Bloomberg Ranks 1st Among Headline Makers For 2005

Mayor Michael Bloomberg easily topped the list of political headline-makers of the year 2005 with his popular and embarrassingly easy re-election victory over Fernando Ferrer and the Democratic Party, but year 2006 shows clean indications it will be the Year of the Donkey as the party is poised to take back control of the state and stake a claim to the U.S. presidency in 2008.

On the local scene, the mayor’s supporters (and opponents, too) will be watching closely to see if he can make good on his campaign promises of gains in affordable housing and continued progress on the schools and education front.

Also in the offing could be major battles on every front, and every issue, with the upstart super-majority of Democrats in the City Council who have already defined one major issue, the makeover of term limits and the extension of the terms of a majority of incumbents in the 51-member body.

But the start of hostilities on that controversial issue will have to await the settlement first of a certain family matter, the Democrats’ brawl on who shall be the all-powerful Council Speaker for the next four years.

Still in the crowded field are three contenders from Queens—Melinda Katz of Forest Hills, Leroy Comrie of St. Albans, and David Weprin of Hollis.

There’s been no clue as to which of these three Democratic County Leader Thomas Manton favors, but surely there’s an opportunity here for him to make a case (and a deal) for the speaker’s job, for any one of them, considering the 13 Democratic votes and 1 possible Republican that he can bring to the negotiating table.

Brooklyn would seem to have an edge with 16 votes, one of them a Republican, but they’ve been beaten in the election for the last two speakers and can be beaten a third time.

Given present indications of bright budget prospects, the mayor seems to be in a favorable budget position.

In recent weeks, state Comptroller Alan Hevesi and his city counterpart, William Thompson Jr., predicted a budget surplus of $2.8 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively in the next budget. The Independent Budget Office came in at $1.7 billion.

For has part, the mayor is looking to make reductions of $750 million over two years. So there’s no sign of pressure on Bloomberg as has been the case in some previous years of his tenure.

As for the term limits question, it looks like a sure go as far as the council is concerned. They’re looking for one more four-year term and virtually all candidates except Weprin for speaker have agreed to go for it.

The mayor indicated he’s not crazy about the idea, and said it should be done, if at all, by city voters in a referendum. That may be as far as he cares to go on the position, since he has not promised to wage an all-out war against the idea. Then again, this mayor appears never to lose his cool so we’ll see what the future brings.

DEMS HOLD GOOD HAND ON STATEWIDE SCENE: For almost the past six months, maybe more, there has been a distinct impression, based on political happenings and polls, that 2006 will be a year of major gains for the Democrats in New York state.

The specter of a Hillary Rodham Clinton re-election victory, of such magnitude as to project her as a major force in the 2008 elections, started even sooner than the six months we have already cited.

Likewise, from the moment Spitzer announced he would be a candidate for governor next year, he was projected as the frontrunner in the race.

After a period of indecision over whether he should run for re-election for a fourth term or opt for a presidential run in 2008, Governor George Pataki announced he would not seek re-election.

This decision only seemed to make both Spitzer and Clinton more invincible, essentially because there was no Republican heir waiting in the wings to step into the candidate’s role after Pataki took himself out of contention. Since that point in time until now, there has been rampant confusion in the GOP ranks.

Twice the party’s state committee met, summoned by state Chairman Stephen Minaris, try to get a consensus on William Weld, the Pataki/Minaris choice, as the party’s agreed upon candidate-in-waiting. Both times the move failed as Weld could not get the votes needed to be considered the organization’s endorsement selection.

Prior to the second of these meetings on December 12, state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno suddenly thrust himself into the picture by suggesting that Jeanine Pirro remove herself from the race against Clinton. Bruno’s move was also seen as thrusting himself into the governor’s race opposite Pataki and Minarik and on behalf of Rochester millionaire Tom Golisano. This was now a whole new ballgame and by the start of the New Year in a week or so, the GOP fight will continue along those lines. It’s anybody’s guess where it will lead.

Other candidates in the GOP gubernatorial brawl are ex-Assembly Minority Leader John Faso and state Secretary of State Raymond Daniels. Assemblymember Patrick Manning has also entered the race.

Returning for a moment to the Spitzer candidacy, there is a strong move to discourage Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi from mounting a challenge to Spitzer via the Democratic primary. Recently former New York Stock exchange official Kenneth Langone, a Republican from Long Island, who was indicted by Spitzer’s office for alleged involvement in an inflated salary case, indicated he would help back Suozzi financially against Spitzer. Democratic leaders statewide want Suozzi to stay clear of Langone.

One thing appears to be settled among Republicans—Pirro will be quitting the senate race in favor of the contest for attorney general. Since Bruno started the ball rolling for her to quit the Senate race and run instead for state attorney general, momentum for Pirro to make the switch has continued. So, however, has Pirro’s determination to stay in against Clinton.

The only way we can see this happening is for Pirro’s financial contributors to come out of hiding. None came forward after her awkward start in the race following her announced entry, and we doubt any will start sending contributions in now that the state party leaders have followed. Bruno’s lead and indicated they want Pirro out.

Ready to step in to replace Pirro are Edward Cox, a New York attorney and son-in-law of former President Richard Nixon, and John Spencer, a conservative, pro-life, ex-Yonkers mayor and Vietnam War vet.

The attorney general’s race is the only statewide contest where the Republicans might have a chance of succeeding. The Democratic field is led by Andrew Cuomo, who has the beginnings of a well-financed campaign with strong labor support; Mark Green, the former-NYC Public Advocate who blew the mayor’s race four years ago, and Assemblymember Richard Brodsky (D–Westchester). We give Cuomo the edge.

On the Republican side, Pirro could make a strong candidate, given her many years as the Westchester district attorney. But she must opt for this choice without delay because to hesitate and show any more indecision would ruin her chances.

Besides Pirro, the GOP can also count on Chauncey Parker, the governor’s criminal justice advisor, and state Senator Michael Balboni of Nassau County.