Lappin Staffs Up for 2009 Race

Jessica Lappin, who is considering joining the crowded race for public advocate, plans to change the name of her campaign committee from Lappin for Council to Lappin 2009, a person with knowledge of the campaign said.

Lappin has also begun to “ramp up” her fund-raising effort and hired two new fund-raisers for the team, this person said.

Rachel Padgett, who raised money for a few Democratic State Senators, including Craig Johnson in Nassau County, has joined Lappin’s campaign as finance director.

Also doing fund-raising for Lappin now is consultant Dara Freed,  finance director for Hillary Clinton’s Senate re-election campaign from 2003 to 2006.

Lappin represents a Council district on the East Side of Manhattan where there’s no shortage of contributors, and if she enters, would be the only woman in the race.