Posted on 10/10/2004 11:28:11 AM PDT by neverdem
After last month's primary, Democratic leaders in the Bronx grew more hopeful about their chances of capturing the state Senate seat that had long been held by Guy J. Velella, the once-powerful Republican lawmaker who was convicted of felony bribery charges.
In the primary, Assemblyman Stephen B. Kaufman, a Democrat, who also had the backing of the Republicans, sought to win both the Democratic and Republican nominations. But he lost both primaries, a defeat that was an embarrassment to the Republicans who had supported him.
But any expectations that Democrats would easily capture the prized Republican Senate seat may have been a bit premature. The candidate who won the Republican primary, John Fleming, is now receiving the support of the Republican leaders he once scorned and is running a vigorous campaign. And he has some marquee names, principally Rudolph W. Giuliani, strongly supporting his bid.
For the Democrats, winning the seat is crucial to their long-term strategy of gaining the seven seats they need to gain a tie with the Republicans in the Senate. But the Republicans are just as determined to hold on to the seat.
To underscore that point, state Republican leaders have been pouring money into the campaign of Mr. Fleming, 46, a former police detective who coordinated security operations for Mr. Giuliani when he was mayor. Mr. Giuliani is scheduled to hold a fund-raising event for him, and so is Joseph L. Bruno, the Senate majority leader.
The close relationship between Mr. Fleming and Republicans is a stark difference from the period before the primary, when Mr. Fleming strongly denounced Republican leaders, particularly Mr. Bruno, because of their support for Mr. Kaufman, a Democrat.
Now, Mr. Fleming's campaign operates out of the Bronx Republican Party headquarters, and he has softened his description of Republican leaders.
"I sat down with Senator Bruno and the Senate Republican Campaign Committee," Mr. Fleming said. "The fact of the matter is that they want to retain the seat and they are supporting my candidacy. And I'm happy to have their support. In fairness to Senator Bruno, he had already cut the deal with Mr. Kaufman when I entered the race. And his word is his bond."
While it is a Democratic area, the 34th State Senate District, which is shaped like a horseshoe and stretches around the northern Bronx and includes parts of Westchester County, is decidedly moderate to conservative in its political leanings. It voted overwhelmingly for Gov. George E. Pataki two years ago and split evenly two years earlier in the United States Senate contest between Hillary Rodham Clinton and her Republican challenger, Rick A. Lazio. Mr. Velella won the district handily through much of his career.
The Democratic candidate, Assemblyman Jeffrey Klein, said Mr. Fleming is as formidable an opponent as Mr. Kaufman would have been on the Republican line. (Mr. Kaufman remains on the Conservative line on the ballot.)
"I'm not approaching this part of the campaign any differently," said Mr. Klein, 45. "I have to talk about my accomplishments and my ability to bring innovative programs to the Bronx. It's a little different than the primary, though, because it now is more a matter of experience. I have a 10-year record of accomplishment in this district. And he doesn't have a record or experience."
But it is precisely Mr. Klein's record that Mr. Fleming points to in discussing the differences between them. The top campaign issue, Mr. Fleming said, is "reforming the way Albany works." Mr. Fleming also emphasizes the need to reduce taxes and to spend more money to train police and firefighters in responding to terrorism.
Mr. Klein, too, has made the issue of reform in Albany a central theme of his campaign. But he also stresses the programs he has brought to the district. "I got a graffiti removal hot line started. We started a mobile asthma van that treated more than 4,000 youngsters in the last three years,'' he said. "Those are the kinds of things that are important to the district."
He also says his Republican opponent is decidedly "right wing."
Mr. Fleming describes himself as being conservative and said that he and Mr. Klein "are polar opposites on a number of issues," including gay rights. "I'm not anti-gay. I just don't think government has a place in that discussion."
Both candidates entered the Senate race after considering running for other offices. Mr. Klein had planned to run for state attorney general in 2006 and had started raising money for that race. Mr. Fleming had planned to run for the Congressional seat now held by Representative Eliot L. Engel. But after Mr. Velella resigned, Mr. Fleming decided to run for the State Senate.
Many Democratic leaders say Mr. Klein has the edge, given the party's advantage in registered voters in the district and because he has been in office for 10 years.
But Mr. Klein said he is taking nothing for granted. In fact, he has called on Mr. Fleming to return $75,000 in contributions from Republican Senate leaders.
"I've called on him to return it because, before the primary, he had been condemning Joe Bruno as a political boss," Mr. Klein said.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
I know this district VERY well, as I lived within its gerrymandered confines in the Bronx portion. Is John Calandra still active in politics over there? I know that the Bronx portion of the district (especially Morris Park and Belmont) is less Italian than it was even 10 years ago. Has the Westchester portion changed?
Make sure you vote for Joseph Cinquemani for Congress as well!
I couldn't tell you. I don't know. Once I saw how the Bronx Conservative Party boss operated it like his little fiefdom, I lost interest. In 2000 I volunteered to pass out literature for Lazio, but not for Vellela once I learned his position on gun control.
I know that the Bronx portion of the district (especially Morris Park and Belmont) is less Italian than it was even 10 years ago. Has the Westchester portion changed?
I was living in Rockaway Park, Queens before I moved in September 2000. I could tell you more about Inwood, Manhattan, where I grew up, than Riverdale, where I am now, or Kingsbridge, where I have also lived.
Is Cinquemani challenging Crowley or Lowey?
Crowley
Cinquemani is a good young Italian running against Crowley from Queens.
Crowley was one of those 13 reps who signed the letter to have the UN monitor the elections.
Cinquemani is a good young Italian running against Crowley from Queens.
Crowley was one of those 13 reps who signed the letter to have the UN monitor the elections.
Cinquemani is a good young Italian running against Crowley from Queens.
Crowley was one of those 13 reps who signed the letter to have the UN monitor the elections.
Unless he's also running against Eliot Engel, my Congressman, than I can't vote for him legally!
Vellela changed his position on gun control sometime in the late '80s for reasons that I cannot fathom. He was ALWAYS corrupt, however.
Inwood to Kingsbridge to Riverdale (with a stop in the Bronx). Can Yonkers be far behind? ;-)
Joey five_hands
Exactly:
The Bronx Needs a Hand.
Five Hands.
I'm going to be voting for Joseph Cinquemani too. Unfortunately there is no way he'll beat Crowley. Damn my liberal neighborhood.
I didn't ask for on. Does that make your list FR spam?
No, I'll take you off, no problem. It's done. Adios
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