Democrats in Queens this morning picked district leader Michael Den Dekker to replace Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette on the ballot in September.
“I am honored to be asked to replace such an esteemed member of the assembly,” Den Dekker told me in a brief interview. “I was amazed that this process even happened, and I Read More
Rep. Joseph Crowley was unanamously elected the new Democratic county leader of Queens at 8:30 this morning, even securing a vote from City Councilman Hiram Monserrate, Crowley called to say.
As I noted before, the real story here isn’t the continuation of the city’s most effective political machine, which was built under Crowley’s predecessor and Read More
Tom Manton came to political prominence representing a conservative white Congressional district in Queens, but cemented his legacy as the county’s undisputed Democratic political boss by bringing the ideologically and ethnically diverse borough to consensus.
So when he died on July 22 after a long illness at the age of 73, the unity of opinion Read More
Can there be another Tom Manton?
He brought his county organization back from the wreckage of the Manes era, managing to impose something resembling unity on a wounded organization. And he did it in the face of massive change, staying ahead of Queens’ radically changing demographics by supporting candidates from emerging ethnic communities.
Speculation has Read More
The Sun asks if the budget will strain the Mayor’s relationship with the Speaker; and Tom Manton gives up his day job.
Over at the Daily News, Ben Smith writes about the Clinton-Murdoch relationship.
The Post writes that Peter Kalikow may endorse Hillary Clinton.
And the Times looks at the Sweeney-Gillibrand Read More
Tom Manton, the Queens Democratic leader, offered a rare defense of political machines at City Hall today:
“The bosses are always there to be kicked around. If you haven’t gotten any better lines beat up on the bosses. The bosses — you’ve got two assemblymen here and one former member of congress for Read More
County Democratic leaders have begun making calls on behalf of Christine Quinn’s bid for City Council Speaker, people close to the race tell The Politicker.
“It’s pretty much signed, sealed, and delivered,” said Leroy Comrie of Queens, who confirmed that his county leader, Tom Manton, is backing Christine Quinn of Manhattan. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Read More
We hear Queens leader Tom Manton is backing Giff.
Queens is the strongest county party in town, and while Freddy has made some inroads there lately, this is a real win for Miller. The Queens move also blows out of the water a particularly tempting (to us!) conspiracy theory that had been circulating around Read More
