SD-ALL: Skelos Puts Bullseyes On Certain Senate Democrats

by: robert.harding

Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 16:48:46 PM EST

Courtesy of Liz:

There were also Republican successes, albeit slightly less high-profile, in Monroe, Erie and Onondaga counties, Skelos noted, all of which are home to marginal Democrats who have been in the GOP crosshairs in the past.

   "If you're Bill Stachowski, Dave Valesky, Darrel Aubertine, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Craig Johnson or Brian Foley, I think you have some cause for concern," Skelos told me yesterday.

   "We've had people approaching us and asking to run against Democratic incumbents whereas in the past we've had to go out and seek candidates to run," the senator continued. "Even some candidates who maybe fell a little short, we're going to look at all of them. Some of them ran terrific campaigns and perhaps are ready to go for the Senate."

So if we go by what Skelos is saying, his targets are clear: SD-3, SD-7, SD-35, SD-48, SD-49 and SD-58.

Without challengers, it will be tough to gauge just how vulnerable those six seats are. Keep in mind that Skelos gave us Barbara Donno in SD-7 last year, so it's not as if Skelos has a good record to work with. He was, after all, the leader when the Republicans lost the majority last year.

SD-35: What The Hell Is Going On In Westchester?

by: phillip anderson

Thu May 22, 2008 at 10:41:51 AM EDT

What gives?

SD-35: Spano Takes A Pass On Round III

by: phillip anderson

Thu May 08, 2008 at 14:43:52 PM EDT

Nick Spano says no to a campaign in 2008!

Former state Sen. Nicholas Spano just called to say he has decided NOT to run for his old seat this fall, leaving the GOP in search of another candidate to take on Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

"This was a very difficult decision." Spano, 54, told Politics on the Hudson. "As my father would always tell me, never go back, always move forward."

Spano confessed that the 35th Senate District's changing demographics and strong Democratic enrollment played a role in his decision not to run. But he insisted the key factor was his desire to "smell the roses" a bit longer.

"I will focus my attention right now on things I've never been able to do before, like spend time with my wife, my kids and the family," Spano said.

That leaves Mary Mahon as the only declared GOP challenger to freshman state Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. This seat was supposed to be one of Bruno's top targets this cycle. Now it looks as if Stewart-Cousins is very much in the driver's seat.

SD-23, SD-35: Challengers for Savino and Stewart-Cousins?

by: phillip anderson

Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 15:28:49 PM EST

First, Azi is reporting that City Hall staffer Fred Kreizman is contemplating a run against SD-23 Senator Diane Savino.

According to two Republican sources, City Hall staffer Fred Kreizman is considering a run for state Senate on their line against Democrat Diane Savino, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Kreizman works in the Community Assistance Unit and has previously taken some time off from work to help Republican state Senate candidate Maureen O'Connell on Long Island, who lost her special election race earlier this year to Democrat Craig Johnson.

He's not the only republican considering a challenge according Azi's GOP source.

One of the two Republican sources I spoke with said Kreizman is still contemplating whether to run, and that there are other Republican candidates who are looking to enter the race.

Interesting. Next, Liz is reporting that former LIRR attorney, Mary Mahon may be about to make a run at the SD-35 seat held by freshman Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

The Long Island Railroad's former top lawyer, who is suing the Spitzer administration for allegedly firing her for purely political purposes, has a new target: Democratic Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Mary Mahon, an ex-Pataki appointee, has quietly started making calls to supporters to announce her intent to challenge Stewart-Cousins in the 35th SD this year, and recently launched a campaign Web site.

She has also retained a fundraiser: Patrick Donohue, who formerly worked to Pataki's ex-fundraiser, Cathy Blaney, but is now out on his own shaking the trees on behalf of a wide range of clients - including Democratic 2009 comptroller candidate/Councilwoman Melinda Katz.

In December, Mahon filed a a lawsuit against MTA boss Elliot Sander, alleging she was fired in a round of political housekeeping.

One of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's first acts on Day One was to sign an executive order that prohibited his agency and authority heads from considering political affiliation as a condition of employment or when awarding state contracts.

The battle for the state Senate '08 is officially on.

Nick Spano Wants Your Feedback

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 15:34:56 PM EST

Throughout the past year, I have been approached by numerous people who have urged me to try to reclaim the Senate seat I held for 20 years. While I have not yet reached a decision, I do know that a Senate run is not possible without candid feedback from you.

This website will allow me to share my thoughts with you while collecting the opinions of the people who will ultimately help me to make this crucial decision.

As you know, I spent my entire adult life representing Westchester County in the State Capitol. I'm sure that it will come as no surprise that I miss the challenges of the State Legislature. I miss the competition, and I miss the fight!  My passion is and always will be improving the quality of life for our children and families.

When Governor Eliot Spitzer and Andrea Stewart-Cousins ran in 2006, they ran on a platform that everything would change on "Day One." I have refrained from making any commentary about their performances thus far but now, I would like to hear from the citizens of our county.  Do you think things have changed?  Are we being well-represented in Albany?  Should I consider a return to the Senate?

I know this is an unusual request but I am interested in your evaluation of Senator Cousins' performance and ability to deliver for the 35th Senate District. Please e-mail me at  nick@nickspano.com

Maybe you'd like to remind him of this:

Welcome to Westchester County, the Deep South of New York State.
That's the message supporters of powerful Republican State Sen. Nick Spano gave to hundreds of black and Hispanic Westchester residents on Election Day with an ugly campaign of voter intimidation at several polling sites.

"For most of the day, it felt like I was in the South," said one Democratic Party lawyer.

...

The worst example was seen at the Police Athletic League gymnasium on North Broadway in Yonkers, a largely minority neighborhood.

A large throng of Republican volunteers, many of them wearing Yonkers Fire Department shirts and union caps, gathered inside the polling place and repeatedly challenged the signatures of many of those coming in to vote, said Frank Streng, a White Plains attorney who visited the North Broadway site in the late afternoon as a Democratic Party legal monitor.

The widespread challenges led to long lines of angry black voters. Eventually, Streng convinced police and county election officials to show up and reduce the number of Republican poll-watchers. The law allows only three per election district.

...

The leaders of this union of mostly black and Hispanic workers did everything they could to defeat a progressive black woman Democratic candidate in Westchester. They did so even as their Republican allies in that race were intimidating black voters.

nick@nickspano.com