Daniel Squadron is Turning 30

by: Roatti

Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 01:54:20 AM EDT

Very few politicians actually follow through on their campaign promises, but Squadron is one of those rare portraits of integrity.  He could have taken his victory and the perks of incumbency and faded into obscurity like so many of his colleagues.  But as a Freshman Senator, he is actually actively trying to change Albany.

For his birthday, he is having a fundraising party.  The few reformers in Albany need to know that we have their back- I highly recommend checking it out:

SSD-25: Schumer Endorses Squadron

by: Roatti

Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 19:49:21 PM EDT

This is great, but any gain from Schumer will likely be offset by every other New York Democrat endorsing Connor.  But it still gives the newcomer Squadron a big boost of legitimacy.  

(Full disclosure- I have donated to Squadron's campaign)

SSD-25: Diamandstone Considering Run

by: Roatti

Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 23:55:17 PM EDT

I have heard that Ken Diamondstone has addressed the Lambda Independent Democrats tonight and is considering tossing his hat into the ring for a SSD-25 rematch.  

Ordinarily, this would be a good idea, because the incumbent, Martin Connor, has taken many positions over the years that are unbecoming to a Democrat in such a blue district.  

However, there is already a progressive alternative in this race, who has already raised tons of money with a wide donor base, and even more importantly, has already captured the Working Families Party endorsement.  That candidate is Dan Squadron.  

This diary is not a hit job on Ken Diamandstone- rather, I have a lot of respect for the guy- he is  a lifelong community activist, who is on the right side of just about every issue.  However, he ran against Connor last time, spent a ton of his own money, and wasn't able to pull off the victory.  

If he were to enter the race this time, he would greatly impede the chances of unseating Connor by obviously splitting the anti-Connor vote, and thus create a legacy that would harm his lifelong commitment to progressive values.  

If Ralph Nader has illustrated anything, it is that decades of fighting the good fight can all be undone by one decision to enter the wrong race.  Squadron is already the progressive alternative in this race.

Diamondstone has every right to run, but I think he would do the right thing to sit this one out.  He is a good progressive, and I hope he will realize that the good progressive move here would be to not split the progressive vote, and instead lend his support to Squadron in order to move our state forward and reform the Democratic Party.  

Meet Dan Squadron

by: Roatti

Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 20:55:46 PM EST

Tonight, I had the privilege of conducting an interview, exclusively for TAP, with the man challenging Martin Connor in the 25th State Senate district.  The content has been edited for grammar and continuity.  Enjoy.

Roatti: What made you decide to run for State Senate?

Daniel Squadron: We need change in the State Legislature. We need more energy, new ideas and real results in Albany to make a real difference in the 25th Senate District and across the state.

R: Why aren't you running for the Assembly where you would be in the majority?

DS: First of all, I fully hope and believe that Democrats will be able to take control of the Senate this year. I also love this District and believe that there is an enormous amount that can be done in any case.  

A Primary Challenger for My State Senator?

by: phillip anderson

Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 16:47:50 PM EDT

A reader who is a Brooklyn Heights resident who lives in Democratic Sen. Marty Connor's district (25th SD) called to report receiving a curious survey phone call yesterday asking his opinion of three Democrats: Connor; housing developer Ken Diamondstone, who ran an unsuccessful primary challenge to Connor last fall; and Dan Squadron, a former aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer who is perhaps best known for co-authoring Schumer's recent book, "Positively American, Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Class At A Time."

The reader said it quickly became clear that the focus of the call was Squadron, who now works for KnickerbockerSKD. (He was hired in May after firm co-founder Micha Lasher departed to work for Rep. Jerry Nadler and contemplate his own potential run for office - probably for the seat of Council member Gale Brewer, who is term-limited out in 2009).

Squadron has never held elected office, but he has worked for both Schumer and another Schumerite, Rep. Anthony Weiner (he ran the field operation for Weiner's 2005 mayoral campaign) - points that were made during the call, according to my source, who said he was asked whether he would be more or less likely to support Squadron if he knew these details.

Neither the Senate Democrats nor the state Democratic Party paid for the call, sources said.

Interesting...