#WINNERS&LOSERS
WINNERS & LOSERS
Campaign finance reform advocates hoped 2014 might be their year. Then the McCutcheon train blew through New York’s limit on PAC donations on its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where federal campaign finance laws quiver on shaky ground. Of course, as always, there were many other Winners and Losers, too. Go to cityandstateny.com each week to vote.
Week of Oct. 14, 2013
Week of Oct. 21, 2013
YOUR CHOICE YOUR CHOICE
WINNERS
WINNERS Rep. Peter King 40%
Joe Lhota 37%
Banksy 34%
Tom Suozzi 30%
Cas Holloway 20%
Mario Cuomo 11%
Eliot Spitzer 3% Jules Kroll 3% Cas Holloway: Water Tunnel No. 3 opens Jules Kroll: Gets Moreland Commission contract Eliot Spitzer: AG’s office doesn’t have to share Spitzer emails
YOUR CHOICE Peter King: While most Republicans were licking their wounds in Washington, the maverick congressman blamed the shutdown on U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and the Tea Partyers in the House. In the course of the disastrous shutdown in Washington, King emerged as the voice of the GOP’s moderate wing, and he may have more fellow party members joining his chorus if they listen to the polls. You could say King is driving on Cruz control.
INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY Banksy: The mayor might think he is a common criminal, and the mayoral front-runner has never heard of him. But the mysterious British graffiti artist has captivated the city’s attention and probably improved the property values of several buildings around the boroughs. The NYPD says they are fast on his trail, but don’t the police have better things to do than catch artists spreading creativity across the city—like chasing down rogue motorcycle gangs?
LOSERS
Richard Iannuzzi 11% William Pauley III 11% Mario Cuomo: Finally enjoys The Godfather Richard Iannuzzi: Most state teachers rated effective William Pauley III: Judge vents frustration at Eric Stevenson
YOUR CHOICE: Joe Lhota: He’s still trailing in the polls by over 40 points, but Lhota had his best week since the primary. He was more aggressive in the second debate, putting Bill de Blasio on the defensive. He vowed to throw out the campaign’s scripted talking points. But the biggest news was the federal court ruling that a super PAC supporting his campaign could accept contributions of any size, giving him a potential lategame boost that could make the race more competitive.
BUBBA BUMP? Tom Suozzi: Bill Clinton helped Obama win another term in office— so maybe the former president can do the same for Suozzi, who’s trying to win back the office of Nassau County executive. Clinton showed up at a Suozzi fundraiser on the heels of endorsements from Newsday and The New York Times. Of course, a recent poll had Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano up by 17 points, so any boost that comes with Suozzi’s endorsements will be sorely needed.
LOSERS Joe Lhota 37%
Judy Rapfogel 57%
Reps. Chris Collins and Tom Reed 25%
Pat Lynch 18%
Ivettelis Rodriguez 18%
Jonathan Lippman 12%
Dr. John King 17%
C. Scott Vanderhoef 11%
Eric Snyder 3% BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE John King: Cancels Common Core forums Ivettelis Rodriguez: Appears to supports motorcycle gang biker Eric Snyder: Loses casino amendment challenge
YOUR CHOICE Joe Lhota: One name you never want to hear in connection with your campaign ad is Willie Horton—a reference lobbed at Lhota’s recent TV spot for its divisive and allegedly racially coded tone. Then Lhota stayed mum when several women accompanying him on a campaign stop to a Brooklyn synagogue were denied entry. And a pro-Lhota super PAC was initially blocked from raising unlimited amounts of cash. True, his own party sent out an email wishing him a happy birthday—10 days late.
34 NOVEMBER 4, 2013 | www.cityandstateny.com
Chris Collins and Tom Reed: House Republicans were losers for shutting down the federal government, and Collins and Reed were obstinate to the bloody end, voting against a deal to avoid a default and lift the debt ceiling because it failed to address long-term debt. It will be interesting to see if Collins and Reed are forced to answer for their vote, as both won their districts in 2012 by rather slim margins.
Thomas Richards 2% Jonathan Lippman: Cuomo opposes higher age limits for judges Thomas Richards: Equivocates on his third-party candidacy C. Scott Vanderhoef: Tax hikes and more borrowing in Rockland
YOUR CHOICE Judy Rapfogel: Dame Judy has been under fire ever since her husband was charged with stealing $1 million from the charity he ran. Now she’s lawyering up as state investigators quiz her about what she knew about the alleged schemes. Stories such as a Times account that her failed City Council campaign paid for insurance from the very company implicated in her husband’s criminal probe do her no favors. Fortunately for Rapfogel, she’s hired John Liu’s lawyer.
PAT DOWN? Pat Lynch: What’s going on at Patricia Lynch Associates? The top-tier government relations firm seems to be hemorrhaging staffers. Jim Quent, a senior director, was the latest to depart with no clear future plans. Of course PLA, which pulled in the second-biggest pot of any state lobbying firm in 2012, could just be getting leaner and meaner in a competitive field—but if so, it’s not doing a very good job managing the optics of its cutbacks.