In 2008, Daniel Squadron clawed his way into the New York State Senate with a hard-fought Upset in the Democratic Primary, earning 12,688 Votes to longtime Incumbent Martin Connor's 10,757. This weekend, Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh effectively Won Squadron's Seat with 32 Votes to Paul Newell's 66.
Kavanagh Won the Democratic Nomination to succeed the Resigning Squadron by Virtue of an obscure, Backroom Process. He Defeated Newell, a Democratic District Leader, despite the latter's Capturing a Majority of the Vote Sunday of the Manhattan County Committee, the Panel of Party Insiders charged with Handpicking the Candidate.
The reason: One of Kavanagh's 32 Supporters was Kings County Democratic Committee Chairman Frank Seddio. Party Bylaws empowered Seddio to Back the Candidate of his Choosing without a Vote of the County Committee that represents his Borough's Portion of the Senate District. Seddio's Endorsement carried the Weight of the Brooklyn Contingent as if it had Voted Unanimously.
Seddio defended the Process at his Annual County Committee breakfast Monday, where a handful of Newell-backing Protesters demonstrated outside. He highlighted Kavanagh's 10 years in the Assembly and asserted that he was both Limited in his Options but also acting within his Rights as Brooklyn Democratic Leader. "I could nominate Mickey Mouse, but he wouldn't win," Seddio said, asserting his Preference was to Restore Connor to the Senate. "It came down to two candidates who were in the race. I evaluated them for our purposes as to who was the best candidate for our purposes."
Newell has long served as a longtime irritant to Establishment Politicians in his Lower East Side turf, first running unsuccessfully against then Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in 2008. He attempted to Replace Silver in 2016 after the Powerful Pol's since, Overturned Corruption Conviction, but came up short first in the County Committee Vote for the April Special Election, and again in the September Democratic Primary.
Kavanagh and Squadron, former roommates in Albany, have long enjoyed Reputations as Reformers. But sources said that "the fix was in" even before Squadron announced in August he would Step Down to Advocate for Good-Government causes Nationally.
Legal sources noted that, had Squadron announced his Resignation in June, the Law would have called for an Open Primary coinciding with Municipal Elections instead of the County Committee Vote. Kavanagh Refused to Discuss the Substance of his Conversations with Squadron prior to his friend's Resignation. He did, however, maintain his Nomination was as Legitimate as any other. "The gold standard for choosing someone is a primary. But, of course, there's no time for a primary in this time frame, so close to the election," Kavanagh said.
The District is overwhelmingly Democratic, and so Kavanagh will almost certainly cruise to Victory in November.
Brooklyn Democratic Leaders under Seddio had called for the Nomination of someone, such as Connor, to Serve Out the Balance of Squadron's Term until a Standard Election could be held in 2018 to fill the Seat. But Manhattan effectively left Brooklyn with a Choice of Kavanagh or Newell.
About a Third of State Legislators initially came to Office in a Special Election, which in State Races is a Partisan, Insider-Driven Process.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
