Now that the S.S. State Senate Republican Majority has capsized, it might just sink even faster into the depths due to retirements. Plenty of Senators are well into their senior years and without the power of being in power, it might just be time to call it quits. So far the rumors have two Senators getting ready to throw the towel in.
From The Daily Politics:
Democrats are already pushing the story that at least one - and potentially two - Senate Republicans may be poised to consider mid-term retirements now that they find themselves relegated to minority status for the first time since 1965.
This is, of course, a good way to debstabilize the GOP and also to send a message to the Gang of Four that the power they're enjoying from their current swing status may not last.
For what it's worth, among those on today's speculation list are:
- Sen. Stephen Saland, 41st SD, a veteran lawmaker, who served in the Assembly from 1980 to 1990 and then went to the Senate.
- Sen. Hugh Farley, 44th SD, a close friend of former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno who was first elected in 1976.
According to a highly-placed GOP source, Saland, who defeated Democrat Ken Dow on Tuesday, has already informed the GOP assemblyman most likely to seek his seat, Marc Molinaro, that he intends to leave sometime between now and April, sparking a special election.
Of course both deny it, but that's nothing new in politics. While it could be a ploy by the Dems to control the "gang of four" it is highly likely that the old fogeys will be heading out of Albany sooner rather than later. Though perhaps they'll retain a little dignity and just serve out the next two years. And if Padavan holds onto his narrow lead in the current election, he'll most likely be one of those on their way out as well. His picture on the poll site A frames may show a lively guy (because the picture is many years old), but in person he's anything but.
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