1.   But the borough presidency is still seen as a stepping stone for officials with mayoral aspirations, like Ms. Messinger, who is seeking to challenge Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

2.   Non-Hispanic officials are seldom considered for the borough presidency, they complain.

3.   Ruiz has recently pushed his way back into the news by declaring himself a Democratic candidate for the Bronx borough presidency.

4.   Robert Wagner and David Dinkins rose from borough presidencies to Gracie Mansion.

5.   Rivera has made no secret of his interest in the borough presidency, and has talked about it with Ramirez and Ferrer.

6.   Robert F. Wagner and Dinkins moved from borough presidencies to the mayoralty.

7.   The scramble for the Manhattan borough presidency alone has left three openings for the council.