Helen Rosenthal kicked off her campaign to replace Gale Brewer as the City Council representative for the Upper West Side with an event last week attended by labor leaders, parents, and Ronnie Eldridge, who is a local activist and the wife of Jimmy Breslin.

But Rosenthal also convinced another major liberal voice to get on the bandwagon: Michael Moore.

The controversial filmmaker spoke in her support, with one person who attended saying he praised Rosenthal’s commitment to recycling — or more accurately he said she is a good recycler. And Moore should know. Apparently, he has an apartment in Rosenthal’s building.

It’s not entirely clear how deep his support runs. Moore didn’t get back to us, and Rosenthal is playing coy for now. Will he make an edgy video accusing one of the three other candidates of colluding with George Bush, or profiting financially from a Saudi pipeline? Only time will tell.

About 200 other people attended the campaign kickoff event. Rosenthal, a former chair of Community Board 7 who has already raised more than $60,000, is up against former Community Board chair Mel Wymore, Russian Tea Room vice president Ken Biberaj and attorney and Democratic activist Marc Landis. The election will be held in 2013. Brewer is planning to run for Borough President. As we detailed in a previous post, other celebrities (mostly chefs) have also begun taking sides in the race.

Photo of Helen Rosenthal and Michael Moore courtesy of Rosenthal.