S.I. Democrats Pick Titone for Lavelle's Seat
Here are City Council members James Oddo, a Republican, and Michael McMahon, a Democrat, waiting in Speaker Christine Quinn's office and discussing the special election to fill the seat of late Assembly member John Lavelle.
McMahon said that after a few rounds of balloting last night, the Democrats settled on attorney Matthew Titone to be their candidate. Titone beat out Lavelle's son, John Daniel, Robert Olivari, and Kelvin Alexander.
More on that race here.
-- Azi Paybarah
This is turning out to be a banner day for Stonewall Democratic Club members!
Oliveri got screwed; he would have been a super Assemblyman.
Lavelle's son DANIEL, not John, was seeking the seat.
Why are they saying that Titone's election would be historic?
Titone is openly gay; and it's the one Staten Island seat where this might not kill him.
I wouldnt say Olivari got screwed...Olivari kinda screwed Danny, Danny would have had it if it was not for bob (and Olivari went heavily negative in the press too)
Bob never went heavily in the press attacking Danny but was it was suggested it was him so that people would support anyone but Bob. Even though it was Bob and Danny who had siginificant exec board support it was McMahon that by supporting Titone allowed him to be first in the first round of committee voting which after it was Danny Lavelle (and not Bob Olivari) who struck a deal with Titone to give him the nomination. Danny could have simply said to Matt that he did not have a majority either and since exec board gave him the most votes Titone should back him but he decided to support Titone instead. The events at the meeting were pretty obviously setup to defeat Olivari and ensure that McMahon made a statement that he now controls the party.
In a special election even on the North Shore of Staten Island Titone could lose. If the independent and Independence Party candidate Kelvin Alexander pulls out the minority vote for him and not Titone and the white Irish Catholics in the Shire and Westerleigh have issues with Titone's orientation (which the Advance really hyped today) then this could be a big loss. Besides does anyone think that now that Titone has served his purpose he won't be primaried next year regardless?
Alexander has no chance, he is a joke and will not garner any real support. Unfortunately, minorities vote in very small numbers and even smaller in specials, i doubt Alexander will generate the buzz or the oprganization to pull enough votes. Either Danny or Matt are better candidates than Olivari (who resides in the pocket of the builders)
That was an arguement that was used in opposition to Bob which Matt himself stated was wrong and not part of his campaign. He also critized the people who put flyers on seats attacking Bob on that issue (but for some reason thanked them anyhow)
The highest turnout areas in both of the Democratic primaries that Lavelle had were minority areas. He also won his first general election due to a huge turnout from these areas. Not to mention the fact that Debi Rose almost won the 2001 city council primary based on her African American turnout. It is not as impossible as one thinks and even more so if the current GOP candidate would decline her nomination and was replaced by someone stronger. She got the spot only because the GOP thought Danny Lavelle or Olivari would be the nominee. Since it is Titone they might be regretting her being the candidate.
The nomination of Titone basically continued the Staten Island Lavelle tradition of rewarding hard work and party loyalty with a handshake and a "that-a-boy." McMahon put Titone over the top, but what will that do for the party loyalists. When Lavelle controlled the party, the only person he helped was his son. The same situation will occur with McMahon. McMahon, like Lavelle, never hooked anyone up with a decent job. For example, look how few staff people work up in Albany or in City Hall, yet the Mayor's office is filled with Staten Island Republican hacks.
The highlight of the night was watching Danny Lavelle face reality that he is a no talent hack. He has the ultimate political-no-influence hack job in the Board of Elections. THe Lavelle era is final over.
On election night 2001, McMahon and his robots were shaking in their boots, when they discovered how close Debi Rose got to beating him. THe point is that the Democratic Party on Staten Island is basically a ghost ship sailing into the St. George Ferry terminal.
McMahon will get a few jobs for his friends on Titone's staff, but the last comment is on point. Lavelle and McMahon really never hooked anybody up with a good job. There are very few people from Staten Island that work in the Assembly or Senate Central Staff, in the governor's office, or in City Hall.
Lavelle and McMahon never did anything for the Staten Island Young Democrats that campaigned for them. John Lavelle made sure that his son got an easy patronage job and McMahon ensured that his wife would become a Judge. Other that that the rest of the Staten Island Democrats will be on the bread line.
titone owes nothing to mcmahon. wait, watch and see...
Watch and see and McMahon no longer owes Titone anything either. He served his purpose (blocking Olivairi from winning) and unless Titone tows the line and supports McMahon going forward he will be primaried as well.