This column, the column below and the diet of political pundits have been dominated recently by a new recipe in Albany. Those of us who nibble and chew on local politics for fun or profession have been absorbed by the reform menu and the highly-spiced side dishes served up by a governor and his nouvelle political cuisine.

Eliot Spitzer has entered the kitchen waving cleavers and cooking with jalapenos, serving up entrées to a State Legislature that cannot stomach change.

The Legislature has spent the past decade plus dining on food prepared in kitchens of lobbyists, contributors and special interest groups. Their Executive Chefs, Bruno and Silver, controlled each and every ingredient and told the legislators how much to eat and when. And now, when being offered some creative items from a reform menu, the members are fearful that digestive systems, fat-laden and accustomed only to pablum-like flavors, may not be safe at the table of the new governor.

Now, the food metaphor can go on, but the recipe is pretty clear. The public deserves the very best. For years the public has gotten the very worst. The worst legislature in the 50 states has merely talked of reform while they fattened themselves with self-serving practices. Their talk of reform resulted only in cosmetic changes.

The people have been heard and Eliot Spitzer is the instrument of change. No, Spitzer is not perfect. And perhaps, the initial diet he offered was a bit too spicy. But his diet of reform is what the people want.

The overriding issue is simple: each and every action of an elected official must be dictated by what is in the best interest of the people. Clearly, years of self-serving redistricting, secretive member items, out-of-control campaign contributions and finance laws, lobbyist influence and institutional structure has served its leaders and members well-but not the people.

Eliot Spitzer has come offering change. He has not done so with the politeness expected by many. But when a body is so hardened by its diet of fat, extreme treatment may be called for. The State Legislature, Shelly Silver and Joe Bruno have only given change lip service when asked nicely. They have been pretenders to reform and have continued to fail the people.

While Spitzer must still run the government – his budget and programs must be passed and his appointments approved – his overriding mandate is to bring change to the Albany culture.

Spitzer has started stirring the pot. He has tossed in some very hot peppers. He has caused acute upset in the staid digestive system of the Albany status quo. His ingredients are different; his techniques radical.

His kitchen contains the finest ingredients, passion and flair typical in the top kitchens of this nation.

Spitzer is cooking.

And like the new hot TV show Iron Chef America, he is in command of his kitchen. With a no-holds-barred attitude, he has set out to revolutionize the Albany kitchen and bring respectablility back to the legislative dining rooms.

We sit and watch with gusto as he chops and dices and heats things up with aromas the State Capital has not experienced in decades.

At the end of the day, we believe his meal will be served up to rave reviews, changing the kitchen and culture of Albany and ulitmately nourishing the people of the state.

Your legislator has the opportunity to experience the new tastes or continue to play obstructionist.

We only hope that we all don’t get too hungry waiting for the main course.

Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.