By Ross Barkan 5/08 1:08pm

Good Will Huntley

shirley-huntley-wiki

Shirley Huntley’s Convicted Relative Vouches for Her Good Character

When Lynn Smith, the niece of ex-State Sen. Shirley Huntley, wrote to a federal judge in February to beg for leniency for her indicted aunt, she neglected to mention one crucial fact of her own story: she had pleaded guilty to stealing $30,000 a week earlier.

Ms. Huntley, who will be sentenced tomorrow after pleading guilty to embezzling $87,000 and tampering with physical evidence to obstruct a probe into the theft of member item money she sponsored for a nonprofit, roped Ms. Smith and several other associates into the scheme. Ms. Smith pleaded guilty in February to stealing $30,000 in taxpayer funds from a sham nonprofit group that Ms. Huntley founded. This information was not mentioned in her letter, made public today, to Judge Jack Weinstein. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/27/12 9:59am

nom support

(Photo: Wikimedia)

National Organization for Marriage Enters Brooklyn State Senate Race

The National Organization for Marriage has taken its anti-gay marriage efforts down to a local level, purchasing advertisements in the special election to replace former State Senator Carl Kruger. A reader found one of these ads in the Orthodox Jewish publication Country Yossi Magazine.

“We Need A Senator Who Supports Torah Values,” the ad’s headline reads, before going after the Democratic candidate. “Lew Fidler voted to support same-gender ‘marriage,’ a forbidden act under the Torah.”

The ad’s featured photo is the Republican candidate, attorney David Storobin, standing in between Majority Leader Dean Skelos and State Senator Marty Golden, surrounded by Rabbis. Below is a photo of Mr. Storobin with Rabbi Yisroel Belsky, who the New York Times once described as “prominent and influential.” According to the ad, Rabbi Belsky says it is forbidden “to provide public recognition or any kind of assistance to Lew Fidler … Rabbi Yisroel Belsky endorses David Storobin, who will support Torah Values.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/21/12 7:20pm

education

Lew Fidler's campaign mail highlights his efforts on behalf of Jewish private schools

School Vouchers Emerge As Key Issue in Brooklyn Special Election

In a special election competition that had been increasingly marred with negative personal attacks between the two candidates, a substantive issue has finally emerged that the candidates are staking their ground on: tuition relief for private school students, especially those attending yeshivas in the heavily Jewish district.

Earlier this morning, the Republican candidate in the race to replace corrupt former State Senator Carl Kruger, David Storobin, sent out a positive press release touting his support for a voucher system granting money to parents of private school students.

“The voucher issue is a big one in this district,” Mr. Storobin said in the statement. “For the orthodox Jewish, it’s particularly important. Private tuition for yeshivas can be as much as $10,000 or more per high school student, and almost as much for children in primary school. To a family with five or six children, that is a tremendous burden.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/21/12 4:12pm

campaign announcements

Pat Maher (Photo: Facebook)

Pat Maher to Run for Nassau State Senate Seat

Pat Maher, a former Democratic Congressional candidate whose 2010 biography described her as “the Director of Development and Community Relations for a not-for-profit health care foundation covering Long Island,” told The Politicker this afternoon she intends to run against one of two Republican State Senators, Kemp Hannon or Jack Martins, this year. This could set up a competitive Democratic primary as there is already a Democratic candidate, Ryan Cronin, running against Mr. Hannon.

“I’m committed, but I’m not committed as to which race,” Mr. Maher said, indicating her decision will be made based on how New York’s chaotic redistricting process works itself out. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/19/12 10:40am

fidler's spiel

Fidler Mailer Back

Lew Fidler Mails On Yeshivas

Councilman Lew Fidler, the Democratic candidate in the special election to replace former State Senator Carl Kruger, is sending out direct mail advocating a heavy increase in state funding to Jewish education institutions. Restraining yeshiva tuition costs is one of the key political issues in the district’s Orthodox neighborhoods, a fact Mr. Fidler is surely aware of.

Yeshiva tuition aid also played a key role in the politics surrounding Mr. Kruger’s seat as he was battling his federal corruption charges. Last April, City & State reported Majority Leader Dean Skelos received a promise of electoral support from the politically powerful social services organization Agudath Israel when he muscled through $18 million in tuition assistance for rabbinical students despite a then-$10 billion deficit.

Mr. Fidler’s plan, outlined in the mailer, goes far beyond that $18 million: Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/15/12 11:38am

ruben wades in

Ruben Diaz Sr. (Photo: nysenate.gov)

Diaz Sr.: Investigate Mark Grisanti Like You Did Hiram Monserrate

Earlier this morning, the outspoken State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. called on Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to investigate Buffalo State Senator Mark Grisanti, who’s currently entangled in allegations that he instigated a fight in a bizarre casino brawl that left his wife wounded.

“There are too many versions of what happened the night of February 10, 2012 in the Seneca Niagara Casino,” Mr. Diaz said in the statement. “There is another story floating around where many people are claiming that Senator Grisanti threw the first punch and that he hit a woman. If this is so, these are very serious accusations.”

Mr. Diaz then pivoted to a past incident where one of his allies, State Senator Hiram Monserrate, was accused of slashing his girlfriend’s face with a piece of glass in 2009. Mr. Monserrate was subsequently convicted of misdemeanor and the State Senate voted to expel him from their legislative body. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/14/12 2:43pm

on the attack

David Storobin at a recent rally. (Photo: Colin Campbell)

Storobin Says Fidler Is ‘Unfit to Serve’ In ‘Out of Hand’ Press Conference [Video]

At a chilly press conference in southern Brooklyn this afternoon, the Republican candidate in the special election to replace former State Senator Carl Kruger, David Storobin, laid out a barrage of attacks against his Democratic opponent, Councilman Lew Fidler.

“Mr. Fidler’s character renders him unfit to serve in the State Senate,” Mr. Storobin firmly stated early in his speech. ”This is not a statement I make lightly. I realize the implications of what I’m saying.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/13/12 5:26pm

the grey lady

david storobin fb

Storobin: NYT Claim That He’s ‘Overhwhelming Favorite’ to Lose Is ‘Lazy Journalism’

At a Brooklyn Young Republicans Club meeting yesterday afternoon, David Storobin, the Republican candidate in the special election to replace Carl Kruger in the State Senate, took issue with the New York Times reporting unknown political analysts see his Democratic opponent, Councilman Lew Fidler, “as the overwhelming favorite in the district.”

Describing the issue as “lazy journalism” in response to The Politicker asking about the report, Mr. Storobin gave the pitch for his electoral strength. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/13/12 9:02am

a simple schlep

The new Orthodox Jewish state senate district

Storobin Says He Will Move Into New Orthodox District If Need Be

The Senate Republicans may have drawn their own special election candidate David Storobin out of the district he’s running in, but Mr. Storobin says he’ll simply move into the newly created Orthodox Jewish district if the maps hold.

“I will be running in November, no matter what the lines are,” he firmly stated at yesterday’s Brooklyn Young Republican Club meeting.

“I’ve lived in Boro Park more than anywhere in my life, and then I lived in Midwood,” he further added, citing the two central neighborhoods of the new district. “I went to FDR high school, which is in Boro Park. I do know where to get the good bagels there, I do know the shuls there, I do know everything there. It’s my neighborhood.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/13/12 6:00am

Cash Money

David Storobin (Photo: Facebook)

Storobin: Senate GOP Investing ‘Tremendous’ Resources in Election

Republican David Storobin might see his Democratic opponent, Councilman Lew Fidler, directly outraising him in the race to replace former State Senator Carl Kruger, but at a Brooklyn Young Republican Club meeting Sunday afternoon, Mr. Storobin said there would be significant statewide resources providing financial parity in the race.

“We have a tremendous amount of money being put into our campaign by the Senate Republicans,” Mr. Storobin stated. “In the last ten years, all of the money that all of the other candidates got times ten is not even close to what we’re getting.” Read More