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Lieutenant Governor
Samuels Pushes Redistricting Envelope
May 19th - 8:58 am
As Democratic insiders speculate on who AG Andrew Cuomo will pick as his running mate, Bill Samuels is forging ahead with his LG run and keeping the heat on the Senate by calling for “immediate passage” of a bill to create an independent districting commission.
Samuels released a detailed proposal for taking the politics out of the redistricting politics last night at a forum where the topic was hotly debated by himself, attorney Richard Emery and NYC Civic founder Henry Stern, who also co-founded the reform group New York Uprising with former NYC Mayor Ed Koch.
The event also featured a screening of the film “Gerrymandering,” which recently debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and includes an appearance by Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries.
Samuels’ ultimate goal is a constitutional amendment that would make redistricting reform permanent and not subject to the whims of the Legislature, which could amend at will any statute passed to change the system.
Emery agreed, calling the commission bill, sponsored by Sens. Dave Valesky and Craig Johnson “a promise that cannot deliver.”
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Darrison Joins Team St. Lawrence
May 12th - 2:55 pm
Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence is poised to announce this afternoon that veteran Democratic fundraiser Cindy Darrison has signed on to his LG campaign as a senior political advisor.
This is an interesting development as Darrison used to raise money for the presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee, AG Andrew Cuomo, although she parted ways with his campaign last month.
“Throughout her career, Cindy Darrison has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to electing Democrats and strengthening our Democratic Party,” said St. Lawrence.
“Cindy’s extensive experience and expertise in the political arena and her stellar reputation throughout New York State will help further my agenda for good government, and I am very fortunate to have someone of her caliber on my campaign team.”
St. Lawrence’s Big Moment
May 6th - 3:53 pm
Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence was just on national TV speaking at a press conference about the arrest today in his town of former New York Giant Linebacker, Lawrence Taylor (L.T.) after he allegedly raped a teenaged girl at a Holiday Inn.
![St[1]. Lawrence on LT](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4584972574_3044db3e7c_o.jpg)
St. Lawrence is, as you may recall, one of two Democrats running for lieutenant governor. Neither he nor his primary opponent, Bill Samuels, are terribly well-known, although St. Lawrence did get a boost when he won the DRC straw poll in Niagara Falls last weekend.
While the the Taylor case isn’t exactly what one might call “good” press, the opportunity for a local official with statewide aspirations to get his face in front of so many TV cameras is always a good thing – at least from a name-recognition standpoint.
St. Lawrence has said he won’t continue to puruse his LG bid if the presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee, AG Andrew Cuomo, doesn’t pick him as a running mate. Samuels, who is also running to be the Senate president, has said he plans to continue on with his campaign regardless of who Cuomo taps as his No. 2.
Governor-Ready
Apr 29th - 11:54 am
Former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has endorsed the lone announced Republican LG hopeful M. Myers Mermel, touting his “upstate values” and calling him ready to step into the job of governor at a moment’s notice.
“I was a lieutenant governor and became a governor because the governor had to somehow get out of office. You know what? That’s happened a lot, including in New York,” Huckabee says in a video posted on Mermel’s campaign Website today.
“The lieutenant governor needs to be somebody who is ready to take the job and if they take the job, to make sure that they’re going to do the things that will cut taxes, bring jobs to a state and bring responsible, ethical values.”
The whole ready-to-governor thing really begs the question: Why not just aim for the top, then? But anyway…
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Espada Is Bill Samuels’ First Target
Apr 23rd - 12:26 pm
Remember LG wanna-be Bill Samuels and his pledge to launch a $250,000 independent expenditure campaign to elect reform-minded senators?
Well, he has his first target. And it was sort of a no-brainer.
“Pedro Espada represents all that is wrong with state government today,” Samuels said in a press release that announced the scandal-scarred Bronx lawmaker will be the first incumbent targeted by his New Roosevelt Initiative.
“He’s a wealthy guy from one of the wealthiest parts of Westchester who lines his pockets with taxpayer money yet fails to address the real needs of his district – in which he doesn’t even live”
“The people of the 33rd Senatorial District face real challenges getting affordable housing, access to health care and decent schools. But they have a State Senator who takes money intended for health care and uses it to hire family members and cronies instead; who ignores tenants and sides with landlords; and who turns his back on Democratic values so he can cozy up to his rich Republican friends in the State Senate.”
Bill ‘Nice Guy’ Samuels For LG
Apr 12th - 11:21 am
Bill Samuels formally kicked off his LG campaign this morning, pledging to fight in a Democratic primary battle against the running mate of presumptive gubernatorial contender, AG Andrew Cuomo, if necessary.
Samuels is running on a “five pillars of reform” platform (redistricting, member items, outside income etc. – the usual), but insists he’s not a protest candidate and is in the race to win. The one thing he won’t do, however, is fight dirty.
Samuels has hired Ben Kallos (that’s Mr. Open Legislation, to you) to do “research,” stressing that “research” does not mean “oppo,” which he finds “boring.” (Interestingly, Kallos last worked for Mark Green’s 2009 public advocate campaign, during which Green said he swore off oppo, too).
Samuels said he notified Cuomo and Gov. David Paterson that he intends to run for LG, but hasn’t spoken to either of them in detail about his plans. He insisted he will go to the convention next month – “I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, I’m running against the entire party,’” – but will petition he way onto the ballot if necessary.
“I’m sure Cuomo will pick someone who is good and that person will probably have a different definition of how the lieutenant governor can play a constructive roll,” Samuels said. “…And to have a debate on the sate Senate president will be healthy.”
(Samuels also plans on running for the Senate president job, which the LG traditionally holds, presiding over the chamber and breaking ties, if necessary – although there’s been some debate over when he can cast that vote).
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