The Post-Primary Election Calm

It is a cool and calm Wednesday morning outside, a wonderful contrast to the intermittently humid and stormy Tuesday primary election day, a perfect analogy to the day of voting and the day after. The Lower East Side, Downtown, Upper Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn and many other sites across the state yesterday were a buzz with campaign staffers and volunteers, doing all that they could to get their candidate elected.

One guy I talked to down on Grand and Clinton had no less than 20 leaflets handed to him within a few blocks of the train. When I asked him whether it swayed his choice, he mentioned that he couldn't vote but that he was sick and tired of Sheldon Silver. Too bad, because Newell and Henry needed his vote. I was hoping for the two of them to break fifty percent together, but Silver did what it took to win a crushing victory and all it took was 6,743 votes to get 68%. These primary elections hang on so little because so few vote, despite all the publicity on the street and in mailboxes. In this race at least, change lost out to the power of incumbency and the raw power of the guy being Speaker of the Assembly.

In the State Senate however, change won a huge victory in the way of Daniel Squadron. His supporters were everywhere from morning till night and then some even before Tuesday. After more than thirty years in the State Senate, an old do-nothing Democrat was defeated by the young challenger. Squadron did what it took to beat him, having the help of major players such as Chuck Schumer, winning over the Satmars among others and conducting a massive GOTV effort. It'll be a refreshing change to see him represent the 25th district, especially when the Senate changes hands to the Democrats in less than two months time.

Over on the Congressional side of things, two races were up for grabs. Kevin Powell tried to ride in like Obama to the 10th District in Brooklyn. The tenth needs change from Ed Towns, but despite Powell's Obamaesque campaign style, he could not raise the funds nor recover from the problems of his past. In the end Towns beat him handily, nearly by two to one.

In the open seat of the 13th down in Staten Island (and a sliver of Brooklyn) Steve Harrison, a progressive with past support and a close election with Vito two years ago went down in flames. Michael McMahon was the establishment's candidate and their help this year (which was non-existent in 06') put him over the top and on his way to a race against Straniere. November is looking good for the Democrats to pick up the seat, though I think we could have done that with either Harrison or McMahon.

All the results can be found here.

It's Fashionable To Vote....Today!

O.K. so the picture is part of a set for fashion week, but if local politics and how your state legislature and parts of the court system are run, today is your day to make a difference. Primaries are historically low-turnout endeavors and a small number of votes goes a long way.

So if you want to kick out the ethically challenged Speaker of the Assembly and you live in Lower Manhattan, it is time to go out and pull the lever for change. Sheldon Silver has had over 30 years and is a key cog in the mess that is our state government. Both Luke Henry and the press-endorsed Paul Newell are excellent candidates and are committed to reforming Albany. Now I know this race is a long shot, but that does not mean people in the district should stay home. Even with a loss, if Sheldon doesn't hit a healthy majority his political future could be in danger. Not only that, the race will show New Yorkers that Albany can be changed and it would not be surprising to see a few if not dozens of primary challengers to either throw the bums out or make them more accountable to their constituents.

Another challenger to the system is Daniel Squadron, running for State Senate District 25 (basically Lower Manhattan and a large swath of Brooklyn). He is taking on ex-minority leader Martin Connor. Connor, while a good debater on the issues and a somewhat decent record, is still part of the problem in Albany, and despite his 30+ years hasn't really done much in the way of legislation. Voting against NYCHA funding also doesn't bode well for his district (according to Squadron lit). On top of that, he allegedly had people passing out flyers that Squadron is a rich, closeted Republican and Connor is the only true Democrat. If you've seen this 8 1/2" by 11" piece of a childish attack , please don't throw it out, recycle it....and recycle Martin Connor.

There are plenty of other races including the 13th Congressional District in Staten Island (Go Steve Harrison!) and you can find more info on them on the web or almost any decent local paper. The important thing is to inform yourself and then get to the polls. And I can attest that I pulled the lever at my polling site at about twenty after six this morning, even though they didn't have any "I Voted" stickers to give me.

Can I Get A Squadron For Senate Sign?

A Team Squadron staffer hard at work, two days before election day:


from Daniel Squadron's Chinatown HQ

By the miracle of campaign staffers and volunteers, all those signs you see will be up across the district by Tuesday, reminding everyone in Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn to vote for the strongly supported Daniel Squadron.

Meet And Greet With SD-25 Candidate Dan Squadron Tonight

Do you have an interest in local New York politics? Do you like free drinks? Well then I have the perfect event for you, tonight down in the Lower East Side. Young Manhattanite is hosting a meet and greet with Dan Squadron, who is challenging Marty Connor for New York's 25th Senate District. As you know the primary is only one week from tomorrow, so if you live in the district, or are looking to help out some good candidates in the next week or so, then come check Dan out.

From the invite:

Dear Tumblrs, Bloggers, Manhattanites, Brooklynites, Young and Old, etc:

I’m hosting a casual “meet the candidate” reception with free drinks for NY State Senate candidate Daniel Squadron on Tuesday, September 2 at 9:30pm at The Magician on the corner of Rivington and Essex in Manhattan .

The District he’s running for covers Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, western Williamsburg and most of Manhattan below 14th Street other than Greenwich Village. Squadron is a great candidate who’s ready to fight the incumbent disease we know as Albany politics. He has been endorsed by the New York Times, lots of local organizations, Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Schumer and others. You can read more about him here:

http://www.danielsquadron.org/

With all the hoopla going on in Denver and Minneapolis, we have the opportunity to make change in our own neighborhoods here. This is an election where literally EVERY VOTE COUNTS. Corny? Maybe, but small increases in turnout can swing local elections.

Did I mention free drinks? Hope to see you there. Let me know if you have any questions. Sorry for the late start, he’s debating his primary opponent in Brooklyn earlier in the evening.

Thanks,
AK

I'm not sure if I'll make it tonight, but rest assured, I've met Dan and I like what I see in him and who is a Democrat that is intent on changing Albany, not ascribing to the status quo. He has the support of many prominent people in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. More importantly, he hopes to have your support next Tuesday, so come and get your questions asked in person tonight.

Diamondstone Out In Senate District 25?

The race against Senator Marty Connor in Lower Manhattan/Brooklyn is about to change shape again, as Ken Diamondstone (who lost to Connor in the primary two years ago) is about to drop out, leaving the primary challenging ground solely to up and coming Dan Squadron. Ken did look to be in good spirits at DfNYC's Meet and Greet for Council candidates Josh Skaller and Steve Behar. Though he wasn't making any speeches, he was still announced as a candidate. Now according to press reports, that will be a thing of the past as the community organization wagons begin to close around Squadron.

From Gay City:

One nagging concern for Squadron and Working Families, however, has been the possibility that WFP's 2006 candidate, Ken Diamondstone, an out gay housing developer from Brooklyn, might once again enter the contest. Defeating an incumbent is difficult enough without having to split the opposition vote in two, Connor's opponents reason. In 2006, Connor beat back Diamondstone's challenge by more than ten percent.

According to Dan Cantor, who heads up WFP, Diamondstone, who did not respond to Gay City News' request for comment, was prepared as of April 9 to formally announce he would not make the race. Though his reasons are not known, Schumer's decision to back Squadron may not have been the only factor.

As he considered a run, Diamondstone sought indications of support from the Lambda Independent Democrats, a Brooklyn gay political club on whose board he sits. His efforts were opposed, however, by Daniel Tietz, a former LID president. Late last week, in an email that ran to nearly 1,900 words, Tietz laid out his rationale for why the club should support Squadron and not Diamondstone. Noting that Squadron is a serious candidate who is mounting a strong challenge - having already raised in excess of $200,000 from more than 350 donors - Tietz alluded to the fact that Diamondstone has run unsuccessfully in three past races. He also presented data from other primary contests demonstrating that even incumbents who lose typically don't fall below 40 percent of the total vote.

So if the Working Families Party endorsement and Chuck Schumer's non-endorsement endorsement weren't enough, this adds even more pressure for Diamondstone to step aside. Ken is still a great asset to the community and does a lot for New York City, but ultimately we want to take back the Senate....not only from Republicans but all long-term cronies like Marty Connor.

UPDATE (4/10 4:35PM): That non-endorsement endorsement is now officially an endorsement.

Dan Squadron Gets Big "Chuck" Time Support Against Connor

In New York state politics or any state for that matter, running against an incumbent is a challenge of that requires overcoming immense odds. The power of incumbency in New York has enabled many legislators to stay in their seats for many years and decades. Though if you are going to fight the status quo in Albany, going in with a good message and powerful friends is a smart way to go. Dan Squadron has the message and now the support of New York's senior Senator, Chuck Schumer.

From The NY Daily News:

Veteran Brooklyn State Sen. Marty Connor said he was shocked when Schumer informed him during a rural Democrats' event in Saratoga Springs on Saturday that Schumer will back his former aide and political neophyte, Daniel Squadron, against Connor this fall.

According to Connor, Schumer, speaking in "a cold voice," informed the former state Senate minority leader: "You weren't there when I needed you; I owe you nothing."

At issue was Connor's 1998 endorsement of then-Rep. Schumer's U.S. Senate primary opponent, Geraldine Ferraro. Schumer went on to win the primary that year and oust Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato in the general election.

"Chuck's so powerful now he thinks he can go back and get even with everyone who slighted him over the last 10 years," said a miffed Connor, whose encounter with Schumer was seen by several Democrats and independently confirmed by one of them.

Damn! Now that is playing hardball New York style. Connor may be miffed by Schumer's broadside against him, but in the Empire State favors do go a long way and vice-versa. This encounter certainly complicates Schumer's support of Squadron in political circles but if he comes through with the cash that Chuck is known for, that outburst of contempt won't amount to much.

Of course we still have another man throwing his hat in the ring as he did two years ago, Mr. Ken Diamondstone. Ken can certainly throw his weight in as well for the primary and contest Connor as well. The only problem is that the two challengers can complicate the anti-Connor vote. The question is, can either one get the other to bow out to put up a formidable challenge to Connor?