Queens is a political power.

It has for decades been the dominant Democratic County organization in the State. A seamless transfer of power to Congressman Joe Crowley after the death of County Leader Tom Manton was attested to last week in the first major instance of political poker in the Crowley era.

South Queens State Senator Malcolm Smith was chosen to lead the Democratic Senate caucus – a group closer to taking control of the State Senate than any time in the past 40-plus years. Smith will replace Manhattan’s David Paterson who did not stand for re-election, opting instead to seek an easy path as Eliot Spitzer’s running mate for Lieutenant Governor. In announcing his victory last week, Smith clearly indicated that winning a majority in the NYS Senate was out of reach this year, but clearly set as his goal taking control of the body in 2008.

If trends continue and Smith’s predicition becomes reality, that would make him one of the State’s “three men in a room.” The Senate Majority Leader, the Assembly Speaker and the Governor have for decades ruled the State roost seeking little input from others.

With Eliot Spitzer an apparent shoo-in for Governor and the NYS Assembly so heavily Democratic that Sheldon Silver or a possible 2008 Dem replacement will head that body, Smith’s success in capturing a majority would, for the first time in my lifetime, put three Democrats in the room of power. (Brief weekend research can’t seem to locate a previous time when all three positions were held by Dems. We have back tracked more than 60 years without success. Better informed readers are invited to let us know when the Dems last controlled the State’s two houses and the Governor’s Mansion.)

Smith walked away with the prize after weeks of political maneuvering. Score a big one for him one for Crowley who helped him, and one for Queens.


LOOKING BACK

“In 2000, as a result of a strange incident, we first encountered both State Senator Smiths -- Malcolm and his fellow Southeast Queens State Senator Ada Smith. Excerpts from our June 15, 2000 column follow:

“The State’s newest Senator dropped by the office to introduce himself: bright and engaging, this protégé of Southeast Queens political guru Reverend Floyd Flake is going places. He’s knowledgeable and confident and seems to have his priorities straight. Hopefully, he’ll stay on course and not let the system corrupt or divert him.

We briefly discussed our column of two weeks ago where we disclosed that he and Senator Ada Smith had sent out identical press releases on the state budget, containing identical quotes. The release was actually Malcolm’s but also was sent out as Ada’s due to a Democratic minority staff error; a different one belonged to Ada.

So we had a reporter call Ada, who was unpleasant and rude on the telephone and questioned why we would ask about a release when it was a “clerical” error. Our reporter requested Ada’s correct release on the budget and was informed there was none.

Senator Ada Smith had a two page 700-plus word release sent out in error which was the property of Senator Malcolm Smith. There has been no retraction, correction or replacement release sent out by or on behalf of Ada. Therefore, all the media who have not read my column still think Ada’s release was her own. She continues to take credit for Malcolm’s words.

Should she put in writing that due to a clerical error (on the part of others) she mistakenly issued a release and used quotes belonging to another?

In private industry, such transgressions – between companies – would be dealt with by litigation and financial settlements. If within a company, someone’s head would likely roll and apologies would be issued. For our kids in school, suspensions, expulsions and punishments are meted out for using the words of another and not accepting responsibility and acting appropriately when discovered.

In the State Senate, they dismiss it as an error and Senator Ada Smith is annoyed when we ask.

Hey Ada, it could have been as simple as: “Yesterday, the State Senate minority staff sent out under my name a press release belonging to my colleague Malcolm Smith. Although I agree with the content and statements of Senator Malcolm Smith, the release and statements belong to him. My statement on the state budget follows...”

That’s how it would have been handled in the real world.

I guess school children and private industry have higher standards than government.

Ada’s been around awhile.

We sure hope the same values don’t rub off on Malcolm.”

Now, six years later each Queens Senator Smith has apparently been rewarded with what they deserve.
We wish Malcolm well.

Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.