Rice vs Clavin?

U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice on News 4 report Thursday

 

Yes, the presidential and state office elections are Tuesday.

Yes, all incumbents will say their sole focus is on winning re-election to the job they have.

But that doesn't stop pundits from both Republican and Democrat political circles from speculating on next year.

And the hottest gossip around Nassau these days is that U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) is considering a run against Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin.

The speculation was spurred by Rice's many unexpected attacks on Clavin this year. It's unusual for a member of Congress to attack a lowly town elected official.

It started in May when Rice called Clavin to demand he turn over $133 million in federal coronavirus awarded to Republican-controlled Hempstead Town to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat. "Or else!" Rice, Nassau's former District Attorney, allegedly warned Clavin in a personal phone call.

A few weeks later, Rice called upon the U.S. Department of  Housing to investigate Hempstead's handling of a federally assisted housing program after Newsday reported that $1.3 million in Section 8 housing vouchers had gone unused since 2014. No matter that Clavin had been in office for only two months of the six years reviewed.

Then, in July, Rice appeared in front of Hempstead Town Hall with State Sen. Kevin Thomas (D-Levittown), who is being challenged Tuesday by Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), to demand the state comptroller monitor how Hempstead is spending its federal coronavirus assistance.

Rice, Thomas and a Democratic state Assemblywoman, Taylor Darling of Hempstead, who changed her last name from Raynor after being elected, asked Clavin in June and in again in October to reimburse the Hempstead School District for 1,500 laptops and other technological equipment.

Clavin, meanwhile, has been very slow in spending the federal funds,  after review by an advisory committee, consultation with local officials, and a vote of the Republican-controlled town board. 

Yesterday, Rice joined with Curran, who had asked Clavin to give the county $50 million of Hempstead's federal money, to accuse the Republican supervisor of essentially spreading the coronavirus at a fundraiser Tuesday night. 

Curran said the county fire marshal is investigating whether the dinner violated Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive orders that limit the size of social gatherings, a move intended to combat the spread of the virus.

"Our goal always is to keep residents safe," Curran said in a New York News 4 television report.

The Franklin Square restaurant and Clavin's campaign committee denied any violations.

Rice again attacked Clavin. (See above). "It's just incredibly irresponsible," she said. "to see an elected official just blatantly flout CDC  and New York State guidelines for public gatherings and that's what this was."

But wouldn't it be a step down to go from Congress to town supervisor?

Well, consider that Rice is just one of 435 members of Congress; one of 236 Democrats. And she is on the outs with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after Rice opposed Pelosi's return to the house leadership.

Right now, Rice is a small fish in a big pond in DC.

In comparison, the job of  Hempstead Town supervisor means leading the largest town in terms of population in the United States, with nearly 770,000 residents. It also means, potentially, controlling hundreds of jobs, assuming Rice could bring Democrats with her onto the town board.

Rice would not have to give up her Congressional seat to make the run, assuming she is re-elected on Tuesday. Clavin's term is up next year.

But the speculation goes further, turning into a virtual musical chairs of Democratic officials.

If Rice wins the town job, pundits say, State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach), who is seeking re-election on Tuesday, would run in a special election for Rice's congressional seat. And then if Kaminksy wins, Assemb. Judy Griffin, a Rockville Centre Democrat, would run for Kaminsky's senate seat.

Finally, pundits suggest, former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, a Rockville Center Democrat unseated by Clavin last year, would run for Griffin's assembly office.

Again, its all political speculation. And it all could change on Tuesday. If Democrat Joe Biden wins for president, there could be a spot in the new administration for Rice.

And then who cares about Hempstead?