Singas, Solages and Mejias all get Cuomo nominations (UPDATED)
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| 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
three months before the general election in any year in
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.
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