Sen. Dean Skelos’ ascent will make him the sole suburbanite and the only Republican among the three men who run New York government.
In this way, the 60-year-old majority leader from Rockville Centre instantly becomes the odd man out at a table with two Manhattan Democrats, Gov. David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Be warned, however: This three-way dynamic can prove surprising by sparking personal dramas that defy party and geography.
As governor, Democrat Mario Cuomo sometimes seemed to get along better with the GOP-run Senate than with the Democratic-run Assembly. Retiring Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) repeatedly sided with Silver against Republican George Pataki. And during the short tenure of Eliot Spitzer, the ruling troika split clearly and bitterly along party lines — but only after Silver and Bruno bucked Spitzer in tandem to install Nassau’s Thomas DiNapoli as comptroller.
Former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, who’s known Skelos for decades, predicted yesterday that Skelos “will be a strong constructive opposition to the governor. He’s not going to oppose him just to oppose him, and he will be a strong partner when he can be.”
First, Skelos’ majority — now at 32-30 — needs to survive the next election. This year’s budget and most other legislative business already have concluded.
Skelos comes to power as nominations are being locked in for state legislative seats, in a year many believe looks bleak for the state GOP.
Joseph Mondello, the state and Nassau party chairman, praised colleague Skelos but sounded less than certain of victory ...
Dan Janison
... yesterday when he spoke with reporters. Bruno’s departure, he said, “makes it tougher. Joe Bruno is an icon. He’s been around a long time ... There’s no room here for any losses in the Senate. We’ve got to win.”
While the Senate transition threatens to reduce the clout of some upstate counties, one downstate Republican, who declined to be identified, said: “This will be very good for our region — and good for Republicans to have someone with a youthful appearance who’s personable and interesting.”
“I don’t think people realize how smart Skelos is,” he said. “The rap is that he’s a shrewd pol, but up close, I saw him go toe-to-toe in a big debate with some very smart opponents. He was better prepared.”
Adds Lawrence Levy, executive director of Hofstra’s National Center for Suburban Studies: “Theoretically the Republicans not only don’t lose but they gain, because they have somebody at the helm who wants a future ... and will expend every ounce of energy and resources at his command to survive.”
Comments (1)
Skelos will be the first Greek American Majority Leader, I wish him well.
But he has ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT.
I HAVE SAID THE THE SENATE GOP NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP.
They have elected Skelos, he needs to prove me wrong.
GO TO IT, MAKE ME EAT MY WORDS.
PROVE TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE YOU ARE THAT ''NEW
LEADERSHIP'
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps, check out the video on my blog