(Rick Karlin/Times Union)
The Democratic-controlled State Senate is famously divided among blocs: There is an Hispanic bloc, an African American, and progressive bloc as well as a bloc of conservative/moderate Democrats.
Now there may be another bloc: Women Against Espada.
If they get elected, that is.
Schenectady’s Susan Savage and Saratoga’s Joanne Yepsen (l-r) are among the five upstate Democratic challengers who have pledged that, if elected, they won’t vote for Pedro Espada as Majority Leader. Also joining the group, organized by activist Bill Samuels,(l) are Mary Wilmot, Robin Wilt and Kathleen Joy who are challenging incumbent Republicans James Alesi and Joe Robach in the Rochester area and John DeFrancisco in Syracuse.
“I will not be casting a vote for Pedro Espada,” said Sue Savage, chair of the Schenectady County Legislature, who is challenging incumbent Republican Hugh Farley in the 44th SD.
“If he is in the Senate he will not get my vote,” added Yepsen, a county supervisor representing Saratoga Springs, who is challenging 43rd SD incumbent Republican Roy McDonald.
Espada, if you recall, became majority leader last year in return for his coming back to the Democratic fold following the now infamous coup in which he and since-ousted Sen. Hiram Monserrate briefly joined the Republicans, creating several weeks of chaotic partisan gridlock in the upper house.
Since then, Samuels, the Democratic activist who briefly ran for Lt. Gov. earlier this year, has created a reform group, the New Roosevelt Initiative, which, among other goals, is looking to defeat or at least marginalize Espada. He working with Democratic strategist Doug Forand of Red Horse Strategies.
There are couple of observations about this whole affair.
For one thing, there is enough concern that Espada will get re-elected — despite his unpopularity with many Democrats — that some are already looking to at least keep him from having any power in the conference. The DSCC, as we noted earlier today, isn’t giving Espada any financial help but Samuel readily admits that he could get re-elected despite persistent and heavily reported campaign finance violations and legal scrutiny surrounding his other job as the operator of a health care clinic, as well as questions about whether he really resides in his Bronx district or at a home he owns in Westchester.
Samuels notes that Espada is drawing between 30 percent and 35 percent in polls for September’s primaries. The trouble is, Espada is facing a three way primary, with a potential split between his challengers, Gustavo Rivera, who has the backing of Samuels and much of the state party, and Dan Padernacht.
With that in mind, Democrats would at least like to sideline Espada if he is re-elected.
Of course, these women aren’t the only Dems who oppose Espada. Delmar’s Neil Breslin has long made his distaste for Espada well known and Liz Krueger is donating to his opponent.
If Democrats control more than the 32 seats they now have compared to the GOP’s 30, neither Espada, nor anyone for that matter, would control crucial swing votes. Women or not, Espada could be neutered if enough Dems get elected in November. With a total of 10 women running for Senate on the Democratic line, and two GOP candidates in the mix as well, that issue almost becomes irrelevant.
Both Savage and Yepsen noted that their opponents during last year’s coup supported Espada’s switching sides. But to be fair, even Samuels admits that the Democrats “made a deal with the devil,” in bringing him back and bowing to his demands for a leadership position.
“Both parties are to blame,” said Samuels, who named the New Roosevelt Initiative for Eleanor Roosevelt.
“We want Espada to know if he wins it’s going to be a pyrrhic victory.”
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