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Felder’s Ferocious Fundraising (Updatedx2)
May 8th - 7:48 am
Ever since his low-key announcement last month that he’ll run for Senate this fall in the new so-called “super Jewish” district, Simcha Felder has focused on fundraising in hopes of putting up a big enough number come July to scare off any would-be opponents.
Over the last week alone, Felder, who took time off his job as a deputy in NYC Comptroller John Liu’s office to focus on shaking the money trees, received pledges and checks for some $200,000, according to a source familiar with his efforts.
Combined with the $300,000 and change he’s already got in the bank, that brings Felder’s total within spitting distance of the half million mark. And that will only likely grow by the time the July 15 filing is due at the state Board of Elections.
Below is a copy of an opinion obtained in March by Felder’s campaign attorney, Leo Glickman, from the NYC Conflicts of Interest Board that indicates the former NYC councilman is not prohibited from raising campaign cash (on his own time) for a state or federal office the way he would be if he were running for another city post.
Felder’s candidacy has generated a lot of interest because he has been coy about who he’ll support for leader in the event of another closely divided Senate chamber. Officially speaking, Felder says he’ll work with whoever will most help his district.
But City&State has reported while Felder would likely caucus with his fellow Democrats, he would also probably cast a tie-breaking vote – if necessary – for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos over Minority Leader John Sampson.
UPDATE: An astute (GOP) reader notes the tie-breaking issue is moot, thanks to the state’s highest court, which upheld the creation of a 63rd seat.
UPDATE2: Writes a (Democratic) reader: “If without Felder it is 31 to 31, then Felder indeed does have the tie-breaking vote.” The possibility of that seems slim though, thanks to the four-member IDC, which could side with Skelos if the choice is between him and Sampson. Sen. Jeff Klein has made it pretty darn clear he won’t ever back Sampson as majority leader again.
It has also been reported that Skelos will back – most likely tacitly from behind the scenes – Felder over any other Republicans in the race, if any should actually declare once they realize the lack of support for their candidacies.
So far, Felder is the only formally announced candidate running.
But businessman Nachman Caller has expressed interest in running on the GOP line and said (through an advisor) that he’ll seed his campaign with $100,000 of his own cash.
There’s also the question of what David Storobin will do after a victor is finally declared in the too-close-to-call race in which he is battling Democratic NYC Councilman Lew Fidler for ex-Sen. Carl Kruger’s old seat.
Linares Going ‘All The Way’ In Senate Run
May 7th - 7:46 am
I spoke briefly last night to Assemblyman Guillermo Linares after he sent out a statement formally announcing his long-speculated run for Sen. Adriano Espaillat’s upper Manhattan seat.
When I asked if he planned to stay in the race regardless of the outcome of Espaillat’s primary challenge to Rep. Charlie Rangel, Linares assured me – twice – that he’s in “all the way” to the end of the campaign.
In other words, even if Espaillat fails to oust Rangel and takes advantage of the fact that the Legislature hasn’t changed the state primary date (Sept. 11) to coincide with the federal primary date (Jun 26) to seek re-election to his current seat, Linares plans to run.
That’s a gamble for Linares, because he could find himself out of a job come September if he fails to win the Senate primary.
Again, thanks to the Senate GOP’s unwillingness to go along with the Assembly Democrats’ desire to change the state primary date, Linares has no fallback and must give up his current seat to run for higher office.
Espaillat vs. Linares would surely be a grudge match between two longtime frenemies. (I believe they’re currently in an off cycle in their on-again/off-again relationship).
Espaillat hasn’t yet pledged not to exploit that primary loophole if he loses his bid against Rangel.
His 2010 rival, District Leader and Barack Obama Democratic Club founder Mark Levine, appears to be the senator’s pick to succeed him in the Senate should he move on to the House.
There is widespread speculation that Levine would step aside is Espaillat wants to run for his old seat. But if he didn’t, there would be a three-way battle for it between Levine, Espaillat and Linares – a potentially ugly situation that would likely benefit the incumbent.
Levine has a back-up plan. In February, he created a campaign committee to raise money for a 2013 potential bid for term-limited NYC Councilman Robert Jackson’s seat. (A number of people are apparently eyeing that seat, and Jackson is preparing for a Manhattan BP run that year).
I asked Linares if he plans to endorse Rangel. He side-stepped that question, saying he’s currently focused on his own race.
Brief history:
Linares, a former Bloomberg administration official, is currently holding Espaillat’s old Assembly seat. Espaillat is currently holding AG Eric Schneiderman’s old Senate seat. Linares challenged Schneiderman in 2002 when the district was redrawn to be more Latino, and lost.
Legislative Ethics Commission: Espada Must Pay $80K
May 4th - 5:30 pm
We’re still awaiting a decision from the jury in former Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr.’s federal corruption trial, but we do have some (more bad) news to report about the embattled former Bronx Democratic lawmaker.
With very little fanfare, the state Legislative Ethics Commission posted a decision and notice of civil assessment on its website today, fining Espada $80,000. 18 (can’t forget those 18 cents) for “knowingly and willfuly” violating the Public Officers Law by participating in the hiring of his uncle, Juan Feliciano Jr., to an $80,000-a-year “special assistant” post with the Senate.
That fine includes restitution for the $70,000.18 Feliciano received in salary (he was only on the Senate payroll for 11 months), plus a $10,000 fine.
Last December, the commissioner first issued a notice alleging Espada was guilty of two violations Public Officers Law, each punishable by a fine of up to $40,000 or, if the commission so chose, referrable for prosecution as a criminal misdemeanor.
Of course, Epsada currently has much bigger legal fish to fry, since the feds have accused him of embezzling millions of taxpayer dollars from the Soundview Health Network he founded in the Bronx. A $80,000 job for a relative seems like small potatoes, by comparison.
According to the commission, Espada never responded to its formal notice of investigation, issued in November 2009, nor did he appear or submit evidence to the hearing at which the commission presented evidence that Feliciano and the former senator are indeed related and the familial connection between them was the reason Feliciano landed his taxpayer-funded job.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Espada-in-new-ethics-tangle-2426171.php#ixzz1twFNIG9O
Monserrate’s Plea Agreement
May 4th - 4:29 pm
Former Sen. Hiram Monserrate plead guilty today in federal court to two counts of public corruption that he used his funds steered to a Queens community group to fund his 2006 run for Senate.
Monserrate, a Queens Democrat expelled from the Senate following a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a fight with his girlfriend, admitted to using $109,000 in city money earmarked for Latino Initiative for Better Resources and Empowerment, Inc. in his city council district.
He pleaded to one count of mail fraud and an additional county of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. He faces 21 to 27 months in prison and will be sentenced on Sept. 14. He could also pay a fine of up to $50,000, according to the plea agreement.
Our NY1 colleague Zack Fink, who has at the court proceedings today, reports that Monserrate did not make any formal statements.
The guilty plea is yet another victory for U.S. Attorney Preet Bhara, who has made a point of pursuing public corruption cases, especially those that involve current and former Albany politicians.
“Sadly, Monserrate took money out of the pockets of needy people to fund his own political career,” Bhara said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue and prosecute elected officials who foolishly think that they can corruptly use public money for their own benefit.”
Skelos Nudged On Womens’ Issues
May 4th - 12:10 pm
Seven female Senate Democrats have signed a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to back bills on pay equity, reproductive health and domestic abuse.
The letter is the start of a concerted effort the conference is making heading into an election year highlighting their support of womens’ causes, as Senate Democrats hope to draw some of the fire over the so-called “war on women” that has played out so far on the national stage.
The hope, in part, is to at least get Senate Republicans off message and discuss what the GOP base considers politically unsavory topics.
“Women are facing increasing pressure and continued assaults on their hard-won rights to equal treatment and reproductive healthcare,” the lawmakers write in the letter sent to the majority leader’s office this morning. “These attacks are part of a radical agenda that has no place in New York, yet your conference has acted in ways that suggest many of its members share these restrict and frightening views.”
Democrats earlier this year tried to push the conference on abortion rights after Republicans heavily edited a resolution recognizing womens health week.
In general, the minority conference have shuffled their agenda after losing the redistricting battle and pushed the Legislature and governor to address hydrofracking, campaign finance reform and increasing the state’s minimum wage.
Republicans hold a 32 to 29 majority, not counting the four member IDC, which conferences separately.
Women’s Issues Letter to Senator Skelos
Fidler’s Modest Lead (Updated)
May 3rd - 7:03 pm
Democratic Senate candidate Lew Fidler has a 87-vote lead in the endless, too-close-to-call special election to replace former Sen. Carl Kruger.
Fidler’s campaign announced this evening that the ongoing recanvassing gave the city councilman 11,050 votes to David Storobin’s 10,963.
But as Colin Campbell at The NYO ably documented today, Democrats are trying to torpedo any chance of Storobin has of working in Albany in a lawsuit that claims a GOP staffer, Alla Pometko, intentionally collected more than 100 fraudulent ballots.
Both sides were in court today as the recount continued in Brooklyn.
From the Fidler campaign:
“Today, the Board of Elections was finally able to proceed with the long-delayed vote count after Mr. Storobin withdrew the bulk of his bogus challenges to lawfully cast ballots. The result is clear: the voters chose Lew Fidler to be our State Senator.
“While Mr. Storobin’s illegal voting scheme is still being heard in court, it is clear that the majority of lawfully cast ballots were cast for Lew Fidler.
“Lew continues to look forward to the swift conclusion of this count so he can get to work in Albany fighting for our community
From Storobin’s campaign manager, David Simpson:
“There are still more than 130 ballots yet to be counted, almost all of which we expect will be cast for David Storobin and will make him the winner.”
“These ballots are being held up in court by Mr. Fidler’s legal team in an attempt to steal this election by disenfranchising Russian voters on a bogus fraud claim.”
“These votes were cast legally in accordance with election law governing absentee ballots, and we’re proving that in court.”
“After the Fidler campaign exhausts it’s legal maneuvering and the court orders those ballots to be counted, Mr. Fidler’s premature victory claim is going to make him look pretty silly.”
Log Cabin Republicans Raise For Skelos, Senate GOP
May 3rd - 4:01 pm
The Log Cabin Republicans’ PAC is hosting a fundraiser “celebrating” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his fellow Republicans at the Brown Derby in Albany next Monday.
That just so happens to fall on the eve of the Empire State Pride Agenda’s annual lobby day (Tuesday, May 8), which is also known as “Equality & Justice Day.” ESPA is going to make a big push for GENDA, the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act, a transgender rights bill that passed the Assembly for the fifth time last week.
This isn’t the first time the Log Cabin Republicans have held a fundraiser for Skelos et al. In fact, it was at a Log Cabin event back in October 2010 that Skelos – then the minority leader fighting to regain the majority – said that he would recommend his conference let a same-sex marriage bill come to the floor for another up or down vote.
And last summer, after much tortured and behind-the-scenes deliberation and negotiation, Skelos did just that. And we all know how that one turned out.
How They Voted On Bullet Aid Reso
May 2nd - 4:38 pm
Here’s a rundown of how the Senate voted on yesterday’s bullet aid resolution that distributed $9.9 million to school districts in Republican-held territory.
The voted netted the support of 12 Democrats (not counting the four-member IDC), despite the conference’s bitter opposition to the proposal.
There was a little confusion earlier today over Sen. Dan Squadron’s recorded no vote on the contentious budget resolution.
The Brooklyn Democrat had originally said he would vote in favor of the measure on the floor, declaring to Long Island Sen. Lee Zeldin: “I will vote yes on this resolution because I support Senator Zeldin’s children.”
A Senate official claimed Squadron had intended to vote against the proposal and later clarified to the journal clerk.
Video of the whole debate, which starts at the 2:45 mark is below.
No Senate Run For Rudy
May 2nd - 3:25 pm
Rudy S. Giuliani has decided to take a pass on challenging Democratic Sen. Tony Avella, telling me in a brief phone interview this afternoon that “it just didn’t feel like the right time.”
The 28-year-old second cousin of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he was “flattered, humbled even” to be asked to run by the Senate GOP, and surprised by the encouragement he received.
After much consideration and discussion with his family, however, he decided that this isn’t his year – in part because he hasn’t had sufficient time to put together the kind of campaign he want to run some day. (And, having worked on several – including his uncle’s failed presidential bid in 2008 – he has a pretty good idea of what an unsuccessful campaign might look like).
“I was concerned about the timing,” the younger Giuliani said. “It didn’t feel right, and my heart wasn’t 100 percent there yet. If i’m going to go through this, I want to be 100 percent sure.”
“…People told me: This is the year. But I never prepared for a run, never had a team assembled, and when we sat down – it’s doable, don’t get me wrong – but, especially with the attention my name is going to generate, I want to be 100 percent ready to go.”
“Senator Skelos was extremely nice, and offered to help any way he could. But I want to have my own team, my own money.”
Apparently, the Senate Republicans have been trying to get Rudy S. Giuliani to run for something for a while now. Sen. Marty Golden, in particular, brings it up quite a lot.
But, it sounded to me like the younger Giuliani, who is currently working for NYC Council Minority Leader Jimmy Oddo, might be mulling a run closer to home sometime in the not-so-distant future. He told me he really enjoys working at City Hall, adding: “I like city government; it’s what I know best. I’m happy now doing what I’m doing. That all factored in there as well.”
Former Sen. Frank Padavan, who was reportedly mulling a re-match against Avella, is also taking a pass. So it looks like the GOP is back to the drawing board on this race.
Grisanti Campaign Ad Touts UB2020, Ethics Law (But Not You-Know-What)
May 2nd - 10:30 am
Sen. Mark Grisanti is putting his large campaign war chest to good work, releasing a 30-second TV ad today that gives the Buffalo Republican credit for the tax code overhaul, last year’s ethics law and the long sought UB2020 legislation.
Conspicuously absent from the ad: Grisanti’s yes vote for same-sex marriage.
Albany: just two short years ago. Gridlock. Corruption. Western New York ignored. Something had to change and it did, when we sent Mark Grisanti to the state Senate. Mark Grisanti won passage of UB2020, good jobs and a stronger economy for our region. He fought for a tough new ethics law and the lowest tax rates in 50 years.
Grisanti was one of four Republican yes votes for same-sex marriage, a move that cost him support from the Erie County Conservative Party. Grisanti, who won a narrow victory against Sen. Antoine Thompson that ultimately help the GOP gain control of he chamber, represents a Democratic-heavy district.
Like the other GOP lawmakers who voted for the law (Sens. Roy McDonald, Stephen Saland and Jim Alesi) Grisanti is flush with cash from LGBT advocates and other gay marriage supporters who backed the bill.
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