Preacher A.R. Bernard weighs run for mayor

Preacher A.R. Bernard weighs run for mayor

Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News

The Rev. A.R. Bernard, pastor at Brooklyn megachurch, says he's considering a run for mayor.

At the urging of the state Republican chairman, one of the city’s most influential ministers is weighing whether to jump into the already crowded race for mayor, the Daily News has learned.

The Rev. A.R. Bernard, pastor of the Christian Cultural Center, a Brooklyn megachurch with 35,000 members, acknowledged that he has been talking with political leaders and elected officials about a possible candidacy.

“I’m not driven by political ambitions. It would be motivated by my love and concern for this city. I have 35,000 members who will be impacted by whatever happens,” he told the News.

Bernard said he was “surprised” when state GOP boss Ed Cox approached him about running but that he has given the idea “deep consideration” for a month.

His candidacy could throw a wrench into the mayoral aspirations of Joe Lhota, who stepped down as MTA chief to ponder a run. Lhota is a former deputy mayor to Rudy Giuliani, who’s been a big cheerleader for Lhota’s likely candidacy.

Cox and Giuliani have a tangled history â€" the ex-mayor backed a rival when Cox was seeking the state GOP chairmanship â€" but Cox says that’s old news and has nothing to do with his encouraging Bernard to run.

Cox said Lhota is qualified to be mayor, but in an interview with the News, the state Republican boss could not contain his enthusiasm for Bernard.

“What a guy! Isn’t he something?” Cox said. “He’s a terrific preacher, and very down to earth, a success as a businessman... and look what he’s done also for his community with the C.C.C. Quite extraordinary.”

A Bernard candidacy also could complicate family matters for the state Republican boss. Cox’s son is married to the daughter of another potential Republican candidate, billionaire John Catsimatidis.

Bernard is not known to most New Yorkers, but the road to City Hall has long run through his massive church in East New York.

For two decades, every serious candidate running for citywide office has dropped in during Sunday services to pay respects to Bernard and to his flock.

Not only is he a force in religious and community service circles, but Bernard, a married father of seven sons, spent 10 years in banking and rubs elbows with top figures in politics and business.

“The city is a place â€" especially post Hurricane Sandy ... (where) we’re going to be faced with some very critical financial challenges,” he said. “I would hope that I would bring healing and collaboration â€" the business community, the unions â€" everyone coming together

Bernard would not give a deadline for a decision, but said he knows the clock’s ticking.

“If this is something I’m going to do, I’m going to do it very seriously and there are time constraints. I'm very aware of that,” he said.