Newly minted Long Island State Sen. Craig Johnson has received his new committee assignments and, apparently, a lesson in dodging questions from his new best friends, the other 28 Senate Democrats in Albany.
At a news conference hosted by Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, Johnson said he has been assigned to the Environmental Conservation Committee, the Ethics Committee, and the Local Government Committee, where he hopes to work on consolidation of the many special districts and other micro-units of local government in New York. He also said he has already set up a meeting with the MTA for next Monday to discuss concerns about the LIRR third track project.
But he and Smith refused to talk about recent indications that the Democrats won't be able to get two defectors from the Republican ranks that they were hoping for to swing control of the Senate to them. Johnson said he was sure he could be "independent" from Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who basically won the race for him, but then went into deep-evasion mode when asked about the governor's unrelenting attacks on the choice of Long Island assemblyman Tom DiNapoli as comptroller.
He noted that "Tom is the comptroller," and he wished him "all the best." Would he have incurred the wrath of Eliot and gone against the rest of the Democratic conference by voting for DiNapoli? "I'm glad I don't have to worry about that one," he said.
As for Spitzer's attacks? "The governor is letting people know what his thoughts are on the process," Johnson said, independently.
Comments (12)
Johnson is going to be such a tool of Spitzer.
Spitzer didn't win that race for Craig. Unbelievable turnout from Port Washington won that race. That is a direct result of Craigs strong reputation and retail politics from local supporters. Nothing else.
-a resident of Craigs legislative district
Spitzer didn't win that race for Craig. Unbelievable turnout from Port Washington won that race. That is a direct result of Craigs strong reputation and retail politics from local supporters. Nothing else.
-a resident of Craigs legislative district
In 2 years, Craig will be the only Majority Senator on Long Island--buy his political stock now while he is a minority member.
Craig is a friend of DiNapoli. I know Craig. He'll be a great Senator for his district.
Spitzer helped you big, Craig! Be grateful, and don't take it for granted. You bet a lot of state senate candidates wished they had some help from Spitzer, Paterson, Krueger or Malcolm Smith last year.
I can identify 2 candidates who are prepared for a State senate take over at a moment's notice, and both have lifted their game: Brian Keeler of The Albany Project and Albert Baldeo, who annouced his candidacy for 2008 last December, and heads his own Democrat club and district wide voter registration program I think Keeler got 42% and Baldeo 49% last elections. Baldeo's first up, I would think! He has Serph running scared, as Gotham recently reported. Serph recently resigned as Republican County Chair, as Baldeo keeps up the pressure on him. Serph's district has changed demographically, and Baldeo is well positioned to beat him.
The Dems want to take the Senate by winning Nassau County: Suozzi-Marcellino, Mejias-Hannon, Nyman-Skelos and Dennenberg-Fuschillo. They only need 2 out-of- 4.
Suozzi will beat marcellino, which is too bad. marcellino has been great for the environment, and willing to cross party lines when it benefits Long Island. He was a great partner with DiNapoli in a bipartisan approach to solving environmental issues.
Suozzi may well beat Marcellino, but only if he runs - can you see him becoming one small fish in a big pond, assuming of course that he escapes all of the "issues" that are supposedly brewing in Nassau at present?
"The Dems want to take the Senate by winning Nassau County: Suozzi-Marcellino, Mejias-Hannon, Nyman-Skelos and Dennenberg-Fuschillo. They only need 2 out-of- 4."
That would be a solid slate, but who would take on Peter King? Both Mejias and Denenberg have expressed interest in the race, and though Suozzi hasn't, it would be closer to a lateral step than becoming a state senator..
Craig doesnt have supporters, his mom does. But shes dead. Which leaves us with stupid, who belly flopped into a state senate position and is horribly unqualified to make decisions for NY state. People went into the polls and voted for Spitzer and the democratic agenda. Final turnout for both sides was unheard of for a special election like this. The O'Connell campaign was terrible, while Johnsons parade of lies and distortions seemed to be very effective.....The bottom line is any Dem endorsed by Spitzer would have won this race.....hands down