Sheinkopf Going Republican for Oddo

Sally Goldenberg reports that Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf will be the lead consultant to Republican Jimmy Oddo’s campaign for Staten Island Borough President.

Oddo's likely opponent, Council member Mike McMahon, played Sheinkopf's reputation (he worked on Bill Clinton’s 1996 re-election campaign, among many others) in a tongue-in-cheek effort to position himself as the earnest underdog.

"I am just a simple, plain City Councilman working hard to represent the people in my district -- I don't know anything about those high-powered consultants like Hank Sheinkopf," McMahon told the Staten Island Advance.

When I spoke to Sheinkopf, he told me he hasn't actually signed contract yet with Oddo. He also took issue with McMahon's comments.

"There's nothing high-falutin' about me," Sheinkopf said. "I'm an ex-cop with a C.U.N.Y. degree who couldn't afford anything else."

Sheinkopf has never worked for a Republican candidate.