Steve Sanders

Former Manhattan Assemblyman turned lobbyist Steve Sanders and, pictured above, the Brooklyn Assemblywoman indicted for bribery, Diane Gordon.

-- Azi Paybarah

The names swirling around for Pete Grannis' seat include his chief of staff Tony Morenzi, the neighboring Assemblyman's chief of staff Barry Klein and local state committee member Micah Kellner.

A simple (and simplistic) scouting report would go something like this: Klein is affable, and he knows the district well. Kellner is something of wonder boy who worked on several local races and works for the city comptroller now. Morenzi is apt to get the endorsement of his boss, which makes him, I suppose, the front-runner.

On the other hand, that last distinction might be of limited value here.

Remember when Manhattan Assemblyman Steve Sanders retired, and his chief of staff Steve Kauffman ran for the seat? He was considered the front-runner and the presumed beneficiary of whatever operation kept Sanders re-elected for more than two decades.

But because there had been no solid fund-raising or grassroots operation built up to keep Sanders in place, there was never much of an inheritance for Kaufman. He lost the county endorsement to outsider Sylvia Friedman (who was then defeated for re-election by Brian Kavanagh) and that was that.

There may be a similar hierarchical power vacuum in the Grannis district.

Of the roughly 200 county committee seats in the district, about 30 are filled. That means, essentially, that the Democratic nomination could be determined by as few as 16 people.

Which is to say that this thing is wide open.

-- Azi Paybarah

The complex, weighted County Committee members' vote on who will get the Democratic nomination to succeed two departing members of the State Assembly is by definition an inside process, but yesterday's results suggest that it isn't quite as under control as, say, the bygone institution of judicial conventions. (Nostalgia sets in fast around here!)

Scott Stringer's choice to take his West Side seat, Linda Rosenthal, won a first round victory, albeit over a real challenge; but on the East Side, Sylvia Friedman Freedman beat Steve Sanders's preferred candidate for his seat.

The retiring Lower East Side Assembly Member, Steve Sanders, has apparently made his choice in the coming race to succeed him.

"I am indeed going to run to succeed Sanders," emails Steve Kaufman, Sanders' chief of staff and a leading contender. "Of course, one election at a time, and the Governor must call a special election, as you know. At any rate, I am definitely running and anticipate broad party/county committee support."  read more »

He adds: "Sanders endorsing me for the post."

Assemblyman Steve Sanders, the chairman of the body's powerful education committee, has announced he's serving his last term, and a Politicker source says he's likely to join the lobbying firm of Crane and Vacco.

Which, in Albany, is considered a promotion.

Anyway, this would seem to pave the way for a return to public life for City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez.

CORRECTION: A reader who knows his way around the Assembly writes in: "He's actually resigning on 1/1/06 and not even finishing his term. That means there will likely be a special election next year."  read more »