I may be cutting in a day or two late with this story, but Newsday reported on December 26 that New York Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer appointed Long Island Republican State Senator Michael Balboni as his state Homeland Security chief.
What are the ramifications? The 7th State Senate seat, a Nassau County district that leans Democratic but often elects Republicans on the local level, will be vacant when Spitzer and the state legislature are sworn in. This is a terrific opportunity for the DSCC to claim another seat and cut the Republican margin to 33-29 before the 2008 elections.
More below the flap.
On paper, the soon to be open seat leans our way through a 38D-35R registration edge, but we'll still need a strong candidate to take it in a February special election.
The 7th Senate District, which encompasses an area from Great Neck and Port Washington to Mineola and Elmont, has about 78,000 registered Democrats and about 72,000 Republicans, though more than one in five district voters are unaffiliated, according to state records.
For those of you who aren't from the Island (like me) or not from New York, here is New York's seventh district:
Almost all these municipalities comprise the town of North Hempstead (except for most of Floral Park and Elmont on the southern edges of the district). In Congress, this area is represented almost exclusively by two Democrats: Carolyn McCarthy in the 4th CD and Gary Ackerman in the 5th.
As for the candidates vying for Balboni's former seat, the Republicans seem to be favoring Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell. The Dem nomination seems to be between Nassau County Legislator Craig Johnson of Port Washington (the guy shaking the kid's hand) and North Hempstead Town Clerk Michelle Schimel. Either candidate would be worthy to take on O'Connell, but Johnson's legislative experience may make him the favorite.
As for other possible appointments, Spitzer approached Serphin Maltese about a post in his administration, but Maltese reportedly rebuffed him. Maltese won reelection over Albert Baldeo by less than 2% and his district is overwhelmingly Democratic. Spitzer is making terrific moves to soften up the Republican majority in the State Senate for a potential takeover by the Dems in 2008.
I'd love to hear thoughts on this potential opportunity to cut the Republican majority in the only branch of government they currently hold at the New York State level.