Martin Connor | The New York Observer

Not About Incumbency

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:54:14 -0400

One narrative that pervaded much of the coverage of Tuesday’s primary - specifically with Sheldon Silver and Marty Connor on the ballot - was the notion that it was turning into a referendum on incumbency. (Having Obama and McCain talk about “change” all the time only helped feed that notion.)

Which isn’t exactly how voters in the district saw things. Neither did some major power brokers, like the New York Hotel Trades Council,...

Connor-Squadron Numbers

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:34:57 -0400

Here, thanks to a knowledgeable reader, are some numbers from Dan Squadron's upset victory over 30-year incumbent State Senator Marty Connor.

It looks like Squadron pretty much won everywhere, which calls into some question the potency of the support Connor got from several local Democratic clubs that endorsed him, as well as the institutional support he had from other elected officials.

Also, it looks like labor, which went mostly for Squadron, played an important role....

Sheldon Silver Voter Not Looking for Change

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:50:40 -0400

I just got back from Greenwich and Chambers Street in Manhattan, where some Dan Squadron volunteers (at least one wearing an 1199 SEIU t-shirt) were handing out literature as a public school was letting out for the day.

One woman across the street, Roann Kolvenbach, handed back the Squadron flier she was given and said she didn’t know whether she was voting for him or for incumbent State Senator Marty Connor.

But...

Hitting Connor on Housing

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:25:45 -0400

Here’s an anti-Marty Connor mailing I picked up near the intersection of Delancey and Clinton Streets. It attacks some of Connor’s votes on housing in both English and Spanish.

It's an issue Connor's opponent, Dan Squadron, has made one of his main lines of criticism, although Connor's supporters disagree with the idea that he is un-progressive on housing.

The flier lists nearly every major person who endorsed Squadron. Except Michael Bloomberg and Anthony...

Sheinkopf Predicts: Squadron Wins Big, Parker Wins Small

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:09:29 -0400

Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf—who's seen many, many primaries—indulged me with a few predictions about the outcome of some of today's competitive races:

Assemblyman Sheldon Silver by 10 points.
State Senate challenger Dan Squadron by 10 points.
Representative Ed Towns by 8 to 10 points.
State Senator Kevin Parker by only 2 points.

Agree? Disagree?
...

Connor Gets Last-Minute Money

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:44:57 -0400

It's hard to spot the underdog between State Senator Marty Connor and his challenger Dan Squadron, partly because Connor has lagged behind Squadron in fund-raising.

Apparently, Connor is quickly making up some ground, just in time for tomorrow's primary.

Between September 2 and 4, Connor’s re-election committee received a total of $39,000, according to the State Board of Elections' web site.

Among the contributors were Connor himself ($15,000), the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee...

C.U. Picks Connor Over Squadron

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:11:27 -0400

Citizens Union announced it is backing State Senator Marty Connor for re-election over his challenger Dan Squadron.

C.U. basically calls it a draw on the question of which one is more progressive, but says Connor’s experience gives him an edge in actually implementing the agenda. Which completely ignores Squadron's complaint that there is little to show for all of Connor's years in office.

C.U. cites Squadron’s lack of disclosure with respect to his personal...

More Arguments for Newell, Other Local Endorsements

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:26:08 -0400

A former press guy for Howard Dean and Mark Green endorsed Assembly challenger Paul Newell, surrogate candidate Nora Anderson, and incumbent State Senator Marty Connor.

Brooklyn Papers endorsed Kevin Powell for congress, Dan Squadron over Marty Connor for State Senate, and Mike McMahon for congress.

Newell attacked Sheldon Silver’s spokesman for trashing a mailing sent by a Republican-funded organization.

And Streetsblog offers its own spin on what Silver has done for...

Connor Versus Squadron, Round II

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:11:16 -0400

Citizens Union is hosting a debate between Democratic State Senator Marty Connor and his primary challenger Dan Squadron on September 3.

Their first debate, last May, was organized by the liberal group Democracy for New York City.

Since then, endorsements have been rolled out on both sides. Connor got the support of his colleagues in the State Senate, and several members of Congress. Squadron was endorsed by Michael Bloomberg, Scott Stringer and Brian Kavanagh.

The debate...

'Green' Espaillat Welcomes Bloomberg's Support, Connor Says He Didn't Want It Anyway

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:44:31 -0400

Thirty-year incumbent State Senator Marty Connor's opponent, the Schumer-back first-time candidate Dan Squadron, was just endorsed by Michael Bloomberg.

Connor told me he's not interested in the mayor's support.

Reached on his cell phone just now, the senator said, “I’m proud that I have Democrats supporting me. The last time I looked, Mike Bloomberg wasn’t a Democrat. He was helping the Republicans keep the State Senate.”

Republican political consultant Gerry O’Brien isn’t sure what to...

Bloomberg Endorses Squadron

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:09:42 -0400

Michael Bloomberg just endorsed Democratic challenger Dan Squadron over incumbent Marty Connor for the State Senate.

Here’s the statement, from Squadron’s campaign.
Mayor Michel R. Bloomberg today endorsed Daniel Squadron in the Democratic Primary for the 25th Senate District in Manhattan and Brooklyn, citing Daniel's record in public service and his plans to bring overdue change to Albany.

"We'll never get reform in Albany if we don't send reformers there, and Daniel...

Connor Spokesman 'Terminates' Relationship With Campaign

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:39:33 -0400

Marty Connor no longer has Chad Marlow as a spokesman.

Marlow’s company “terminated its consulting relationship with the Connor For Senate 08 campaign,” he said in an email to reporters just now.

But he added, “The Public Advocacy Group wishes to express it continuing belief that State Senator Martin Connor remains the only qualified candidate running to represent the 25th State Senatorial District in this Fall’s primary and general elections.”

Marlow...

Nadler: Schumer Puts 'Personal Friendship Over Everything Else'

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:46:25 -0400

At a press conference on the City Hall steps just now, incumbent State Senator Marty Connor was endorsed by the five members of Congress whose districts overlap with his: Ed Towns, Nydia Velazquez, Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler. (Yvette Clarke is endorsing him too, but did not attend).

Afterward, I asked the group what they think of Chuck Schumer’s support of Connor’s opponent, Dan Squadron.

Nadler, the only one to answer...

'Senators That Matter' Endorse Connor

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:51:36 -0400

Marty Connor was endorsed by a number of his Democratic colleagues in the State Senate at a press conference on the City Hall steps just now.

While Connor racked up a good number of endorsements, his opponent, Dan Squadron, has the support of one very notable elected official: Chuck Schumer.

I asked two of these State Senators how they felt about Schumer’s involvement in the campaign.

Jeff Klein of the Bronx...

Russianoff's Verdict on Disputed Squadron Mailer: Correct

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:34:28 -0400

Pictured above is part of a mailing that Democratic State Senate candidate Dan Squadron is distributing to highlight his role in bringing transportation money back to New York.

Squadron, who is trying to unseat incumbent State Senator Marty Connor, has never held public office, but he used to be an aide to Chuck Schumer, and after that went to Knickerbocker SKD, a public relations firm that worked on work on the campaign for a bill...

Spokesman Supports Term Limits, and a 30-Year Incumbent

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:22:10 -0400

The spokesman for Marty Connor's re-election campaign, Chad Marlow, supports term limits, even though his boss, a state senator, has been in office since 1978.

In 2005, when the City Council was reportedly looking to alter the city's term-limit laws, Marlow authored a blog post on the Drum Major Institute’s web site called "Confessions of a Term Limits Convert." He wrote:
“If you believe our elected officials are largely comprised of highly talented,...

Spot the Liberal Reformer!

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:02:33 -0400

On the surface, the story is a familiar one.

A young insurgent, Dan Squadron, decides to challenge an entrenched incumbent, Marty Connor, in a State Senate race, in a year when public antipathy towards the ossified ways of Albany is greater than it has been in recent memory. The line between underdog liberal reformer and entrenched proponent of the status quo should be clear.

But a couple of unusual things have...

Squadron Campaign Out-Raises (and Mocks) Incumbent Connor

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:57:35 -0400

Democratic State Senate candidate Dan Squadron decisively out-raised incumbent Marty Connor, who he's challenging.

According to the latest campaign finance filing (January 2008 to July 2008), Squadron raised $226,166.27, spent $122,031.26, and was left with $293,192.01 on hand.

Connor raised $120,555, spent $40,093.08 and has $82,962.92 on hand.

That's a significant disparity, but in addition, Connor has a second campaign committee, called The Connor Committee, which, according to the filing from...

Cohen Defends DFNYC's Non-Endorsement in Connor-Squadron Race

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:44:22 -0400

Lewis Cohen, DFNYC finance director, is striking back against critics who were baffled by the organization's decision not to endorse in the race between State Senator Marty Connor and his challenger, former Chuck Schumer aide Dan Squadron.

Cohen said both candidates posed problems for the group’s progressive membership.

Some members of DFNYC didn’t think Connor had been outspoken enough on congestion pricing, Cohen told me, nor did they think that his work...

CWA Union Endorses Squardon

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:06:11 -0400

Here’s more endorsement news from the race between State Senator Marty Connor and his challenger, former Chuck Schumer aide Dan Squadron.

The Communication Workers of America Local 1 announced they are endorsing Squadron. For an insurgent, that's a major coup.

It's also worth noting that the union’s statement acknowledges there isn't much difference between the two candidates on policy:
Squadron's opponent—Senator Martin Connor—has been in office for decades. In the...

Silver Opponent Quotes Silver Ally to Pressure Silver

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:21:38 -0400

One of Sheldon Silver’s Democratic opponents is asking him to release his tax returns, and, in making the case for him to do so, is quoting one of Silver's allies: Marty Connor.

In this Downtown Express article, Connor, who has been Silver's legislative partner and election lawyer for years, said he would release his own taxes for the last five years and says, “Why not do it?"

“Why not Mr. Speaker?”...

Lambda Endorses Connor, Declines to Endorse in Towns-Powell Race

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:46:06 -0400

Brooklyn’s oldest and largest gay Democratic club, Lambda Independent Democrats, endorsed neither Representative Ed Towns nor his challenger, Kevin Powell, at its endorsement meeting last night.

In the heated State Senate race between State Senator Marty Connor and his challenger, Dan Squadron, the club chose Connor.

I've put in some calls to find out more--I'll update when I hear back.

The full list of Lambda endorsements:

President
Barack Obama

US...

Connor-Squadron Debate Echoes Presidential Race

Mon, 19 May 2008 09:07:21 -0400

The closing statements from yesterday’s debate between 30-year incumbent State Senator Marty Connor and his Democratic challenger, former Chuck Schumer aide Dan Squadron, captured one of the most significant dynamics of this race (and the presidential one): the clash between experience and change. Squadron painted Connor’s as insufficiently progressive, while Connor characterized Squadron as naive about politics in Albany.

More specifically, at about the two-minute mark, Squadron, 28, says Connor helped kill the...

Ask (Some of) the Candidates: Silver, Connor, Squadron, Newell, Henry

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:30:57 -0400

Democracy for New York City, the progressive group related to Howard Dean's Democracy for America, is holding a forum on Sunday, May 18 for the candidates in two upcoming elections: the one for Sheldon Silver's Assembly seat, and the challenge to State Senator Marty Connor.

And they are asking you (yes, you!) to submit questions online.

Paul Newell and Luke Henry, who are both competing in the Democratic primary against Silver, have...

Connor Responds to Squadron Attack

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:27:25 -0400

State Senate candidate Dan Squadron, trying to unseat Marty Connor, is framing the race as one between two wings of the Democratic Party, progressive and establishment--and he made his first issue the politics of Albany. In doing so, he drew attention to some of the vagueness of those terms.

Yesterday, right after the Squadron campaign sent a release announcing his “Summer of Accountability: A Difference Between Democrats campaign," which is supposed to contrast Squadron's...

Connor to Squadron: 'Get Ready'

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:11:40 -0400

State Senator Marty Connor responded to his opponent, Dan Squadron, after Squadron made an early campaign attack this morning by recalling Connor’s 2004 tax lien.

Connor said, “I think it’s really pathetic they begin a campaign in April with such a negative attack.” Squadron, Connor says, "has no record in the community, never served on a community board, and all he does is attack, attack, attack.”

Told that Squadron won’t release his...

Ex-Schumer Guy Squadron Mocks Connor on Taxes

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:14:10 -0400

With Schumer-esque intensity, Dan Squadron, who is running to unseat State Senator Marty Connor, just released a “helpful note” to his opponent, incumbent state Senator Marty Connor just now, reminding him to pay his taxes today.

The election is in September.

The release, which is clearly intended to be more of a reminder for the likes of me than for Connor, refers to a 2004 tax lien filed against Connor which he...

Schumer Says Squadron Won't 'Lose Touch'

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:34:06 -0400

Here’s Chuck Schumer endorsing Dan Squadron yesterday in lower Manhattan. Squadron, a former Schumer aide, is trying to unseat State Senator Marty Connor.

Schumer didn't mention that Connor failed to support Schumer in his 1998 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, but did say (around the 6:10 mark), “Another thing I look for when someone’s in office for a long time, is that they’re not going to lose touch.”

Later, I asked Squadron...

Democratic Establishment for Connor

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:50:36 -0400

Dan Squadron is trying to unseat fellow Democrat Marty Connor for state Senate, in the district that represents lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

But more interesting than the people on the ballot are how Demoratic power brokers are lining up in that fight. Schumer is supporting Squardon, his former aide, against Connor, who didn’t support Schumer in his 1998 primary for Senate.

But as the invitation for Connor’s May 8th fund-raiser at the...

Schumer for Squadron

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:08:28 -0400

Charles Schumer made his endorsement of insurgent Democratic state senate candidate Dan Squadron official today, siding with his former aide over the incumbent Democrat, Marty Connor.

In statement released by his spokesman's private email account, Schumer said Squadron “is a true blue Democrat; I am proud to endorse him and look forward to working with him as he builds to victory."

Connor, speaking to Liz earlier, said Schumer's endorsement of Squadron is...

Squadron's Senate Fund-Raiser: Lots of Staff, Few Electeds

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:26:15 -0500

The crowd at Dan Squadron's kick-off state Senate campaign fund-raiser at a bar in NoLita last night was full of young professionals, and had the feel of an insider's party.

Squadron's friends and family were heavily represented--his brother and at least two former classmates from Fieldston High School (class of '98) were there. Also, a number of the partygoers were employees of elected city officials and declined to be identified by name. ...

Rangel Becomes a Negative Ad in Queens G.O.P. Fight

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:30:46 -0400

You know things have gotten weird in a small local primary when Republicans start putting images of Charlie Rangel on their literature.

This piece, which I heard is circulating in Queens, is linking the Queens County Republican Chairman, Phil Ragusa, to Rangel, who thinks Dick Cheney has mental problems.

The mail piece references a 2002 donation of $1000 that Ragusa made to Rangel’s committee and notes that Rangel help engineer the Democratic takeover of congress...

Good for Spitzer

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 07:05:51 -0500

"He's setting a great example," said state Senator Martin Connor of Eliot Spitzer's self-imposed campaign contributions limits and attendance at fund-raisers. But the great example, Connor made clear, isn't for him. "This doesn't apply to me. No, we'd have to change the law. None of this applies to legislators," Connor said. "Realistically, this executive order doesn't even apply to the state comptroller or attorney general." Connor, who was in a tight primary race this year, did say that...

Spitzer's Example

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:23:44 -0500

"He's setting a great example," said state Senator Martin Connor of Eliot Spitzer's self-imposed campaign contributions limits and attendance at fund-raisers. And by great example, he means for other people. "This doesn't apply to me. No, we'd have to change the law. None of this applies to legislators," Connor said. "Realistically, this executive order doesn't even apply to the state comptroller or attorney general." True. When asked, incoming AG Andrew Cuomo's people sent the following statement:

"It is...

Replacements

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:30:00 -0400

On Room 8, Yoda beat me to the punch in writing about how a statewide elected official - like a comptroller for example - is replaced if he steps down in mid-term. Here, with an assist from election law expert Martin Connor, is the deal: Replacement candidates are selected by the both houses of the state legislature, where Democrats currently have enough votes to pick who they want. (That would make for some interesting negotiations...

Diamondstone Reinstated

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 16:11:04 -0400

Ken Diamondstone was reinstated to the ballot today in the race for Brooklyn's 25th senate district after a week's worth of court appearances. He will face Marty Connor in the primary September 12. Stay tuned for more as we hear back from both candidates. —Nicole Brydson UPDATE: Diamondstone press release after the jump. Ken Diamondstone was reinstated to the ballot today in the race for Brooklyn's 25th senate district after a week's worth of court appearances....