Celeste Katz at the Daily News is out with a follow-up story about the change in leadership at the State Democratic Senate Campaign Committee from Jeff Klein (pictured on the right) of the Bronx and Senator Mike Gianaris of Queens (pictured on the left). It's unclear whether Klein was forced out or he left on his own. He has stated that he voluntarily left after serving for two years as is customary. However, here is an interesting quote from an earlier post by Katz that might shed light on this issue, "Gianaris steered clear of talking about the rumblings that the replacement of Klein, who's still deputy leader of the conference, had to do with any designs he might have had on Sampson's leadership post." Reports are that the Senate Campaign Committee is $7 million in debt after this round of elections, which cost the Dems the Senate.
I would love it if Jeffrey Klein decided to run for the seat now held U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel in New York's 17th Congressional District.
ReplyDeleteSen. Klein would be far more effective and successful. Engel is a real dud!
Calling Engel a dud is too kind ... I think he's a dismal flop!
ReplyDeleteYup. Jeff Klein is too big for Albany. He really should be our man in DC.
ReplyDeleteA Jeff Klein congressional run would be a nasty surprise for Mr. Engel.
ReplyDeleteKlein seems like a more intuitive politician than Engel. Also, Engel seems ripe for a serious challenge . Although, Engel was originally elected in 1993 and is now in his 11th term, he just seems to be coasting along in Congress from his real home in Maryland. It's time for a change.
ReplyDeleteCongressman Eliot Engel always strikes me as being an empty suit .... a good match for the empty apartment he has in Riverdale, as opposed to his real residence in Potomac, Maryland. Let's not forget this article:
ReplyDeleteDaily News
Friday, March 13th 2009
BRONX REP. ELIOT ENGEL CALLS MARYLAND HOME FOR TAX BREAK
Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel may call himself a life-long Bronx resident, but he has also called Maryland his primary residence for years to get a local tax break that state officials have just squashed.
Engel, who rents an apartment back in his district, also owns a $1 million house with his wife in the well-off Washington suburb of Potomac, Md. - a property that has been afforded $7,000 in tax breaks since he bought it in 1993, The Associated Press reported.
To get the state and county paybacks, he had to list the property as his primary residence on county tax records - running afoul of Maryland tax collectors.
Engel insists he's just trying to play by the rules.
"My house is currently classified as 'nonowner-occupied.' I have never asked for any special privileges for being a congressman," he said.
A county tax official said Engel won't have to pay back the $7,000.
READ MORE: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/03/13/2009-03-13_bronx_rep_eliot_engel_calls_maryland_hom.html
Since Eliot Engel's real home is in Potomac (Montgomery County, Maryland), he should run for the seat now held Congressman Chris Van Hollen in Maryland's 8th District. That would give Congressmen Engel a much shorter commute between his district and his office in Washington, DC ... only 20 miles!
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous at December 21, 2010 5:28 PM -- Engel was first elected to Congress in 1989, not 1993. I remember it very well. I had great hope for Mr. Engel, that he would be a progressive alternative to corrupt "Democrat in Name Only", Mario Biaggi. It's been a mixed bag at best. I will never forget him standing at the White House with Bush, supporting Bush's invasion of Iraq, perhaps the lowest moment of Engel's career. As we continue to pay for Bush's misadventures in the Middle East -- we have to "credit" Engel with this wrong-headed policy. Without bipartisan cover from people like Engel, we may have never invaded Iraq.
ReplyDeleteI think replacing Engel (that nogoodnik) with Klein is a great idea. Engel could stay in MD and Klein could get a better tan in DC.
ReplyDeleteEngel will never lose his seat to another NYC Jewish guy. As one of Israel's staunchest defenders in the House, that's his core constituency.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Anonymous at Dec. 22, 8:20 AM.
ReplyDeleteBronx Assemblyman Michael Benjamin (who is not seeking re-election to our state’s shit-hole of a Legislature) has formed a campaign committee and is considering running for the seat now held U.S. Rep. José E. Serrano in New York’s 16th Congressional District.
If Assemblyman Benjamin can run against a lackluster Congressional incumbent like Serrano, surely a solid and well-funded state senator like Jeff Klein should consider running against a drip like Engel.
Wasn't the Albanian area re-districted out of Engel's 17th District?
ReplyDeleteWas Eliot Engel ever endorsed by Crown Prince Leka of Albania (Leka I Zogu), pretender to the throne as head of the House of Zogu (Maison Royale d’Albanie)??
ReplyDeleteJeff Klein's fund-raising totals would make him a very difficult candidate to beat. The most recent figures I saw indicate that his campaign war chest is just brimming.
ReplyDeleteLet us not forget that NY is losing two congressional seats. Even though upstate will undoubtedly have lost population compared to downstate, the (once again) Republican state senate will push to remove one seat from each party, "because that's fair." Engel almost got redistricted out 10 years ago. Who knows what will happen now?
ReplyDeleteIf Congressman Engel ends up being redistricted out of office this time (please, please, please, Oh, PLEEEASE !!), it would be a clean and easy way to get rid of a mediocre legislator whose been in the House of Representative way too long.
ReplyDeleteHow about NYC Councilman James Vacca for Congress? He's dedicated, honest and hard-working.
ReplyDeleteJibes about a person's suntan are tacky, childish and nothing short of bullying. Besides, U.S. House Speaker-to-be John Boehner is just as tan as our own Mr. Klein. Hopefully, Mr. Klein will become one of Mr. Boehner's colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
ReplyDelete