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Archives: June '06
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The Modern Political Machine - Some things have changed, some have not Staten Island for Democrats? - Registration says yes, but Marchi race raises doubts McFarland Volunteers Seek Jobs, Security Connor-Diamondstone Court Case Comes to a Close Diamondstone Making It Rough for Martin Connor Race For Dollars in 74th Assembly Battle Connor Seeks to Knock Primary Challenger from Ballot Quinn’s Budget Reforms Called Good First Step Farrell’s Future Uncertain Search for Campaign Finance Board Director Underway Pasta with Helen Marshall The Congressional Race No One Wanted
The Rangel Wannabees Marty Connor’s Long, Hot Summer State of the Unions Wooing and Winning in the AG’s Race Stop Knocking the Opportunists Letters to the Editor A Modest Proposal to Avoid the Albany Infighting Pataki Blowing Smoke on Cigarette Tax In the Chair Troubled Youth no Trouble for Sara Gonzalez The Hairpiece For Those Who Top the City Council Rug, Quinn’s Locks Make the Cut The Notepad: Marcia Kramer Imagemakers Full Court Press from Knickerbockers Elsewhere The Problems and Promise of Citywide Wireless Where Are They Now? — Carol Bellamy In the Trenches A Lawnmower Ride to Borough Hall Crystal Ball On the Agenda Hall-Way Eating: Reach for Ruben’s A Missed Opportunity to Expand by Paula Gavin Poverty is the Problem, Not Public Schools by Amy Stuart Wells Focus on Students and Teachers Before Charters by City Council Member Robert Jackson Performance, Not Politics, Should Dictate Charter Expansion by Peter Murphy
K.T. McFarland (R) has had her paid signature gatherers stationed in Bryant Park for the past several days, trying to secure her an independent ballot line. But for a candidate locked in such a fierce and fiery battle, her campaign’s employees seem somewhat lukewarm on the idea of seeing McFarland make it to the Senate.
“She’s not going to make it,” said one volunteer to one of the park’s janitors, as she cajoled him into pausing from emptying a garbage can.
He is a Democrat, the man told her.
“I’m a Democrat, too,” she said.
Finally, he relented, taking the clipboard from her to sign.
“If she makes it, I’m coming after you,” he said.
“Okay,” she said, laughing off the idea that any of it will come true.
Three minutes later and 40 feet away, another volunteer interrupted people reading newspapers and books to ask if they were registered to vote in New York.
Does that volunteer like McFarland?
“Not really,” she said, explaining “this is the only job I can get,” before launching into a short speech about the importance of ballot access, which bore the marks of being recited many times to doubtful Democrats.
McFarland is, after all, looking to create and run as the candidate of the Jobs & Security Party. She needs to file at least 15,000 valid signatures with the Board of Elections by August 22.
She is also facing down former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer for the Republican nomination Sept. 12, aiming to take on Sen. Hillary Clinton, if she survives the low-polling anti-war Democratic primary challenge from Jonathan Tasini.