By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

Tom Manton and his party insiders play the game well — very well. Monday morning’s Democratic County Executive endorsement meeting ran like clockwork in spite of the fact that the District Leaders’ allegiances were scattered and disparate.

Manton’s minions had worked their magic as the party leaders fell in line behind their County Leader. Much of the maneuvering had taken place during the several preceding days, witnessing Karen Koslowitz and Audrey Pheffer’s withdrawal from the Queens Beep race leaving Helen Marshall as the County designee in a three-way race against Sheldon Leffler and Carol Gresser.

Manton rallied his troops behind Alan Hevesi, but was unable to convince Peter Vallone to withdraw from the Mayoral race and accept a judgeship. Queens Dem support, however, invigorated the Hevesi effort while driving another nail into the coffin of a fading Vallone candidacy.

Manton’s choices of Scott Stringer for Publc Advocate and Bill Thompson for Comptroller received the party’s blessing.

Although there were few surprises in the County’s Council choices (see story page 5), two districts caused heads to turn.

In the 23rd district, David Weprin received the party’s expected nod, however his major competitor, Bernice Siegel, withdrew from the race to accept a Civil Court nomination, leaving an easy path for Weprin. Longtime party regular Sid Strauss was named to the other Civil Court slot.

Borough Hall’s Barry Grodenchik received County’s nod in the 24th Council District when Jeff Gottlieb surprisingly withdrew his candidacy. Rumors abound as to the tasty morsel put on the plate of Gottlieb and his political rabbi, Councilman Morton Povman, to motivate Jeff to step aside and claim it to be in the name of "party unity." This columnist will watch for a special election in central Queens and bet that the name Jeff Gottlieb will be on the tip of Tom Manton’s tongue in selecting the Dem candidate. None of the parties would confirm such a deal existed. But you can bet, Gottlieb will be taken care of.

Three council races were held over while Manton and company smooth away the rough edges.

In two of the three Council seats yet to be decided by the Dem Executive Committee, Manton has to deal with renegade District Leader Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio. According to published reports, Seminerio who has been as close to the GOP as he has to his own party, is in control of the votes for the 30th Council seat which Manton has promised to 23-year-old Elizabeth Crowley, cousin of Congressman Joe. The younger Crowley switched districts at Manton’s behest, but the County Leader has so far been unable to deliver the designation.

Reports have Seminerio, who has the votes in that district, holding it hostage demanding that Manton back his son John for the Council seat in the 32nd. Others suggest that Seminario is really looking to help Republicans Dennis Gallagher win the 30th District seat.

In the 32nd, the field includes several District Leaders as well as Joe Addabbo Jr., son of the late Congressman and perceived by some as the frontrunner.

In the 21st, District Leader Hiram Monserratte’s designation was put on hold because of the objection of Beep candidate Helen Marshall, according to published reports.

Manton seems to have worked out the kinks in most of the party’s designations. If his efforts are as effective with the remaining seats, look for Hiram Monseratte, Liz Crowley and Joe Addabbo, Jr. to emerge as the party’s designees in their respective seats.

There is still work ahead for Tom Manton. His advisors have stated the three seats will be wrapped up by week’s end. It could be a long week.

Next Step

Next arises the question of party discipline. Will Manton attempt to keep all his clubs in line or will leaders be allowed to take liberties and have their members carry petitions for non-designated candidates?

Manton’s minions next test will be where they have previously excelled — denying ballot access to their opponents. The Dem Law committee has an effective record of knocking opponents off of the ballot due to questionable signatures and/or technicalities. Most effective non-designated candidates anticipate a ballot challenge and will take serious steps (including the hiring of professionals and attorneys) to insure they remain on the ballot.

In the weeks to come, we will look at the individual Council races. While County’s candidates all seem to be competitive, many will face serious challenges. However, Manton can expect to win with a majority of his picks. Those victories coupled with the renewed support from the black leadership delighted with the Beep designation, should keep Tom Manton in the Queens Democratic driver’s seat for as long as he chooses to drive.

Kudos to Tony Avella!

Avella, a candidate in a tightly contested race for the 19th District has announced that he has left his position as chief of staff to State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky in order to campaign full time.

Followers of this column are acutely aware of our continual criticism of those folks on the public payroll using time and resources paid for by tax dollars to promote their candidacy.

We have called for candidates to avoid appearances of impropriety. Avella is the first candidate to inform us of a decision to leave a government position in order to campaign.

Score one for Tony!

Share Your Opinion:
The Paradox of Prejudice

By: MICHAEL SCHENKLER

I’ve got a problem, and I need some help, please.

Some background, first.

I’m a child of the sixties. Some of you immediately identify with that; some of you can only dream of that wonderful time gone by where us kids learned how to explore and live. I was raised in a progressive home. I was, if I dare say, a "liberal."

Shhh! (I still am). But don’t tell anyone — you know, the "L" word has become politically questionable. I’m not sure why. We believed and still believe in equal opportunity for all. We believe that society has an obligation to care for its less fortunate. We oppose hunger and homelessness anywhere. Science and technology should be used to provide improved health care for all and everyone deserves an improved quality of life.

No, not handouts; not socialism — you know, sharing — the golden rule type thing.

Yeah, "liberals" are real dangerous. We want peace instead of war.

Webster defines "liberal" as: suitable for a freeman; broadminded, tolerant; politically favoring reform or progress, tending toward democracy and personal freedom.

The English "liberal" meaning "befitting free men, noble, generous," was borrowed from the Old French word spelled the same way, in the early 14th century (originally, Latin: liberalis). According to the Barnhardt Concise Dictionary of Etymology, "The sense of ‘free from prejudice’ or ‘tolerant’ is first recorded in 1776-88, followed by the political sense of ‘favoring constitutional change and legal reform.’"

Well, I’m a liberal and seriously proud to say it. I’m proud that my parents instilled in me values that I still hold dear today: all men (and women) are created equal and stuff like that. My father’s progressive politics and outlook was passed onto his son. In my family, race, color, sex, national origin, sexual preference, really didn’t matter — they still don’t. I strive to insure that my children are free from prejudice. It looks to me, like I’ve been successful.

We work hard, living true to a philosophy and then we run into those intellectual conundrums that seem to challenge the very basis of the philosophy. Allow me to explain.

Take affirmative action, no, it really isn’t right. Let’s not take it. Or should we?

To clarify, affirmative action, when referring to race, would allow minorities (blacks) to move to the front of the line in hiring or education in order to compensate for the years they were discriminated against and made to stand on the back of the line (or on no line at all). It sure seems fair. Doesn’t it?

But, shouldn’t we be colorblind and not treat blacks differently because they are black? Should we start discriminating against whites by allowing blacks to move ahead of them and therefore suffer upon them the same injustice we seek to remedy?

And Latinos? Native Americans? Asians? Where in line do they stand? Or are we all to be treated equally?

You’ll get no answers here, only more questions.

Color Blind Ballot Box?

Should Freddy Ferrer be given special consideration by the Latinos (and other minority groups), when casting their votes for Mayor? Should Helen Marshall be moved ahead of someone more qualified by a black voter just because Helen is black? That is a hypothetical and not to say Freddy and Helen aren’t the most qualified.

But if they aren’t, should we bonus them? Should people of their own ethnic group reward them at the ballot box? Should we view them as members of an ethnic group or as candidates (just people) running for office? Should people vote based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual preference. Should Jews give extra consideration to Jews? Blacks to blacks? Gays to gays? I don’t think my liberal father would have approved.

Last week, I stated my initial preferences for Mayor and Queens Borough President. Coincidentally, even though there were five Jews of the eight candidates I evaluated, I selected two of the three non-Jews. No, not a reaction to my religion, it just didn’t come into play. Perhaps if I were voting for ambassador to the Middle East, I would have considered my heritage.

I could vote for a gay candidate, a black candidate, a Latino, a Native American, an Asian, a handicapped Muslim. It really doesn’t matter to me. Should it?

To simplify, let’s go back to where we started.

Now we don’t want whites voting against Helen Marshall because she’s black or Freddy Ferrer because he’s Hispanic, should we want blacks voting for Helen Marshall because she’s black or for Freddy because he’s Latino? Or do we want everyone voting for the best candidate?

If it’s not easy being green, does the green guy deserve extra points?

Now, this is not an intellectual exercise, we’d like to know what you think.

Whadyathink?

Readers, voters, candidates, rabbis, ministers, gay, black, white and green, Asian, Latino, Jewish and Christian, Muslim, we want your opinion.

When people cast their votes, should they consider race, religion, sexual preference, etc?

Share your opinion by fax (718) 357-0972; by mail M. Schenkler, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY, 11365. Or, email: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

Not4Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

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