office."

Nicely dressed in a Ralph Lauren shirt without a tie, Craig has a Fu Manchu mustache/beard and a calm, easy going style. A third-generation Brooklynite, Craig was born in1965, attended Midwood High School and studied
chemical engineering and history at Rutgers University. After college
he taught high school science in Brooklyn even though he hadn't studied biology
since high school. Fortunately, his father, a professor of life science
at Long Island University, was able to help keep Craig a  week or two
ahead of the students. He cites his mother, who in addition to being a political science professor at Long Island
University for the past 30 years, worked for former Borough President
Howard Golden (1977-2000). Craig worked at a small manufacturing firm in Queen's before going to work at Community Board 6, where he's been for 19 years. In 1993, he was appointed district manager.

Of all the candidates, Craig is the the nuts and bolts guy; the one who most knows what it's like to serve the public day in and day out. "My job is 24/7. I have visibility and accessibility. When there's an emergency in the district, whether its fire or police, I know about it. I hate politics but I love being a public servant." In that capacity he is particularly proud of overseeing the
rebuilding of  infrastructure including the reconstruction of Smith Street; his focus on recycling and sustainability efforts; and the creation of Brooklyn's first dog run in DiMattina Park.

I watch as Craig expertly pours the egg mixture into the omelet pan. When its done, he carries our plates into the dining room, where he has set the table for two with nice plates, napkins and cups for coffee. There is fresh fruit in a bowl and a pitcher of orange juice.All in all, a lovely breakfast.

When we sit down to eat, Craig puts on music, a nice selection of soft rock, including Simon and Garfunkel. His son and his fiancee are in the bedroom staying out of the way of the interview.

Over breakfast, Craig tells me that this isn't his first run for City Council in the 39th district. He ran in 2001 (against Bill deBlasio, who won the race) because he saw the job as "a natural extension of what he was already doing," he tells me. "But I was a horrible campaigner and I tried to do too much myself." 

It didn't help that primary day 2001 was on 9/11.  By the time the
rescheduled primary came around two weeks later Craig says,  "I lost my
stomach for the campaign. There  was so much to do and people needed
consistency in leadership due to the tragedy."

In the ensuing years, he never lost his desire to be a member of the City Council. In fact, he says, "I'm more impassioned than ever." But this time he's hired a professional campaign staff to help him and he's made a list of things he wants to do differently.

"Always wear comfortable shoes, take care of myself. Last time I stopped exercising and that was a big mistake," he now says. A member of the Prospect park Track Club, Craig has run 6 marathons and plans to continue running during the campaign. 

Consistency is a theme with Craig. "The only constant in the city is the community. It's the most stable element," he tells me. "The people who make up the neighborhood. They grow up here, place roots here and want a voice in government."

Topping his list of important issues is the economy and support of local businesses (or mom and pop shops as he calls them). He thinks the city made a mistake putting "all its eggs in the real estate basket." According to Craig, "a more diverse local economy insulates you from volatility."

Craig is also interested in culture as an economic engine and has proposed that an arts center go into the vacant St. Thomas Aquinas Church on 4th Avenue and 8th Street. A plan likely to excite the Park Slope Community Hammerman says: "The future prosperity of our neighborhoods depends in large part upon
supporting the cultural soul of our community. This area needs a
non-profit contemporary community arts center that pulls together and
showcases the finest our neighborhoods have to offer."

The personal is political for Craig and he speaks openly about his own personal development since the last time he ran. He's not  afraid to admit that he's been in therapy, which enabled him to "scramble my own molecules." He even underwent training as a personal coach (with the Coaches Training Institute) because he found himself mediating so many battles in the community. That training has helped him, he says, "to show people that they  have more in common than not."

As for what qualifies him to be a City Council member, Craig believes that he's the candidate, who understands government, has a passion for policy and the necessary years of practical experience on the street as district manager.

Speaking of the street, Craig practically lives on the street in his ground floor apartment. From his front window, we watch the feet of the marchers in the Park Slope St. Patrick's Day Parade, as they walk up 9th Street toward Prospect Park West and hear the pounding of the drums and the tinkling of the xylophones.

When we finish breakfast, Craig tells me that he plans to join the revelers at the grandstand.  "You can choose to live insulated or to live in a connected way." Obviously Craig has chosen to connect with his community and  the citizens that make it tick. But it's his day-to-day experience on the community government level  that speaks volumes. "Anyone who goes to work for the City Council in 2010 better know how government works," he says. Clearly, Craig knows how it works from the ground floor up. And he's ready to move on from Community Board 6 to serve the public as a member of the City Council.