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Local Pols Eye Tom Duane’s Seat

Chris Bragg — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:59:51 +0000

With Manhattan State Sen. Tom Duane announcing his retirement last night, rumors are already circulating about who will run for his coveted West Side seat — and petitioning begins on Tuesday. One name that has emerged already is that of Brad Hoylman, the senior vice president and general counsel for the Partnership for New York City, who had been planning to run for term-limited Council Speaker Christine Quinn‘s seat. Hoylman, who did not return a request for comment, is thought to have a strong chance at getting Duane’s backing. Meanwhile, Hoylman’s potential opponent in that Council race, Community Board 4 chairman Corey Johnson, is also getting some encouragement to run, sources said. Another person interested is said to be Joe Belluck, a prominent and affluent attorney who is a SUNY trustee. (Belluck heads a law firm for which Senate Minority Leader John Sampson serves “of counsel.”) And Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, who would not have to give up her seat to run, is another logical potential candidate, as are Assemblyman Brian Kavanaugh and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick. Other elected officials in the area include Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who has been planning to run for Manhattan borough president, and Councilman Dan Garodnick, who is running for New York City comptroller.

To read more from City & State click here.

“There Is A Rat Among Us” And It Could Be Cuomo: Says State Senator Diaz

Chris Bragg — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:33:36 +0000

Bronx State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr.’s always entertaining “What You Should Know” column is especially enlightening this morning, as Diaz addresses a Daily News report that Senate Minority Leader John Sampson’s days as Democratic leader are numbered.

In his latest musing, Diaz tries to guess at who the “rat” is within the Democratic conference that fed that piece of speculation to Daily News reporter Ken Lovett, dropping the names of several of his Democratic colleagues as possibilities. And he even singles out Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a likely candidate for the leak.

You should know that as soon as I read the article, I went around asking people, “Who do you think is this high ranking source plotting to knock Sampson out?” It is interesting to see all of the names that people mention, starting with Jeff Klein, Liz Krueger, Mike Ginaris and – now hold on to your hats folks – Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Out of all of them, Andrew Cuomo is the most frequent name mentioned. Even during our Democratic closed-door Conference, his name was mentioned by most of the Senators. To many, this plot is an act of desperation by those who already visualize a victory in November by the Democrats when the Republicans (will probably) lose their Majority and control of the Senate.

Strangely, Diaz himself called earlier this year for Sampson’s ouster at Senate minority leader, so his moral outrage about the leak seems a little bit odd. But at least, his public outcries against his colleagues are always on the record. And in his column today, Diaz seems to have had a change of heart about Sampson, now saying that with Democrats back in the majority, Sampson would be a “bionic reconstructed man” who is “better, faster, and stronger.”

Here’s the full release from Diaz:

To read the full article at City & State click here.

Campaign Roundup: Quinn Marries, Allon Hopes to Bring Back Liberal Party

City & State — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:36:20 +0000

2013 Mayoral Race

Christine Quinn tied the knot.

Tom Allon says the main goal of his candidacy is bringing back the Liberal Party.

State Senate

Senate Minority Leader John Sampson likely won’t be voted back as majority leader if the Senate Democrats take back the majority.

The race for Suzi Oppenheimer’s seat is getting nasty, even though it’s comprised of a bunch of “nice guys.”

Mark Grisanti is already out with is second TV ad. And he’s sending out mailers.

State Sen. Tim Kennedy won’t be getting the Conservative line after voting for gay marriage.

Eight senators are being targeted by campaign finance reform backers.

Manhattan

The Post profiled State Sen. Adriano Espaillat.

Charlie Rangel strong-armed State Sen. Bill Perkins for his endorsement.

El Barrio is backing Rangel.

Queens

Dan Halloran is undergoing brain surgery on a benign tumor.

Gatemouth examines links between Jeff Gottlieb and Robert Mittman.

Claire Shulman is robocalling for Grace Meng.

Liz Crowley got some coaching about stop and frisk from a union official.

Elsewhere

Maggie Brooks broke with congressional GOP leadership on the Violence Against Women Act.

Lawmakers Back Felder in New ‘Super Jewish’ Senate District

City & State — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:32:00 +0000

At an endorsement press conference yesterday in Boro Park, Councilman David Greenfield and Assemblyman Dov Hikind heaped praise upon Simcha Felder, the ex-councilman both lawmakers are backing in Brooklyn’s new “Super-Jewish” state Senate district. But definitive answers to the question of whom Felder, a Democrat, would ultimately caucus with in Albany remained elusive. Felder, who said he did not want to step on the endorsement press conference by breaking that particular piece of news, took no questions, leaving reporters to ask Greenfield and Hikind, themselves both Democrats, about Felder’s partisan loyalties, as Felder stood to the side watching. Hikind and Greenfield were asked whether either would rescind their endorsement for Felder, when official word comes down whether he will caucus with Democratic Minority Leader John Sampson or Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos. Hikind said it would not matter either way. “I just want to say that John Sampson is a dear friend of mine, and he will verify that, by the way,” Hikind said. “John Sampson has been a great friend of the Jewish community, and Dean Skelos has been a great friend, and I mean that. If you said, ‘Which is a better friend?’ I would not be able to answer that.”

To read more from City & State click here.

Campaign Roundup: April 19, 2012

Chris Bragg — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:17:01 +0000

2013 Mayoral Race

The candidates got a thumbs-down on their tech prowess.

Might Kristin Davis run for mayor?

Brooklyn

Hakeem Jeffries may end up getting the endorsement of Andrew Cuomo.

More on Simcha Felder’s state Senate plans.

Manhattan

Rangel and Espailliat are fighting over the endorsement decision of Oscar de la Renta.

State Senate

John Sampson says the Senate Dems’ minimum wage push isn’t about politics.

Elsewhere

Green Party candidates could affect the outcome of several congressional races.

Sheldon Silver may push for public financing for the NY comptroller’s race.

To read more from City & State click here.