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He's a man of many hats.

"The one thing I learned after eight years is you can't imagine what's coming up next," said Markowitz. "You can't guess. That's the excitement of being in Brooklyn."

Markowitz is hoping another four years as borough president is next for him. Just six months ago, there would have been no re-election bid for Markowitz, who was eyeing another office. But that changed with the extension of term limits.

"I'm thrilled. Before term limits were extended, I was looking, I must admit, in dread, that I would have to wrap it up this year," Markowitz said.

Several people were lining up to replace Markowitz, but now, with him back in, they've all dropped out. Still, he continues raising funds, just in case there are others. So far he's raised $1.5 million. And his campaign says lots of small donations for the self-proclaimed Mr. Brooklyn have been key.

"In Marty's first race, he raised more money in small contributions than anybody else in any citywide race had ever done," said Campaign Treasurer Michael Weiss.

Those who won't be contributing to Markowitz are the opponents of the stalled Atlantic Yards project, with the Nets arena as its centerpiece. And he can count out those against his plans for a Coney Island Amphitheater, which would be a state-of-the-art seasonal concert venue.

Markowitz says he's not giving in to his critics.

"If you do nothing, you offend no one," he said. "Well, that name is not Marty Markowitz. I was elected to get things done and make life better for those who are here today and those who are here tomorrow that I'll never meet. That's my charge."

Markowitz does have plenty of fans; he easily won his last election.

"You never get the sense that he favors one neighborhood or one group over another," said one Brooklyn resident.

"Right now Brooklyn has a global and national appeal and I think Marty has a lot to do with that," said another.

Markowitz has helped boost Brooklyn tourism and created an annual restaurant week. He says there are more initiatives in the works.

"Brooklyn has done everything for me," he said. "It's allowed me to live my life, my dreams."

And, at 64 years old, he says being Brooklyn borough president is still his dream.