Singas, Solages and Mejias all get Cuomo nominations (UPDATED)

                                                                                 

Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas

Gov. Andrew Cuomo not only nominated Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas to the Court of Appeals today, he also nominated to the Court of Claims Linda Mejias, sister of former Nassau legislator Dave Mejias and current Democratic Oyster Bay Town leader, and Phil Solages, brother of Assemb. Michaelle C. Solages (D-Elmont) and also of Nassau Legis. Carrie Solages (D-Elmont.)

This is according to a tweet from Dan Clark, the host of NYNOW_PBS.

(Update: Cuomo posted the appointments on his government website at 2:06 p.m.)

The nominations were politically strategic, which suggests that Cuomo is running again next year despite numerous investigations into alleged misconduct, including sexual harrassment and cover-up of nursing home deaths. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing.

Democrat Singas is supported by New York's affluent Greek community, who will likely make their appreciation known to Cuomo through large campaign contributions.

Mejias represents the surburban Latino vote. Linda Mejias was elected a Nassau Family court judge in 2017. Not sure why going to the Court of Claims is a step up.

Phil Solages, who serves as a counsel to the Democrats at the Nassau Board of Elections, has ties to the black community through his siblings. It also doesn't hurt that Michaelle Solages would be required to vote if the Assembly moves to impeach Cuomo.

These suburban appointments also could mean that Cuomo is looking to shore up his downstate popularity after reading the Siena College Research Institute poll released yesterday. The poll indicated that Cuomo's favorability had inched up statewide, but continued to sink among downstate suburban voters.

For now, if Singas is confirmed by the state senate, Executive Assistant District Attorney Joyce Smith, a black Democrat who came out of Queens, like Singas and Cuomo, will become acting district attorney.

 Singas named Smith as her successor on the same day in April that Singas was recommended by a judicial selection commission for the Court of Appeals. Smith would serve until the next election for district attorney in 2023*  but the governor does have the power to appoint a different candidate to serve out the remainder of Singas' term.

There is talk in Nassau political circles that State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach), a former federal prosecutor,  is seeking that appointment. That's just talk right now, but Kaminsky did attend a news conference with Cuomo last month at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant that Democratic County Executive Laura Curran and all Nassau legislators boycotted.

*CORRECTION: A reader said a new district attorney will be elected in this November's general election if Singas is confirmed to the Court of Appeals by the state senate.

The reader sent this citation: 

NY Public Officers Law

 

    § 42. Filling  vacancies  in  elective offices. 1. A vacancy occurring

  three months before the general election  in  any  year  in  any  office

  authorized  to be filled at a general election, except in the offices of

  governor or lieutenant-governor, shall be filled at the general election

  held next thereafter, unless otherwise provided by the constitution,  or

  unless previously filled at a special election.

Politically, that makes sense. If Kaminsky wants to run for district attorney, he would have a free shot because his senate term does not expire until next year.

 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CSEA retirees file suit to stop new contract insurance change (Updated)

Image
Civil Service Employee Association retirees today were in court attempting to stop a change in health insurance included in a new union contract scheduled to take effect Jan.1. The "Nassau Retirees Legal Fund" and eight other CSEA employees argue in a class action lawsuit filed today against Nassau and County Executive Bruce Blakeman in Nassau Supreme Court that they face  " imminent and irreparable medical, emotional, and financial harm because the County intends to deprive them of promised health benefits in 2024." The new contract negotiated between the union and Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman and ratified by members in August changes the health insurance from New York's Empire plan -- which provides platinum coverage -- to the New York Excelsior plan. The Excelsior plan is more costly for union members but less expensive for the county.  Update:  The state, meanwhile, has increased rates for the Excelsior plan -- in come cases by more than 40 pe
Read more

Nassau CSEA contract deal -- talk of the county for two days -- finally announced (UPDATED)

Image
Talk around Nassau County for the past two days has been that Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman had struck a new labor agreement, signed Monday, with the county's largest union, the Nassau Civil Service Employees Association. The CSEA, which include most non-law enforcement county employees, has been working without a contract since the end of 2017. As of June, there were 3,359 fulltime CSEA members. An announcement went out late today but it didn't say much: A spokesman for Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman did not respond to an email today asking when the CSEA deal would be announced. Everyone is looking at the CSEA because exempt employees -- county workers who are hired and fired at will -- traditionally are given the same benefits as the union members. But the exempts are not happy with some of the rumors about the agreement: one is that the CSEA will take a lesser health insurance plan in return for an upfront payment, perhaps of $1,500, for each member.
Read more

Eisenhower Park restaurant to be run by D'Amato client

Image
                                                                                A Manhasset group with ties to the food service business has won its bid to run a county-owned restaurant, cigar club, and golf concessions in Eisenhower Park,  replacing longtime operator Anthony Capetola. Capetola, a colorful Republican lawyer, has operated Carltun on the Park since 1995 through various license agreements and extensions under four different county executives, Republican and Democrat. But the county selected EGB Hospitality LLC of Manhasset from two proposals for a new 15-year operating license that begins this fall, with another five-year option, according to the deal submitted to the county legislature for approval on Monday. Lawyer Elias Trahanas, of Great Neck appears to be the lead principal in the five-member EGH group, along with his brother Bobby.  EGB Management Team Both Elias and Bobby trace their food service roots to the family-operated Golden Reef Diner in Rockville Centre, s
Read more