Term Limits

Thursday the city council passed Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to change term limits to allow all of them to run for a third term. This has been put to referendum twice and the people of New York City twice affirmed their desire to limit elected officials to two terms. Reading city council member's responses shed some light on a few people who are or were on the short list to be sent to Congress on behalf of the voters of this district;

Mike McMahon voted against over turning term limits.

Bill DeBlasio, the 2006 brief candidate for the Democratic nomination also voted no. In his statements he said;

George Orwell would have loved the arguments made by the Mayor and Speaker. He calls this "stealing like a thief in the night the shape of our democracy."

Domenic Recchia, the 2008 would be Democratic candidate, who ran for this seat, piled up money then dropped out voted in favor of over turning term limits;

Recchia just praised the Council for getting work going on redevelopment of Coney Island. "But if I can't be on Council, how will I know that the work will get done?"

Ingnizo and Oddo the two Republican council members from Staten Island voted no.

Ignizio promises not to support Straniere

Ignizio knocked Straniere out of office in a Republican primary in 2004 and wants nothing to do with him;

Ignizio defeated Straniere in a 2004 GOP Assembly primary, ending Straniere's 24-year career in the Legislature, and tonight said that he "will not be supporting Bob Straniere for Congress."

Ignizio would not say who he would back in the race, but it's thought that some Island Republicans will throw their support behind Independence Party pick Carmine Morano in the campaign.

It is rather telling of your character when elected Republican officials would rather see the seat flip than to support you. Will Straniere even break 40% in the general election? Heck will he even survive the primary? I hear they are rough.

Will elected Dems match the Republicans investment?

With Rep. Vito Fossella's second quarter financial filing numbers we get a good insight to how many elected Republicans, that he has played a large role in getting into those offices, are funding his re-election campaign. The question is, will 2008 be different for local Democrats? In the past there has been lots of talk about taking out Fossella but very little financial support to the nominees. Here are the Republicans putting money up to keep this seat in Republican hands:

State Senator Andrew Lanza; $1,000
Staten Senator Marty Golden; $1,000

Assemblyman Lou Tobacco; $1,000

City Councilman Vincent Ignizio; $1,000
City Councilman James Oddo; $1,000

Until there is either one Democratic challenger or the primary determines a winner, our elected Dems;

* Senator Savino
* Assemblyman Titone
* Assemblyman Cusick
* Assemblywoman Hyer-Spencer
* Councilman McMahon
* Councilman DeBlasio

to name a few and anyone else who wants to invest in taking down Fossella and everything comes with that can give to the NY-13 General Fund which will be distributed to the primary winner to use in the General Election. Thanks to ActBlue.com for making this possible.

UPDATE: Sorry that title should be 'will' Dems step up not 'why', clearly this is a call out to challenge them to match their Republican counter parts.

Follow along on what stories we are working on with updates from Twitter.

Spitzer sets special election date for Lavelle's seat

via NY1;

Spitzer says the special election for the 61st Assembly seat is scheduled for March 27th.

In related news, last night's special election for the south shore City Council seat went to Vinnie Ignizio (R) over Manny Innamorato (D);

Vincent M. Ignizio, 3,902 (72%)
Emanuele Innamorato, 1,511 ( 28%)

There will now possibly be a special election to fill Ignizio's now vacant Assembly seat.

UPDATE
See this previous post for a list of announced and potential candidates for the 61st Assembly seat election.

City Council Special Election today

The special election for the south shore City Council seat is today. For information about volunteering see Manny's website;

MannyforCouncil.com

Daily News endorses Innamorato

via NY Daily News;

In Staten Island's 51st District, Democrat Manny Innamorato is the choice. GOP opponent Assemblyman Vinnie Ignizio lost all hope of endorsement when he voted for unqualified Albany insider Thomas DiNapoli to be state controller. A ballot cast for Innamorato, a computer technician who has worked for New York City and Yonkers, strikes a blow for Albany reform and backs someone with a nuts-and-bolts grasp of government.

Manny for Council