A Race, No Matter What
Okay, so maybe there is a real race on the East Side.
After a number of stalwart East Side Democrats have rallied around Micah Kellner for Assembly, Senator Liz Krueger is announcing an endorsement of her aide Susan Chamlin, who is running in the Democratic primary but hasn't ruled out running on a third party line if she loses the nomination.
"She was the first person my Cheif of Staff and I hired," Krueger wrote in a letter to supporters and forwarded to me. "Susan's long record of accomplishment makes her the ideal candidate to fil the very big shoes of Pete Grannis."
Krueger cast Chamlin as the reform-outsider in the race. "I need a colleague in the Assembly who will work with me to advance an agenda of real reform."
The full letter is here.
-- Azi Paybarah
Wow, Liz really let the cat out of the bag on that one. Ever since Chamlin's name emerged in this race it has always been connected to Liz Krueger. In fact, it was clear that she was endorsed by Liz at least a week ago. Now Liz is on her first re-endorsement to counter Micah's two new endorsements this week with more to come.
A 3rd Party candidate on the East Side will fare as well as the 3rd Party candidate did last year on the West Side in the race to replace Scott Stringer. Not well at all.
I always cringe when I hear a female politician described as "outspoken." That's what they called Bella Abzug. What is Chamlin's taste in hats?
Didn't Liz Krueger just spend 2 terms heading the Dem Senate Campaign Committee? Isn't the main job of this position to elect DEMOCRATS to the State Senate.
Given this fact, I find it odd that she would support a candidate who will not rule out running on a 3rd Party line. Is Liz committed to support Chamlin regardless of the outcome of the Democratic nomination?
Liz better watch out if she plans on supporting this woman on an independent line should she ultimately not be the Democratic nominee.
The East Side grassroots will remember at election time such an act of treachery.
Yes, there is a race afterall. Susan and Micah are both running for office still.
As for Liz supporting Susan, where has the staff been this last week? The entire discussion has been about Liz's support for Susan in the face of Carolyn's support of Micah.
What is interesting is the endorsements of people who don't have a horse in the race, but who have influence. One such person is Jessica Lappin. Indeed, this endorsement single handly hands to Kellner a major coup with regard to the county committee vote.
As for a 3rd party candidate? The Working Families Party ran Silvia against Brian this year. Silvia got less votes than the Republican.
The winner of the County Committee will be the winner of the special election. That person is going to be Micah Kellner.
Primary? Azi, are you smoking crack?
We know what Azi meant, the county committee vote -- which is not a primary vote.
I wish Liz and Susan had done something in their five years in power in the legislature to try to change special election law, or at least to join their own county committee! Now it seems like they're both just determined to play spoilers if they don't get their way with the Democratic Party.
"Susan's long record of accomplishment makes her the ideal candidate to fil the very big shoes of Pete Grannis."
It is fill*
Oooo Ouch it is Chief* of staff too!
Personally, I would take the endorsement of a Congresswoman who has represented the entire Assembly district for more than 14 years and the endorsement of a popular City Councilwoman who represents all but 6 blocks of the A.D. over that of a State Senator who represents maybe 2/3rds of the A.D., any time, any day. I wonder what other endorsements will be following.
The last time Carolyn Maloney and Liz Krueger engaged in an endorsement battle it was over the assembly seat in the neighboring 73rd in 2002. Liz, along with Pete Grannis and Eva Moskowitz supported Zach Greenhill over Jonathan Bing who was endorsed by Carolyn. Bing won and Liz basically disappeared from involvement in the local scene unless it was to support candidates Carolyn and Jonathan had already endorsed. Everyone knows Eva's fate as all the East Side political players got behind Scott Stringer when she ran for Borough President.
Guess Liz is back for round two. One would have thought she had learned her lesson the last time.
The constant, anonymous attacks are pathetic.
Please folks, whoever you are, stop it with the personal attacks on Lonnie, or anybody else for that matter. He is just a man trying to do his job, keep his family happy, and raise his kid. Pointing out inconsistencies among candidates, or their differences, is one thing, but attacking those helping for or working for them is just unnecessary, bullying behavior. Unless, of course, it's Karl Rove!
The cruel personal attacks coming out of this campaign are very sad. I say let's keep Grannis there 'til he drops.
As someone who was attacked on this blog the other day, I second Brice Peyre's comments.
Let's all listen to Brice and stop the attacks. WHat a swell guy he is to be so mature about all this. Too bad he can't control the other people running Micah's campaign.
SUSAN'S PEOPLE ATE MY BAGELS! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, you too?
I never bothered to join County Committee or try to change the law, but now it all seems so unfair! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
Cruel Comments? PLEASE! Grannis has spent 30 years acting as though he is better than the local democratic clubs in his district and so has Kruger.
Maybe if either of them had bothered to work with the Lenox club like Carolyn Maloney and Jessica Lappin have, their candidate wouldn't be drowning. They both deserve everything they have coming!
Will Liz take her bat and ball and finally -- finally -- go away when her third party candidate loses?
How embarassing many of these comments are to the East Side.
Doesn't Micah work in Bill Thompson's office?
Now that I've read these blogs, I can certainly see why respected elected's like grannis and kruger don't want to deal with the people at these clubs.
"Will Liz take her bat and ball and finally -- finally -- go away when her third party candidate loses?
Posted by: anonymous | February 16, 2007 9:38 AM"
LIZ WILL LOSE HER PRIMARY IN 2008. Then she'll regret not payin' proper dues to the Lenox and Lex clubs!!!!
"LIZ WILL LOSE HER PRIMARY IN 2008. Then she'll regret not payin' proper dues to the Lenox and Lex clubs!!!!" Are the members of these clubs on drugs?
Senator Krueger is rightly considered one of the leading reformers in Albany, strongly supported by Governor Spitzer, respected by her colleagues and good government groups around the state and appreciated by her district.
I was directed to read this bizarre thread by a friend. As a member of the Lex Club...I am horrified, and will not rejoin.
Dear 5:46: Liz? A reformer? The woman who was so annoying that her co-horts tossed her out of the leadership? This is a joke, right?
Someone seems to know a lot about the history of Carolyn Maloney's endorsements.... and who likes to attack Grannis and Krueger. All different people...I'm sure:
That blew the lid off of hooey | February 15, 2007 3:32 PM
Yoda | February 15, 2007 3:41 PM
MCP | February 15, 2007 3:43 PM
Inquiring Minds Want to Know | February 15, 2007 3:52 PM
Watch out Liz | February 15, 2007 3:53 PM
Lonnie Needs Help | February 15, 2007 5:03 PM
Do the Math | February 15, 2007 5:38 PM
No Competition | February 15, 2007 5:51 PM
Suzy Q | February 16, 2007 1:08 AM
In The Know | February 16, 2007 8:33 AM