Same name, very different New York pols

A father naming his son after himself suggests tradition, pride, a desire for immortality – and it doesn’t hurt at the ballot box. Just ask the Peter Vallones, the José Serranos, the Rubén Díazes or all three Robert F. Wagners. But having someone else in the political arena, unrelated to you, share your name? That’s just annoying. Here’s a handy guide of who’s who and which is which.

Geoff Berman

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Geoff Berman and Geoff Berman

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Geoff Berman and Geoff Berman

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Geoff Berman and Geoff Berman

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Geoff Berman and Geoff Berman

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Photo courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office; Twitter

[L] Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
[R] Cuomo-approved executive director of the New York state Democratic Party.

Charles Barron

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Charles Barron and Charles Barron

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Charles Barron and Charles Barron

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Charles Barron and Charles Barron

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Charles Barron and Charles Barron

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Photos by City & State; Ali Garber

[L] Brooklyn assemblyman.
[R] Deputy chief medical officer of New York City Health + Hospitals.

Pat Lynch

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Pat Lynch and Pat Lynch

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Pat Lynch and Pat Lynch

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Pat Lynch and Pat Lynch

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Pat Lynch and Pat Lynch

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Photo courtesy Facebook; by a katz/Shutterstock

[L] Albany lobbyist who profited off ties to Sheldon Silver.
[R] NYPD union boss who profits off antagonism to de Blasio.

Bill O'Reilly

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Bill O'Reilly and Bill O'Reilly

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Bill O'Reilly and Bill O'Reilly

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Bill O'Reilly and Bill O'Reilly

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Bill O'Reilly and Bill O'Reilly

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Photos courtesy World Affairs Council of Philadelphia; Twitter

[L] Disgraced conservative political commentator.
[R] Conservative political consultant and campaign manager.

Joel Rivera

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Joel Rivera and Joel Rivera

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Joel Rivera and Joel Rivera

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Joel Rivera and Joel Rivera

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Joel Rivera and Joel Rivera

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Photos courtesy Patrick Cashin/MTA; Facebook

[L] Bronx city councilman, who represented District 15 from 2001 through 2013.
[R] Bronx City Council candidate, who ran for District 15 in 2013.

And a few more ...
 

Margaret Chin

Manhattan city councilwoman, whose district includes Stuyvesant H.S.

Hunter College sociologist, writing recently about Stuyvesant H.S.

Colin Campbell

Managing editor at Yahoo News, specializing in Brooklyn politics.

Consultant at Deloitte specializing in New York securities law.

Jon Campbell

Reporter, formerly of the Village Voice, focusing on New York criminal justice.

Reporter, currently of Gannett’s New York newspapers, focusing on state politics.

Frank Morano

Staten Island-based Reform Party political operative and radio host.

Staten Island Community Board 3 chairman.

Stephen Miller

Senior policy adviser to President Donald Trump.

Public transportation advocate and journalist.

Conservative political commentator for Fox News.