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Sean Maloney Eyes House Run
Feb 3rd - 4:58 pm
A reader emailed a tip earlier today that Sean Patrick Maloney, a former top aide in the Spitzer and Paterson administrations, is mulling a potential House run in whatever becomes of NY-22 – the district currently held by retiring Rep. Maurice Hinchey – when LATFOR gets done drawing the congressional lines.
Maloney is a New York City resident, but he and his partner, Randy Florke, have owned property in Sullivan County since the mid-1990s and Florke’s real estate business, The Rural Connection, is based there.
I spoke briefly to Maloney earlier today, and he confirmed that he had received encouragement to consider running following Hinchey’s announcement last month that he would not seek re-election this fall. Maloney then emailed the following statement:
“Hinchey’s retirement is a big loss to all of us who love the area. I’m flattered to be encouraged. Obviously, we need to know where the lines fall – but I’m very interested.”
This would not be Maloney’s first foray into realm of electoral politics. Back in 2006, he ran in the Democratic primary for state attorney general and finished third. (The winner of that race was Andrew Cuomo).
Maloney subsequently was hired by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, serving as first deputy secretary to the governor. He ended up playing a key role in the administration’s management of the Troopergate scandal, and then held the same position in Gov. David Paterson’s cabinet when the former LG was elevated to replace Spitzer after he was forced to resign following a prostitution scandal.
Maloney left the state payroll at the end of 2008 to join Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm that hired Michael Garcia, the U.S. Attorney who brought down Spitzer.
Prior to his 2006 run, Maloney was an associate at the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which is also home to former Gov. Mario Cuomo. Before that, he was a senior West Wing adviser to President Bill Clinton. According to Wikipedia, Maloney was the youngest person ever to serve as the President’s White House staff secretary, and was also the highest-ranking openly gay man ever to serve on the White House staff.
Tonko: ‘Gasland’ Director Treatment By GOP Was ‘Censorship’
Feb 3rd - 7:59 am
ICYMI: Rep. Paul Tonko told me during a CapTon interview last night that he considered the arrest of “Gasland” director Josh Fox by while he tried to film a House subcommittee hearing on drilling Wednesday morning was tantamount to censorship.
Tonko, who sits on the Science, Space & Technology subcommitteewe, said Democrats were encouraging the chair of the subcommittee, Rep. Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican, to allow Fox to film despite the fact that he didn’t have the proper media credentials.
“As it is, the filming was occurring; it was being released to the outside world by an in-house camera,” the congressman said. “So there was like no exchange of secret information that would occur here.”
“To me it was a classic example of censorship by viewpoint, and that concerns me because the tone or at least the purpose of the hearing was to provide transparency. And Liz, with that transparency, the overall effort here, I find it ironic that in the attempts to be transparent, in the attempt to share with the public, Josh was denied.”
Fox, who is perhaps best known for his controversial Oscar-nominated documentary on hydrofracking, has said he tried to get permission from Harris’ office to film the hearing long before its scheduled date, but never got a response.
After he was arrested, taken away in handcuffs and subsequently charged with unlawful entry, Fox said he believes he’s being “blacklisted off the Hill.”
The purpose of the hearing was to review the EPA’s investigation into groundwater contamination in Pavillion, Wyo., which was potentially caused by hydraulic fracturing.
Tonko has said the whole event seemed to be set up to attack the EPA, but this is the first time I’ve heard him use the “c” word to describe what happened to Fox.
Fox has been involved in the anti-fracking movement here in New York. He owns property in the Delaware River basin, which has been a focus in the fracking debate, and also maintains a residence in Brooklyn.
Fox testified at a fracking hearing held by Sen. Greg Ball and also toured northern Pennsylvania last summer with the Republican lawmaker as he filmed footage for the sequel to his first documentary, “Gasland 2.”
This morning, Fox is scheduled to be a guest on “The Capitol Pressroom” with Susan Arbetter. You can listen live here.
GOP Support For Rep. Israel’s Tea Party Opponent
Feb 2nd - 4:04 pm
A reader forwarded this invite for a fundraiser that took place in Washington, D.C. yesterday to support Stephen Labate, a Tea Party backed Republican who’s running against DCCC Chairman/Rep. Steve Israel in Long Island’s 2nd Congressional District.
The breakfast event at the Chamber of Commerce building was fairly modest, asking $500 from PACs and $250 from individuals to attend.
What surprised this (Democratic) reader was the names of the headliners: U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican; and three members of NY’s own GOP House delegation: Reps. Nan Hayworth, Michael Grimm and Bob Turner.
“Interesting that Steve LaBate is getting so much institutional support,” the reader wrote. “Last election Israel handily beat Sean Hannity protege John Gomez.”
Actually, Labate tried running in 2010, too, but ended up withdrawing from the race to make room for Gomez. Now, apparently, he wants to take another shot at Israel, whose profile has risen considerably since then, and this time around he has institutional support.
Labate had about $50,000 on hand at the end of December, 2001 and $3,000 worth of debt. Israel had $587,637 on hand and no debt, but his main focus has been on raising cash for the DCCC- a task at which he has excelled.
Redistricting Lawsuit Plaintiffs Are Dem Contributors
Feb 2nd - 11:39 am
It’s not a major-league surprise, but it’s worth noting nevertheless worth noting that nearly all of the plaintiffs on the Senate Democrats’ lawsuit aimed at torpedoing LATFOR’s proposed maps are contributors to Senate Democrats.
Board of Elections records show that of the ten people listed as co-plaintiffs on the lawsuit, all but one of them have donated to Democratic Senate candidates or their campaign committee.
The vast majority of the donations have been under $1,000 and have been spread out over the last decade.
Again, not surprising that some people with skin in the game want to see Democrats regain power in the chamber.
Still, the donations highlight that while the public may view redistricting as a opaque and insider process that has little baring on their own pocketbooks, it’s really a story about keeping, maintaining and grasping for power in one of the country’s most important state Legislatures.
The suit filed this week in state Supreme Court singles out the proposed 63rd Senate district that would be carved out of a Republican-heavy area surrounding the Capital Region. The suit says the new seat is blatantly “unconstitutional.” Then there’s the cognitive dissonance of not only small-government Republicans pushing for a literal growth in government, not to mention the loss of two House seats.
Republicans hold a 32-29 majority, with one vacancy. A gerrymandered process would certainly help Republicans keep power for another two years and they’re anxiously waiting to see if Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes good on his veto promise. And while Democrats cloak their language in good-government do-gooderism, independent redistricting helps their cause too, given their enrollment advantage across New York.
Source: Potential Fidler Opponent Will Spend $50K To Defeat Him
Feb 1st - 5:03 pm
Apparently, the anti-Lew Fidler ad that appeared today in a number of downstate Orthodox Jewish newspapers is just the tip of the iceberg for Nachman Caller, a wealthy real estate attorney who has been trying to break into politics for some time now.
The ad, first reported this morning by City&State blogger Chris Bragg, doesn’t mention the Democratic NYC Councilman by name. But it does urge Orthodox Jewish voters to repeat the “Kiddush Hashem” (sanctification of G-d’s name) of electing someone like Republican Rep. Bob Turner who shares “Torah values” and opposes “same-gender marriage.”
What Caller is essentially saying here is that it’s a miztvah to reject a fellow Jew who “tramples” on conservative Orthodox beliefs, and that G-d cares who represents Jews in government. I’ll leave it to you to decide if you’re on board with that one.
A source who spoke to Caller said there’s more where this came from. He’s apparently willing to spend some $50,000 of his own money to defeat Fidler and help his GOP opponent, David Storobin. That could entail buying as many as 10 newspaper ads between now and the March 20th special election for former Sen. Carl Kruger’s seat, or possibly spreading that amount between ads and mailers.
This source also said Caller will definitely be running for Senate himself if Fidler wins. He would be running in the so-called “Super-Jewish” district proposed by the Senate Republicans, assuming their redistricting plan withstands the Democrats’ court challenge.
According to this source, Fidler has a pretty good shot at winning the special election in the current 27th SD. But high percentage of Orthodox Jewish voters in the new district, as conceived by the GOP, would be an uphill battle for him.
Meanwhile, Hamodia, an influential Orthodox Jewish publication, printed a front-page opinion piece warning Fidler he’s treading on “thin ice” by throwing around words like “Nazi” and “white supremacist” in connection with the writings of his opponent, Storobin, whom the paper describes as a “regular shul-goer.”
Storobin’s campaign fought back today by releasing a photo montage of “family members who died fighting the Nazis in World War II and who were murdered by Soviet persecutors for being Jewish.”
Fidler’s campaign seemed to back away from the whole mess, saying through a spokeswoman: “With a long record of experience and results to run on, Councilman Fidler wants this campaign to be about what the community needs, not Mr. Storobin’s peculiar internet relationships.”
In other 27th SD news. A number of Russian-speaking residents of the district showed up at the LATFOR hearing in Brooklyn today to protest the GOP’s plan to carve it up. They held signs urging the Republicans not to split up the community and added their voices to the litany of people calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to veto the Senate and Assembly maps.
Rallying Behind Carlucci (Updated)
Feb 1st - 3:10 pm
Village of Suffern Mayor Dagan LaCorte sent an email last night to local Democratic leaders and elected officials announcing his early endorsement of freshman Sen. David Carlucci and denouncing reports that his re-election is opposed by some fellow party members due to his defection to the IDC – a move that could spark a primary challenge.
“The 2012 campaign is beginning in earnest and it’s important that we get out early behind our senator, David Carlucci,” wrote LaCorte, who said he was “disturbed” by reports of an anti-Carlucci push-poll received by Democrats in Rockland and Orange counties back in December.
“There is no doubt about David’s fundamental commitment to progressive values and it has shown in his work as a Senator,” LaCorte continued. “His decision to join the Independent Democratic Conference was a reflection of those values – transparency in government and high ethical standards.”
“As an IDC member, David has been an effective champion for us, working with Governor Cuomo to reform state government, expand civil rights and invest in public education and environmental protection. And, yes, he has worked with elected leaders on both sides of the aisle when it was in the best interest of our community. On a personal note, David has always been accessible to the citizens of the Village of Suffern. It has been an honor and privilege to work with him.”
It’s important to send a clear message to the Conservatives and Republicans, the public and, sadly, some Democrats in Albany, that Rockland Democrats are united behind David Carlucci. I’m endorsing David’s re-election TODAY; if you want to join me please respond to this e-mail or call me at 845-XXX-XXXX. Together, we can return a strong, independent Democrat to the State Senate to work with Governor Cuomo to keep the promise of New York for families and our community.”
That anonymous push-poll had questioned Carlucci’s progressive crendentials and slammed him for abandoning “the most influential African-American leader the State Senate has ever seen” (presumably that’s Minority Leader John Sampson?)
The call also suggested Clarkstown Councilwoman and Democratic National Committee member Stephanie Hausne was planning to primary Carlucci. That threat seems to have disappeared. But more recently, there has been speculation that Town of Ramapo Councilman Patrick Withers might challenge the former Clarkstown clerk.
The reader who forwarded me LaCorte’s email noted an element of political intrigue here. The Rockland County Democratic Party is chaired by Kristen Stavisky, whose husband, consultant Evan Stavisky is closely allied with the Senate Democrats. (Not only does his firm, The Parkside Group, do a lot of work for the DSCC, but his mother is Queens Democratic Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky).
” Some locals thinks she’s in cahoots with the Senate Dems to screw David even though locals love him,” the reader wrote. “So the local elected Dems want to be sure that everyone understands a primary is not viable. I do not think that Kristen Stavisky is trying to take David out but the rumor mill is full tilt, which she should shut down because it’s bad for her.”
Actually, this whole scheme doesn’t make any sense because the Senate Dems are walking a fine line with the IDC. If the outcome of the re-match for control of the chamber this fall is very close, the four independent Democrats could be in a position to be kingmakers. Both the Republicans, who have gone out of their way to help the IDC, and the Democratic conference are hopeful the IDC will either remain independent but open to supporting a GOP leader or return to the fold, respectively.
UPDATE: Another twist…I’m reminded that Parkside ran – “soup to nuts” – Carlucci’s campaign (in his pre-defection days). Now-Sen. Mike Gianaris, who ran virtually uncontested in 2010, was heavily involved in that race, too. So Carlucci’s decision to abandon the Democrats had an extra sting to it for the DSCC chairman. Carlucci’s victory was one of just two Republican-to-Democrat wins in a big GOP year. The other was Sen. Tony Avella’s defeat of Ex-Sen. Fank Padavan, and Parkside ran that one, too.
Also, the Republicans are supposedly interested in challenging Carlucci and the other IDCers. But again, given the IDC’s potential kingmaker role after the November elections makes it difficult for me to believe a well-funded opponent will be supported by the GOP powers that be.
Krueger On Kruger: ‘Poster Child’ For No Bad Apples
Feb 1st - 1:17 pm
Sen. Liz Krueger announced last night on “Inside City Hall,” the nightly political show of our sister station, NY1, that NYC Councilman Lew Fidler is the first candidate to be formally endorsed by her reform PAC, No Bad Apples.
Fidler is running in the March 20 special election for the seat vacated by former Sen. Carl Kruger, who was forced to resign when he pleaded guilty last month to felony federal corruption charges.
Kruger and Krueger co-chaired the Finance Committee when the Democrats briefly controlled the Senate, and to say that they didn’t get along terribly well is a massive understatement. The situation was only exacerbated by the fact that their names are virtually identical.
(In the press release announcing No Bad Apples’ endorsement of Fidler, Krueger went out of her way to note that she and Kruger are, in fact, “unrelated”).
“The irony for No Bad Apples is we didn’t know that we would be involved in a special election,” Krueger told “Inside City Hall” host Errol Louis. “But really, what example than a great, existing City Council member of integrity to replace Carl Kruger, who perhaps was a poster child for what a bad apple was.”
Krueger did not say specifically what No Bad Apples, which she launched last summer, will be doing for Fidler. The PAC spent more than it raised over the past six months, but still has $78,942 on hand.
Krueger lauded Fidler’s 10 year record in the City Council of “working thoughtfully and intelligently” on “big-picture issues,” adding: “You can’t find anybody who has anything bad to say about Lew Fidler.”
Actually, you can. A rabbi who supports his Republican special election opponent, David Storobin, had quite a few choice words for Fidler yesterday (and vice versa).
Also, members of the Orthodox Jewish community are also mobilizing against the Brooklyn Democrat, saying his support of same-sex marriage makes him unfit to represent them – an argument similar to the one the same community made (successfully) against Assemblyman David Weprin when he lost the NY-9 special to Republican Bob Turner.
Krueger seemed quite convinced that Fidler will be joining her in Albany after March 20. But his time there might be short-lived. The Senate GOP’s redistricting plan called for eradicating Kruger’s former district, the 27th SD. Whoever wins the special election will have to run again in a primary and a general election in the new so-called “Super-Jewish” district that has a far higher concentration of Orthodox voters the 27th SD currently does.
The Senate map redrew Fidler into Minority Leader John Sampson’s district, but he told The Politicker:
“Whatever ultimately happens with the lines, I will be running for re-election to the State Senate this November from a district that includes neighborhoods that currently dominate the 27th Senate District.”
Shooting The Messenger
Jan 30th - 8:36 am
ICYMI: Sen. Mike Gianaris is pushing back very strongly against the growing belief that a deal is in the works for a constitutional amendment that would reform redistricting in time for the 2022 election cycle, but leave the current partisan process in place for this year’s elections.
The idea that time has run out for reform this year, coupled with the suggestion that a promised veto from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s would not deliver the kind of structural change advocates are seeking, was floated last week by Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey.
As CapCon’s Jimmy Vielkind pointed out, support from a prominent goo-goo like Dadey (not to mention the New York Times editorial page, which so far is holding out for a Cuomo veto of the LATFOR maps), could provide the governor with some cover as he seeks a solution to the redistricting conundrum.
But that, of course, would (not to put too fine a point on it) screw the Senate Democrats, who are fighting to regain the majority this fall – a quest complicated by the GOP’s extremely gerrymandered plan.
Gianaris, who chairs the Senate Democrats’ fundraising arm, suggested during a CapTon interview last Friday night, that Dadey is off the reservation on this one, telling me:
“You know as well as I do that’s a lone voice in the good government community. The overwhelming number of people in that community are speaking out loudly that reform needs to happen now.”
“Mayor Koch, who was formerly aligned with people who are making that suggestion, has made it clear that he would prefer a gubernatorial veto so we can have reform now, that a constitutional amendment kicks the can down the road.”
“It’s a promise for future consideration, which, if the Republicans couldn’t keep their promise from before November of 2010 ’til January of 2011, why should we believe that they’ll keep their promise to make a second passage and put it up for a referendum on an amendment years from now?”
“It’s obviously a tactic that’s designed to avoid the problem entirely.”
Maybe. Another big goo-goo redistricting player, Common Cause New York, has been very outspoken in its opposition to LATFOR’s maps, and is planning another public condemnation after the commission’s public hearing today.
But when I asked Common Cause’s Susan Lerner last week whether her organization is planning a legal challenge, she adopted a wait-and-see attitude that I found surprising, considering the vehemence of her rejection of LATFOR’s plan.
Wright Hires Darrison
Jan 27th - 2:41 pm
This actually popped up in my in-box yesterday, but I was up to my eyeballs in redistricting maps and unable to get to it…Assemblyman Keith Wright has signed on with fundraiser Cindy Darrison for the 2012 election cycle.
I received an email from Darrison announcing a fundraiser for Wright 2012 at the Victory Cafe in Albany next Monday night (which is, for the record, a legislative session night; reformers have been pushing for years to ban political fundraisers from being held on session nights, but to no avail).
Wright is one of a number of Manhattan Democrats jockeying for position in case Rep. Charlie Rangel might finally decide to retire. (Not this year, so far, but there’s time yet; let’s see what his district looks like when LATFOR gets done with it).
As chairman of the Manhattan Democratic Party, he’s also believed to have something of a leg up – particularly if Rangel retires mid-term, sparking a special election in which the party leaders, not the voters, would select the nominee. There is some concern among Bronx Democrats that they’ll end up getting the short end of the stick in the redistricting process, providing key voters to keep NY-15 a “black” district, but not getting a commensurate say in the district’s weighted vote.
Darrison told me in an email yesterday that Wright is focused on his re-election campaign. “We are thrilled to be working with Keith,” she said. “He’s just so solid!”
Wright hasn’t done much fundraising to speak of lately. According to his Jan. 15 filing with the state Board of Elections, he raised nothing over the past six months and has $49,642 on hand. He has started a “Wright 2012″ campaign committee, but so far it hasn’t filed any reports.
Darrison is a veteran Democratic fundraiser. Her past client list includes former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, former Gov. David Paterson and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Her current list includes Sen. Dan Squadron, a Brooklyn Democrat who has $134,944 in an unspecified campaign committee (he might run for citywide office in NYC in 2013), and $125,875 in his Senate account.
Darrison is also working with Assemblyman Micah Kellner, an Upper East Side Democrat who has $166,513 on hand in his campaign committee as of Jan. 15.
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