Election, please?

Don't forget the 39th AD (0.00 / 0)

We could use an election here, too!

The Governor doesn't want to call a special election for the 39th AD because the party machine's favored candidate isn't eligible to run (he doesn't live in the district).  I guess they'll have that technicality fixed by the fall, but why are we expected to stand for this?

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by: tg @ Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 04:11:16 AM UTC

Hypocrisy reeks (0.00 / 0)

First of all, I echo tg's comment -- it is absolutely correct.

But wait -- there's more!  Last June, Anthony Seminerio resigned his Assembly seat (also in Queens), and at the insistence of the Queens County Democratic machine the governor called a special election -- specifically because the party machine wanted to freeze out a challenger (Albert Baldeo) to their handpicked candidate (Mike Miller).  It seems that Baldeo had only moved into the district recently, and while he would have been eligible to run in a general election, he was not eligible to run in the special election.  (You may remember that Governor Paterson called the special, then recanted that call, then called it again.)

In other words, the Queens County Democratic machine got a special election for a seat that opened up in June so that an insurgent couldn't run against their handpicked candidate, but they're blocking a special election for a seat that opened up in March so that their handpicked candidate can run against an insurgent.

Hypocrisy, thy names are Joseph Crowley, Michael Reich and Jerry Sweeney.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 13:13:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

More specifics on the 39th AD (0.00 / 0)

The machine-picked candidate is Francisco Moya.  He's a nice enough guy who ran for Hiram Monserrate's City Council seat in February of 2009 and lost by almost a 2-1 margin.

Moya moved into the 39th Assembly District last September.  Under the state constitution, Article III, §7, "No person shall serve as a member of the legislature unless he or she is a citizen of the United States and has been a resident of the state of New York for five years, and ... of the assembly or senate district for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election."

This means that Moya is ineligible to run in a special election called before September, since he will not have satisfied the residency requirement.  Waiting until the general election would give Moya the time to become eligible to run.  And that's why the party machine doesn't want the special election called.

This is almost exactly the opposite of the situation that occurred last year, when the party machine wanted to freeze out a challenger to their anointed candidate (see my comment above).

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 02:22:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

communicating privately!? (4.00 / 1)

"I can't find any sign of counties worrying about the extra costs a special election would impose on them, but maybe they're communicating that privately to Paterson? Or not."

AS IF Patterson really goes out of his way to actually talk to us over here in the boonies. Seriously, what do we have to do to get some representation? It has been a tad frustrating.

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by: c u stageguy @ Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 05:01:26 AM UTC

We need a special election as soon as possible. (4.00 / 1)

We're overwhelmingly likely to lose that district thanks to Massa's flameout, and if we wait until November to do that, it could cause problems downticket.  

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by: Adama D. Brown @ Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 16:08:58 PM UTC

I Believe (0.00 / 0)

That had Massa resigned as of April 1st they could have waited until November to hold the election but prior to that they do have the option.  It isn't fair to the residents of this district but with the Dems not having a candidate I think they should have a fire lit under them.  I'm sure there must be a qualified Dem that currently lives in the district who they can get to run.  

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by: ROSALIE907 @ Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 01:56:07 AM UTC

David Koon (0.00 / 0)

Sounds good to me.  But, given that he would probably lose (thanks, Eric), it is essential that it be a special, so he can keep his Assembly seat, too.

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by: robinia @ Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 02:36:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nope (0.00 / 0)

Koon pulled out today, saying the budget crisis meant he couldn't leave his Assembly responsibilities to run.

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by: Historical Pessimist @ Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 03:56:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Representative candidate doesn't have to live in (0.00 / 0)

the district.  Tedisco didn't.  A winning candidate will move to the district, but I don't think that is required in the NY State constitution. As long as they fill the other requirements for office they can run.

Also, the NY-20 special election was held just 3 months after the start of the 111 Congress.  NY-23's special election was postponed to the regular November election.

That said, it is likely this election is being postponed until a viable Democratic candidate emerges.  With 111th having 9 more months to run, the people of the district should be represented.

Question: Do constituent services continue after a Congressman disappear?

HylasBrook

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by: HylasBrook @ Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 13:12:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Constituent services (0.00 / 0)

Yes they continue even when there is no congressman.  All staff now work for the clerk of the house and all of the normal district services continue.

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by: dmac @ Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 13:30:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well.... (0.00 / 0)

Gillibrand has made a point of telling people that her office is available to help with services in the breach.  And, the one guy I knew who was working for Massa told me in gchat that he is now unemployed and looking for work.... are you sure the staffers are still there in Massa's district offices?

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by: robinia @ Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 01:58:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Huh? (0.00 / 0)

The official position is that nobody was laid off.  You can get a full description at http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/vacancies_pr.html?pr=house&vid=31.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 03:48:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm sure they are still there (0.00 / 0)

the only people who were 'laid off' were the ones working on the campaign.  The office is still up and running--you can call them at 218-0040 and see for yourself.

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by: dmac @ Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 11:30:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Guess he... (0.00 / 0)

...may have been working on the campaign again...before being laid off

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by: robinia @ Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 16:48:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]