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Sheldon Leffler:
From A Different Mold

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

He’s not your typical politician. He doesn’t really enjoy campaigning. He’s not what you’d call a people person. He’s sure not a loyal “follow the party line” type guy. He doesn’t embrace his political leaders and they don’t embrace him.

He is a hard-working, fulltime elected official. He’s bright — very bright. Knows his stuff — real well. He sets a standard that is higher for himself than most elected officials can live by. In his 24 years in the Council, he’s been the prime sponsor of 42 pieces of legislation and co-prime on another 92 — a record, he claims with pride, that is unique and illustrative of the fact that unlike many colleagues, he gets things done.

I’ve known Sheldon Leffler for more than two decades. I’ve met him in restaurants, movie theaters, on the street campaigning, at cultural, charitable and political dinners. I’ve chatted often — for just a couple of moments — with Shelly and his wife Joy, his constant companion. I was pretty sure what to expect, but this was the first time Sheldon Leffler and I sat down alone, to chat.

He was good, but not exciting. He quoted Cardozo and was filled with usable one-liners, but delivers everything with bland efficiency. Don’t get me wrong — it’s not bad. It’s just not what you expect from a candidate for Borough President.

He carries around a diary containing recorded notes from a long career and regularly reaches for it as back up to substantiate his claims and validate his memory. But even without his weighty briefcase, you believe Sheldon.

You believe he is independent and not beholden to any special interest or party boss. You believe he conducts his political life with impeccable scruples guiding the way. He’s certainly not afraid to criticize those who stray from his straight and narrow.

“I have diary entries of Peter’s [Vallone] inappropriate actions,” he told me in response to my question concerning the Speaker’s use of public funds to further his candidacy. Leffler offered, “Similar things happened when he ran for governor, but they never raise it in budget. I’m a stickler that there is no conflict of interest.”

Almost poetically concluding the subject Sheldon smiled and said: “There’s no substitute for good judgment.”

He quickly rejected the label liberal and described himself as a fiscal conservative citing his background as a Wall Street attorney, with Debovoise and Plimpton, who is progressive on social issues. Then he accepted the liberal term when it referred to: “equal justice for all, tenant’s rights, and First Amendment freedoms.”

There was “more positive than negative” to Rudy Giuliani’s mayoralty. His effort to fight crime bore fruit and the mayor did his job with “tremendous effort.” But Leffler cited, “government by attacking people,” as the biggest flaw in the present administration.

Sheldon rejects the common political wisdom that he is running third in a field of three. “We have a poll that it can go to anyone of the three of us,” he insisted. When the Campaign Finance Board is done distributing funds, and his seven scheduled fundraisers are held, he believes that he will have as much to spend as either of the other candidates.

Race, according to Sheldon, has a corrosive effect on politics and shouldn’t be a factor when people vote. He believes the public is ready to elect qualified candidates from a number of different groups.

While he campaigned for the second referendum to dilute the term limit law, he rejected outright any attempt to legislatively overturn the will of the people and is very suspect of those that were involved in the attempt. He was super-critical of the State legislature ending the commuter tax.

While he claims his effective use of the Borough Presidency will achieve more for the people of Queens, he cites education, economic development and housing as the three most important public priorities.

“I’ve shown I can get things done.”

He believes each community must provide its fair share of services to the most needy and recognized the neediest areas require greatest help and therefore the greatest funding.

He’s against increasing taxes even for education; he’s for equal rights and benefits for domestic partners and he opposes legalized gambling.

He credits public financing with enabling him to be a viable candidate but reserves judgment on its effectiveness noting, “I wasn’t for it originally and it’s too early to tell.”

We seemed to frequently return to the question of honor and government. He readily attacks big money in campaigns and insists, “They [the lobbyists] do not simply want access.”

“No one should serve two masters,” he said as he explained why he is a fulltime councilperson.

“I don’t know how someone like Brian [McLaughlin] does it,” he says of what he sees as a conflict of interest for any candidate working for any special interest group including labor.

But when you try to pin him down, Leffler reaches into his bag of aphorisms.

“One of my rules in life,” he said almost smiling, “is not to have fixed rules.”

“I live the values of the Queens of my parents’ generation,” he said with pride. “From hard work comes achievement.”

His goal is simply, “To do good things in government.” If elected, after eight years, he won’t stop at Borough President.

Sheldon Leffler believes in himself and his ability to produce.

I closed by asking him, “What difference would your election mean to the people of Queens?”

“I’d make the Queens Borough President’s office as productive as possible and make our lives better.”

Herb Berman:
Gentle Wisdom, Firm Management

I have to learn not to prejudge politicians. I know that already. My folks taught me well. You don’t prejudge people — not even an old-time Brooklyn pol.

I have to work hard to remember not to paint everyone with the same brush. I mean. . . I know that already, but . . . .

Herb Berman & Mike Schenkler photo: Dee Richard

No, all politicians are not bad or self-serving. On the contrary, the majority — a large majority — are into it because public service is a rewarding and honorable calling. They don’t need the free meal, the questionable contribution and, more often than not, can get another job that is as rewarding financially. Herb Berman told me that.

I agree with Herb, most of them are in the game for the right reasons.

However, sometimes I run into an abuse by a public official and to borrow a Dennis Millerism, I go on a rant. It’s deserved and I’m sure I’m right.

But, I gotta stop hanging out with myself so much. Sometimes my rants are so effective (at least to me) that they are crusade-like and I lose sight of all the good guys. And yes, there are many, many of them — even from Brooklyn.

Herb Berman is a 24-year Brooklyn Council veteran who serves as the Council Finance chair and is one of two Democratic candidates for Comptroller — the Republicans don’t even have a candidate. Herb Berman is an old-time Brooklyn Councilmember. Herb Berman is one of the good guys.

After meeting his dynamic, bright, black opponent (also from Brooklyn), I could have easily convinced myself to write Herb off. His opponent is impressive, looks better, and seems to be the package for the “new” New York. I could have easily convinced myself.

What a mistake I would have made.

Herb is not as tall or as scholarly as Alan Hevesi, as aggressive as Mark Green, as powerful as Peter Vallone or as new-American as Freddy Ferrer. But as one who has spent two hours with each of the Democratic candidates for mayor, I believe Herb Berman understands and cares about this city at least as much, if not more than the four of them.

No, he’s not the good-looking package — smooth and well-spoken. He is just New York. He is everything good about our city and everything right about our city. He understands it — the old-timers and the newcomers. He loves it: the people, the neighborhoods, the government, the structure.

He is honest — scrupulously so. He’s a politician and has difficulty criticizing his colleagues for doing things he would never do.

In reaction to the gray area expenses of the Speaker’s mayoral campaign, Herb disapprovingly begged the question: “I’m not prepared to say he’s wrong.”

But, without pause asserted firmly, “I don’t do it!”

He shook his head disapprovingly each time I cited an alleged abuse of public funds for campaign purposes. He was disappointed at the acts, but chose not to condemn the perpetrators.

Nevertheless, he convinced us, Herb Berman won’t cheat the people.

Herb Berman is a cut above.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I liked Herb Berman.

If there is any validity to the argument that New York City needs experienced public servants to help guide the city while the new Council learns the ropes, there is no better mentor for the newcomers to rely on or the people to choose.

He’s compassionate, yet skilled in the ways of city government. He had no trouble praising the “incredible job” done by Rudy Giuliani, adding “But we can do more for minorities.”

He stands for all the right things and respects people’s rights. He doesn’t get rattled. He’s a charmer with a warm, endearing smile. If only he didn’t live in Brooklyn, I could be his friend. As a matter of fact, this guy has so much to offer, I’d overlook the fact that he probably grew up rooting for the Dodgers.

Herb brings to the table the experience, skills and knowledge to oversee the city’s budget. He is firm enough to give us confidence while maintaining the flexibility that comes from working in a city burdened with political bureaucracy.

Berman volunteered that Queens must get the largest share of the school system’s capital budget because of the shortage of seats for our school children. He knows the boroughs — Queens and the other four, too.

In reference to the stringent administration of Campaign Finance rules, Herb said of the board, “They often come down too hard on candidates. They torture people instead of providing guidance and help.”

He has managed and mastered the budget process. He is socially a liberal — proudly so.

Education and affordable housing came before economic development on Herb’s list of priorities.

If I needed to pick someone in this city to teach me the finer points of city government, I’d pick Herb Berman. As a matter of fact, next time I need a city expert, I’m going to call Herb. He impresses me as the kinda guy, who no matter how busy he is, will find the time to share his wisdom.

Not4Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

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

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