Democratic candidate Barry Klein, who is Assemblyman Jonathan Bing's chief of staff, is about to drop out of the race for the Pete Grannis Assembly seat, according to a source familiar with the campaign.
-- Azi Paybarah
Barry is a good guy who acquitted himself well in this race. Unfortunately for him, the timing was wrong. I hope he sticks around. He has a promising future.
Barry showed that the east side establishment yesterday that he would have been the best choice for this seat in terms of both personality and resume. It's too bad, but at least he got his name out there and will undoubtedly be a lot of people's top choice the next time something opens up.
3:51 you are so on target. bing is exactly the kind of shelly hack that spitzer is going to take down. i bet we see his seat open up before maloney's, after shelly is finally deposed and a reformer is made speaker. then bing will be a backbencher and go back to being an insurance lawyer or whatever it is he did before he ran for office.
No one has been talking about the actual voters...I hear there are only 30 or something? Who are they and does anyone know how many are committed and to who?
4:45 - This is not about policy. Barry is a great guy and has a bright future. However, he did not have strong support in the district. I am sure he will work over the next few years to become better known with the community groups and get his name out there for a future run.
For the record, Micah has been out there working since before Barry came along. Some may think of him as a political operator, but he's actually best when he sinks his teeth into an issue. He masters both the issue and the policy implications, getting to know all players. He'll be extremely impressive in the job.
Who said anything about age? I just pointed out that Micah predated Barry in working on issues on the East Side. As I recall -- Julie Hendricks preceded Barry in the job, giving Micah a longer tenure and therefore greater experience. When all is said and done, while Barry is a very smart, very nice guy, Micah has the edge.
Barry Klein is a good guy who serves his boss well. He is 28 years old and will still be under 35 when Jessica Lappin's council seat opens up due to term limits. He has a future.
As for Jonathan Bing, he hardly shoved Barry out the door. He was in a difficult spot since Micah Kellner was on the staff of his 2002 primary and general election campaigns (Ironically many of the same people behind Chamlin were also behind Bing's 2002 primary opponent, Zach Greenhill). Bing owes a lot to both of these talented men. How many three term assemblymembers have proteges who can be legitimate contenders for political office? Bing is hardly an easy mark in the unlikely event Spitzer or anyone else came after him.
Micah has been around longer in than than Barry and being a state committeeman, had existing political support to begin with. Carolyn Maloney has traditionally supported her former employees seeking higher office, Gifford Miller being a prominent example. Once Kellner was able to display broad based support and performed so well at the Sunday caucus the endorsement was only a matter of time. Now the dominos will start to fall.
"One Who Knows" You have posted about 85 comments today under various screen names, from what I can tell, show up on all 3 posts for this race.
Who exactly are you?
You seem to know a lot about Micah Kellner and Carolyn Maloney...and in your blogging and endless attacks, from my opinion, you are only embarrassing the both of them. May I ask who you are?
I THINK THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED. WHAT PROCESS WAS THERE? SHE DECIDED WHO WAS GOING TO RECEIVE THE NOMINATION AND THE GAME WAS OVER. WHY NOT A PRIMARY AND TAKE THE DECISION OUT OF THE BACKROOM?
6:35 is absolutely right. These backroom deals have got to end. It isn't right to take the voters out of the equation just because this elected wants this person or that person. If there is time for a general special election, there should be time for a primary as well.
6:35 and 7:15. The current election law does not allow for a primary in an Assembly, State Senate or Congressional vacancy. The County Committee's of each party choose the nominee for the special election. Whether or not the election law should be changed is another debate but it won't happen before the special election in the 65 AD.
My understanding is that Kellner favors a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Rosenthal that will allow for a primary before these special elections. Until such a bill passes we have to use the system we have.
As for the attacks on Carolyn Maloney, they are completely unfair. Why is it OK for Liz Krueger to weigh in a preference for a candidate and for Maloney not to?
Actually, I've been quite busy today. Probably a hundred people saw me at Scott Stringer's State of the Borough address, and I've just driven up and back to visit a friend in the hospital in Connecticut -- I've got the EZ-Pass bill to prove it! So, sorry to disappoint you, but the blizzard of activity you are attributing to me was simply not possible, and I can prove it. But, speaking of people who have been blogging all day, thanks for finally getting my name spelled right! You get some sleep no yourself -- you've clearly had a lousy 24-hour cycle.
thanks for the point of information, mr. mills. i think people were expressing their dissatisfaction with a selection process that leaves hacks like you in charge of deciding our next assembly member. but you are correct in your understanding of election law.
Barry is a good guy who acquitted himself well in this race. Unfortunately for him, the timing was wrong. I hope he sticks around. He has a promising future.
That's because Spitzer is going after his boss.
Barry is a good man with a promising future. Cute, too!
Barry showed that the east side establishment yesterday that he would have been the best choice for this seat in terms of both personality and resume. It's too bad, but at least he got his name out there and will undoubtedly be a lot of people's top choice the next time something opens up.
that was quick!
3:51 you are so on target. bing is exactly the kind of shelly hack that spitzer is going to take down. i bet we see his seat open up before maloney's, after shelly is finally deposed and a reformer is made speaker. then bing will be a backbencher and go back to being an insurance lawyer or whatever it is he did before he ran for office.
carolyn: get your boy out.
bing: yes, ma'am!
No one has been talking about the actual voters...I hear there are only 30 or something? Who are they and does anyone know how many are committed and to who?
This is too bad. Barry was a good guy. It looks like Maloney is clearly queen of the roost when it comes to Bing's loyalty.
All roads seem to point to Kellnerville on that score.
What policy reasons did Maloney give in her support of Kellner, as she pushed Klein out the door? Barry is CLEARLY more qualified for this seat.
4:45 - This is not about policy. Barry is a great guy and has a bright future. However, he did not have strong support in the district. I am sure he will work over the next few years to become better known with the community groups and get his name out there for a future run.
For the record, Micah has been out there working since before Barry came along. Some may think of him as a political operator, but he's actually best when he sinks his teeth into an issue. He masters both the issue and the policy implications, getting to know all players. He'll be extremely impressive in the job.
Micah is even younger than Barry. Give me a BREAK that Micah is more qualified!!
"This is not about policy."
I certainly hope that is not Micah's campaign slogan.
Who said anything about age? I just pointed out that Micah predated Barry in working on issues on the East Side. As I recall -- Julie Hendricks preceded Barry in the job, giving Micah a longer tenure and therefore greater experience. When all is said and done, while Barry is a very smart, very nice guy, Micah has the edge.
We've got a battle royal on our hands: Kellner v. Murphy.
Has Barry officially gotten out of this race, or has Micah's henchmen just fed Azi a rumor?
Barry Klein is a good guy who serves his boss well. He is 28 years old and will still be under 35 when Jessica Lappin's council seat opens up due to term limits. He has a future.
As for Jonathan Bing, he hardly shoved Barry out the door. He was in a difficult spot since Micah Kellner was on the staff of his 2002 primary and general election campaigns (Ironically many of the same people behind Chamlin were also behind Bing's 2002 primary opponent, Zach Greenhill). Bing owes a lot to both of these talented men. How many three term assemblymembers have proteges who can be legitimate contenders for political office? Bing is hardly an easy mark in the unlikely event Spitzer or anyone else came after him.
Micah has been around longer in than than Barry and being a state committeeman, had existing political support to begin with. Carolyn Maloney has traditionally supported her former employees seeking higher office, Gifford Miller being a prominent example. Once Kellner was able to display broad based support and performed so well at the Sunday caucus the endorsement was only a matter of time. Now the dominos will start to fall.
"One Who Knows" You have posted about 85 comments today under various screen names, from what I can tell, show up on all 3 posts for this race.
Who exactly are you?
You seem to know a lot about Micah Kellner and Carolyn Maloney...and in your blogging and endless attacks, from my opinion, you are only embarrassing the both of them. May I ask who you are?
I THINK THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED. WHAT PROCESS WAS THERE? SHE DECIDED WHO WAS GOING TO RECEIVE THE NOMINATION AND THE GAME WAS OVER. WHY NOT A PRIMARY AND TAKE THE DECISION OUT OF THE BACKROOM?
6:35 is absolutely right. These backroom deals have got to end. It isn't right to take the voters out of the equation just because this elected wants this person or that person. If there is time for a general special election, there should be time for a primary as well.
6:35 and 7:15. The current election law does not allow for a primary in an Assembly, State Senate or Congressional vacancy. The County Committee's of each party choose the nominee for the special election. Whether or not the election law should be changed is another debate but it won't happen before the special election in the 65 AD.
Change the rules -- but until then, they're rules we all have to live by.
Sorry Peter if you don't like the posts -- but you're witnessing a game of Rashomon, not the work of a solitary writer.
My understanding is that Kellner favors a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Rosenthal that will allow for a primary before these special elections. Until such a bill passes we have to use the system we have.
As for the attacks on Carolyn Maloney, they are completely unfair. Why is it OK for Liz Krueger to weigh in a preference for a candidate and for Maloney not to?
Brice, go home. Get some sleep buddy. Blogging all day and night, pretending to be dozens of different people, must be quite tiring.
Actually, I've been quite busy today. Probably a hundred people saw me at Scott Stringer's State of the Borough address, and I've just driven up and back to visit a friend in the hospital in Connecticut -- I've got the EZ-Pass bill to prove it! So, sorry to disappoint you, but the blizzard of activity you are attributing to me was simply not possible, and I can prove it. But, speaking of people who have been blogging all day, thanks for finally getting my name spelled right! You get some sleep no yourself -- you've clearly had a lousy 24-hour cycle.
thanks for the point of information, mr. mills. i think people were expressing their dissatisfaction with a selection process that leaves hacks like you in charge of deciding our next assembly member. but you are correct in your understanding of election law.
i think you can blog from your blackberry. what else would one do at a state of the borough address?