Albany's Most Eligible Bachelors and Bachelorettes
Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:15:00
They say love and politics do not mix. But in honor of Valentine’s Day, The Capitol sought out your picks for the single people in and around state government who should stay single no more. Here are the beautiful and the powerful, the brassy and the brainy, Democrat and Republican, young and old, divorced and never married, staffers and elected officials—Albany’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes.
By Rachel Breitman, John R.D. Celock, Andrew Hawkins, Elie Mystal, Dan Rivoli and Carl Winfield
Kimberly Bowmaker
Assistant to the Senate Majority Leader
Age: 34
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It’s not conducive to relationships. My job comes first and there are times, especially around budget time, when we come in at 9:00 a.m. and don’t leave until 6 the next day. A relationship takes time, and lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time at work.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “A lot of people want the ‘inside scoop,’ and I tell them that it’s a lot like The West Wing. There’s a lot going on: the phone rings all day and I see the inside dynamics of the place. So when people ask, I just laugh and say, “Do you ever watch The West Wing?”
What’s your worst recent date experience?“I was dating someone, but I broke up with him before I went to training. This guy was so obsessed with me that he started to stalk me. He even mailed himself to me! He had a big box, and he got into it and jumped out of the box in front of my whole platoon. I was mortified. Then we had a final PT test, and I was running with another soldier when I saw this three-foot sign on the side of the road that said this person’s name and ‘Kimmy, Forever.’ I got so mad that I did two miles in 14.40!”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I have this really humorous side to me, so I was at a restaurant having dinner with someone and they asked, “Where do you want to go?” I was just joking when I said ‘Nantucket,’ but then he left to print out a photo of Nantucket and bring it back to the table. He wasn’t able to print it out, but I thought it was so touching that he wanted to do something special for me. “
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I don’t look much, which is probably why I’m in the situation that I’m in now.”
Greg Ball
Assembly Member
(R-Putnam/Dutchess/Westchester)
Age: 30
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I am working 18 to 20 hour days. There is simply not enough time in the day.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “I don’t know that they understand what an extraordinary sacrifice public life can be. Most of my contemporaries don’t understand why I am not doing something like finance or banking, something more lucrative.”
What is your best recent date experience? “I think it would be to be with somebody who understands the commitment to a higher calling.”
What is your worst recent date experience? “In the past, I would have steered clear of blind dates because they just seem to be disastrous. But I do make sure that I have a good time.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Albany is not, for single men and women, a mecca for dating. I wouldn’t advise anybody to come try it.”
Warner Johnston
Director of Communications, Empire State Development Corporation
Age: 32
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Sometimes I lie about what I really do. Sometimes it’s easier to say you’re a bureaucrat. It’s easier to understand if you’re dating someone in politics.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “Over the summer, I was still working for the city Parks Department as director of public affairs. I was on a date at the movies when there were multiple sightings of a shark at Coney Island. I spent the entire movie pretty much in the lobby dealing with every news desk while my date was in the theater.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I had a great date in November in which I went to the Met. We had a cocktail after that, then I went home and caught up on sleep.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I’m in Albany about twice a week. So I guess the first place I look is the restaurant at the Hampton Inn. I think my past couple of relationships have been created through fundraisers for elected officials.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other?
“Somebody who is accommodating to my schedule, and someone who doesn’t feel that they need to see me every day.”
Eric Schneiderman
State Senator (D-Manhattan/Bronx)
Age: 53
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It can be if you let it, but it’s very important to make time for other aspects of life. To be a whole person, you need to lead a full life, and I work hard to make time for things other than politics.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “There is a wide range of responses. Some people are excited. Some people are put off by it. After you start to engage people in conversation, basically everyone I meet is interested in talking about it.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I can’t think of a worst recent date experience. I guess I should be very grateful.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I do very much enjoy taking someone for dinner in one of the great Dominican restaurants in Upper Manhattan–taking someone who’s not from the neighborhood.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “My social life is not in Albany. There are great Dominican clubs and restaurants, no question. It’s where I love to hang out.”
Crystal Peoples
Assembly Member (D-Buffalo)
Age: 56
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “Kind of, because you have so much time spent on specific legislative work or in the office or in meetings, and the other part of it is the community work. Dinner is a possibility.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Most potential dates I might have already know that. I’ve been in politics for a long time.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “The worst was the gentleman who started and ended most sentences with ‘I’ or 'me.' He basically talked about himself the whole time.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out?
“I just go to Albany to work. I can’t say there’s a place I’d go to meet somebody. I do try to keep myself in the right circles.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other?
“Somebody with a strong sense of spirituality, good commitment to their biological family, and great commitment to the community.”
Carl Heastie
Assembly Member (D-Bronx)
Age: 40
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I wouldn’t say it’s tough to find time to date, but it’s more about finding someone who is understanding, which is time consuming.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Sometimes they look at me like they don’t think I’m telling the truth. Some people say that’s good.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I’m a simple type of guy; just being home and watching a movie. I don’t need anything special. It’s more about the company.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I don’t look to meet people when I go out. All of my recent girlfriends I have met at different places, so I don’t go out to look.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other? “A person who can understand my life and someone who can be a good friend. I don’t ask for a lot.”
Michelle Goldstein
Director of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Albany Office of Legislative Affairs
Age: 36
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It is a bit of a balancing act between work and play, and unfortunately, there isn't much of a dating scene at the rest stops along the Thruway.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Pretty much I get the same questions when I meet people and tell them what I do—and the funny thing is, they all think that they're being original. Most common these days is they ask if the mayor is running for president, thinking they will get some inside scoop. Also, can I fix a parking ticket? And then usually something about how I should be able to make the subway come faster or some other idea on how to make the city a better place.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “A friend set me up on a date recently and after a few minutes I realized his stories sounded familiar—turns out we had already been set up years ago and neither of us had realized it. It was really awkward since we didn't like each other the first time around!”
What’s your best recent date experience? “Had one last week—seeing him again this week—so I don't want to jinx it by going into details.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I work a lot when I am up in Albany. The Capitol Café between 1:00 and 1:15 is pretty much as social as I get, but when I can get out, I like 74 State for drinks.”
Errol Cockfield
Press secretary, Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Age: 33
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It is very difficult to find time, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be as good at my job. A press secretary isn’t any good if he's always in a foul mood.”
How do people you meet in social settings respond when you tell them you are in politics? “Most of them are intrigued, but I often find myself explaining all sorts of policy positions, even ones that aren’t on my boss’s agenda.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “Ice cream at a Brooklyn pier overlooking the lovely skyline of Lower Manhattan.”
What’s your worst? “A gentleman never tells.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I like lounges. I’m a big fan of the Old World Wine Bar on Lark Street.”
Joe Burns
Legislative Counsel, State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-Onondaga)
Age: 28
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I would say yes. A lot of long hours, a lot of demands on your time outside the office. It’s not a 9-5 job. When you split your time between Syracuse and Albany, like I do, that can also be a barrier.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Their eyes glaze over or they look at their watch.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “Never had a bad date, would you believe that?”
What’s your best recent date experience? “You expect me to answer that? My mother might read this!”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I would say that Albany has, for a medium sized city, a pretty interesting, exciting and energetic social scene. There are plenty of places downtown and on the outskirts.”
Linda Rosenthal
Assembly Member
(D-Manhattan)
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It’s tough because so much of your time is spent doing your job. I often have to forgo more social events.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Generally people are impressed. They believe that I have a responsible position, which is true, that I have to pay a lot of attention to.”
What is your best recent date experience? “Just going out to dinner, and sampling restaurants in my districts.”
What is your worst recent date experience? “I haven’t had a bad date recently. Someone pretending to be interested in me but really being interested in my ability to help them with a constituent problem—that would be bad.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “It’s not like I am on the hunt. You meet people just in your everyday interactions, and if one of them happens to be interesting in that way, that is a plus.”
Julia Lilkendey
Producer, Senate Media Services
Age:33
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It’s just hard finding the right person!”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “It depends on the person. Some people understand what it really is and some people think of the movies.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I haven’t really had a bad time on a date, but I have been in situations where a guy just couldn’t take a hint. It’s not that he’s bad, but sometimes, when it’s not working out, the guy is just clueless. It’s annoying.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “We went out to Radio City to see Harry Connick, Jr. and we had, it had to be 15 minutes left for the concert. We said, ‘We’re going in,’ and we just hung out and had a great time.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Downtown Albany is good because there are different streets that have a different feel, but they’re in walking distance. Pearl Street is clubby. Lark Street has a more relaxed atmosphere.”
Jorge Montalvo
Associate Director of Special Projects, State Consumer Protection Board
Age: 27
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I think you can find time for anything.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “That’s something I always hear. People are intrigued by how I fit into politics and what I like about it. People ask, 'What do you do in the Spitzer administration?' Being at the Consumer Protection Board, I can talk about how we spearheaded the investigation into lead paint in toys.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I was out to dinner with someone who was obsessed with the fork that she was using to eat her dinner with. And while the fork was interesting, the extreme obsessiveness she had with it was quite a bit of a turn-off.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I recently spent a day with a young lady where in the early afternoon we went to a performance of the ballet, and in the evening, we went to see a Professional Bull-Riders show.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other? “She’ll need to be able to keep a conversation, and at the same time, listen to me speak and talk to her.”
Jeffrey Klein
State Senator
(D-Bronx/Westchester)
Age: 47
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I work 24-7. It’s very rare that I get off on a Friday night or even a Saturday night.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “People are impressed. I usually say first when they ask me what I do that I’m a lawyer. And then I get into the State Senate. I always find people are intrigued or impressed. They’re not quite sure if you’re a United States Senator or a State Senator. I have gotten, ‘Do you work with Hillary?’”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I had a two-year relationship that unfortunately ended in August. So I really haven’t been dating that much.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I’ve always had long term relationships over the years. But I’m still hopeful. And there are a lot of nice, interesting women out there.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Albany is very work related. It’s not what you would call a meet-greet-town.”
Marcus Ferguson
Director of Government Affairs New York Business Council
Age: 31
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I think it’s hit and miss. Sometimes you go through periods when it seems easier. Sometimes it is more difficult to date people you work with. It doesn’t generally happen for people to date within the same office.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “I think some people who are of a different political party may not be open to it, but people are mostly agnostic. Women don’t say it’s an absolute must or definite no.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I went on a date with a girl, and a little piece of her hair looked like it had fallen out. It turns out she had a hair piece attachment on, and it was being held in by a pin, and I was caught off guard by that.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I find Lionheart’s is a good place, and Bombers. It’s a very diverse, young, professional environment with a lot of people.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other? “I guess I am looking for someone who is very attractive, nice and friendly. I have no political requirements. I date people in both parties.”
Kenneth Zebrowski
Assembly Member
(D-Rockland)
Age: 27
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I find it difficult to hold down any type of long-term relationship. There is a lot of travel. It is a lot of weekend work, early mornings, Saturdays and Sundays.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Generally they think it is sort of bizarre, to tell you the truth. I’m 27 and people’s first reaction is ‘Wait, what do you do?’ A lot of my peers think I am sort of an anomaly.”
What is your best recent date experience? “I generally enjoy a quiet dinner. I go out to dinner and maybe get a couple of drinks, not traveling into the city.”
What is your worst recent date experience? “Well, my worst date would be dragging into the city and spending an hour and a half stuck in traffic on the West Side Highway to go to some stuffy Upper West Side restaurant.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Quite honestly, I find the Albany scene pretty dead. I’m in here at 9 and out at 9. Occasionally, I’ll go out to dinner with a few colleagues who are generally twice my age.”
Diane Savino
State Senator (D-Brooklyn/Staten Island)
Age: 40
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “We all have people who do our schedules. So if someone were to even ask me, ‘Oh, what are you doing Friday night?’ I actually would have to say, ‘Oh, I have to call my office. I don’t know.’”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “From time to time I’ll be in rooms that are not political and I’ll be talking to a man, and he’ll say, ‘So what do you do for a living?’ And I’ll actually find myself hesitating. Usually I’ll start by saying, ‘Oh, I work for the government.’ You don’t want to just say to the guy, ‘Oh, I’m a New York State Senator.’ Because immediately he’ll say, ‘Okay, gotta go.’”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I can’t remember my worst date partly because I won’t go out with anybody. I don’t mean that I’m too picky. If I’m not immediately attracted to you, I’m not interested. Some women will go out with anybody who asks them because they figure what the hell, it’s a free meal.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “Dinner and a movie. Pretty boring but it was nice.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “The last place you want to start a relationship is in Albany. That’d be like doing it in a fishbowl.”
Sean Shortell
Member of advance team for Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Age: 23
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “Oh yeah. I’m always on the road. So basically if I plan things, they often get changed last minute because of my travel schedule. Today I am here, and tomorrow I could have something else.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “A lot of girls out there are looking for finance guys. But the girls who want to get to know me often have an interest in politics, current events.”
What’s your worst recent date experience?“I once went down to New York to set up a date with a girl. We met up at this bar near Madison Square Garden. All of a sudden the girl looks towards the door and gets weirded out. She says ‘I have a boyfriend, and he just walked in here.’ As it turned out, he worked for a rival office and I knew him. She went into the bathroom and managed to slip out. On the way out, I said hi to her boyfriend like it was nothing.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I try not to mix work with dating too much. In my free time, I like Jillian’s or wherever my friends are going. If you do attend a political event, at least you have interests in common with whoever you’ll meet there.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other?“I don’t want to get bored too quick. I want her to be pretty and intelligent, and herself. I want to be able to say something crazy and have her laugh.”
By Rachel Breitman, John R.D. Celock, Andrew Hawkins, Elie Mystal, Dan Rivoli and Carl Winfield
Kimberly Bowmaker Assistant to the Senate Majority Leader
Age: 34
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It’s not conducive to relationships. My job comes first and there are times, especially around budget time, when we come in at 9:00 a.m. and don’t leave until 6 the next day. A relationship takes time, and lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time at work.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “A lot of people want the ‘inside scoop,’ and I tell them that it’s a lot like The West Wing. There’s a lot going on: the phone rings all day and I see the inside dynamics of the place. So when people ask, I just laugh and say, “Do you ever watch The West Wing?”
What’s your worst recent date experience?“I was dating someone, but I broke up with him before I went to training. This guy was so obsessed with me that he started to stalk me. He even mailed himself to me! He had a big box, and he got into it and jumped out of the box in front of my whole platoon. I was mortified. Then we had a final PT test, and I was running with another soldier when I saw this three-foot sign on the side of the road that said this person’s name and ‘Kimmy, Forever.’ I got so mad that I did two miles in 14.40!”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I have this really humorous side to me, so I was at a restaurant having dinner with someone and they asked, “Where do you want to go?” I was just joking when I said ‘Nantucket,’ but then he left to print out a photo of Nantucket and bring it back to the table. He wasn’t able to print it out, but I thought it was so touching that he wanted to do something special for me. “
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I don’t look much, which is probably why I’m in the situation that I’m in now.”
Greg Ball Assembly Member
(R-Putnam/Dutchess/Westchester)
Age: 30
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I am working 18 to 20 hour days. There is simply not enough time in the day.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “I don’t know that they understand what an extraordinary sacrifice public life can be. Most of my contemporaries don’t understand why I am not doing something like finance or banking, something more lucrative.”
What is your best recent date experience? “I think it would be to be with somebody who understands the commitment to a higher calling.”
What is your worst recent date experience? “In the past, I would have steered clear of blind dates because they just seem to be disastrous. But I do make sure that I have a good time.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Albany is not, for single men and women, a mecca for dating. I wouldn’t advise anybody to come try it.”
Warner JohnstonDirector of Communications, Empire State Development Corporation
Age: 32
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Sometimes I lie about what I really do. Sometimes it’s easier to say you’re a bureaucrat. It’s easier to understand if you’re dating someone in politics.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “Over the summer, I was still working for the city Parks Department as director of public affairs. I was on a date at the movies when there were multiple sightings of a shark at Coney Island. I spent the entire movie pretty much in the lobby dealing with every news desk while my date was in the theater.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I had a great date in November in which I went to the Met. We had a cocktail after that, then I went home and caught up on sleep.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I’m in Albany about twice a week. So I guess the first place I look is the restaurant at the Hampton Inn. I think my past couple of relationships have been created through fundraisers for elected officials.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other?
“Somebody who is accommodating to my schedule, and someone who doesn’t feel that they need to see me every day.”
Eric SchneidermanState Senator (D-Manhattan/Bronx)
Age: 53
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It can be if you let it, but it’s very important to make time for other aspects of life. To be a whole person, you need to lead a full life, and I work hard to make time for things other than politics.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “There is a wide range of responses. Some people are excited. Some people are put off by it. After you start to engage people in conversation, basically everyone I meet is interested in talking about it.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I can’t think of a worst recent date experience. I guess I should be very grateful.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I do very much enjoy taking someone for dinner in one of the great Dominican restaurants in Upper Manhattan–taking someone who’s not from the neighborhood.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “My social life is not in Albany. There are great Dominican clubs and restaurants, no question. It’s where I love to hang out.”
Crystal Peoples Assembly Member (D-Buffalo)
Age: 56
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “Kind of, because you have so much time spent on specific legislative work or in the office or in meetings, and the other part of it is the community work. Dinner is a possibility.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Most potential dates I might have already know that. I’ve been in politics for a long time.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “The worst was the gentleman who started and ended most sentences with ‘I’ or 'me.' He basically talked about himself the whole time.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out?
“I just go to Albany to work. I can’t say there’s a place I’d go to meet somebody. I do try to keep myself in the right circles.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other?
“Somebody with a strong sense of spirituality, good commitment to their biological family, and great commitment to the community.”
Carl HeastieAssembly Member (D-Bronx)
Age: 40
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I wouldn’t say it’s tough to find time to date, but it’s more about finding someone who is understanding, which is time consuming.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Sometimes they look at me like they don’t think I’m telling the truth. Some people say that’s good.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I’m a simple type of guy; just being home and watching a movie. I don’t need anything special. It’s more about the company.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I don’t look to meet people when I go out. All of my recent girlfriends I have met at different places, so I don’t go out to look.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other? “A person who can understand my life and someone who can be a good friend. I don’t ask for a lot.”
Michelle GoldsteinDirector of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Albany Office of Legislative Affairs
Age: 36
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It is a bit of a balancing act between work and play, and unfortunately, there isn't much of a dating scene at the rest stops along the Thruway.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Pretty much I get the same questions when I meet people and tell them what I do—and the funny thing is, they all think that they're being original. Most common these days is they ask if the mayor is running for president, thinking they will get some inside scoop. Also, can I fix a parking ticket? And then usually something about how I should be able to make the subway come faster or some other idea on how to make the city a better place.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “A friend set me up on a date recently and after a few minutes I realized his stories sounded familiar—turns out we had already been set up years ago and neither of us had realized it. It was really awkward since we didn't like each other the first time around!”
What’s your best recent date experience? “Had one last week—seeing him again this week—so I don't want to jinx it by going into details.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I work a lot when I am up in Albany. The Capitol Café between 1:00 and 1:15 is pretty much as social as I get, but when I can get out, I like 74 State for drinks.”
Errol CockfieldPress secretary, Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Age: 33
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It is very difficult to find time, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be as good at my job. A press secretary isn’t any good if he's always in a foul mood.”
How do people you meet in social settings respond when you tell them you are in politics? “Most of them are intrigued, but I often find myself explaining all sorts of policy positions, even ones that aren’t on my boss’s agenda.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “Ice cream at a Brooklyn pier overlooking the lovely skyline of Lower Manhattan.”
What’s your worst? “A gentleman never tells.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I like lounges. I’m a big fan of the Old World Wine Bar on Lark Street.”
Joe BurnsLegislative Counsel, State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-Onondaga)
Age: 28
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I would say yes. A lot of long hours, a lot of demands on your time outside the office. It’s not a 9-5 job. When you split your time between Syracuse and Albany, like I do, that can also be a barrier.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Their eyes glaze over or they look at their watch.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “Never had a bad date, would you believe that?”
What’s your best recent date experience? “You expect me to answer that? My mother might read this!”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I would say that Albany has, for a medium sized city, a pretty interesting, exciting and energetic social scene. There are plenty of places downtown and on the outskirts.”
Linda RosenthalAssembly Member
(D-Manhattan)
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It’s tough because so much of your time is spent doing your job. I often have to forgo more social events.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Generally people are impressed. They believe that I have a responsible position, which is true, that I have to pay a lot of attention to.”
What is your best recent date experience? “Just going out to dinner, and sampling restaurants in my districts.”
What is your worst recent date experience? “I haven’t had a bad date recently. Someone pretending to be interested in me but really being interested in my ability to help them with a constituent problem—that would be bad.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “It’s not like I am on the hunt. You meet people just in your everyday interactions, and if one of them happens to be interesting in that way, that is a plus.”
Julia LilkendeyProducer, Senate Media Services
Age:33
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “It’s just hard finding the right person!”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “It depends on the person. Some people understand what it really is and some people think of the movies.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I haven’t really had a bad time on a date, but I have been in situations where a guy just couldn’t take a hint. It’s not that he’s bad, but sometimes, when it’s not working out, the guy is just clueless. It’s annoying.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “We went out to Radio City to see Harry Connick, Jr. and we had, it had to be 15 minutes left for the concert. We said, ‘We’re going in,’ and we just hung out and had a great time.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Downtown Albany is good because there are different streets that have a different feel, but they’re in walking distance. Pearl Street is clubby. Lark Street has a more relaxed atmosphere.”
Jorge MontalvoAssociate Director of Special Projects, State Consumer Protection Board
Age: 27
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I think you can find time for anything.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “That’s something I always hear. People are intrigued by how I fit into politics and what I like about it. People ask, 'What do you do in the Spitzer administration?' Being at the Consumer Protection Board, I can talk about how we spearheaded the investigation into lead paint in toys.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I was out to dinner with someone who was obsessed with the fork that she was using to eat her dinner with. And while the fork was interesting, the extreme obsessiveness she had with it was quite a bit of a turn-off.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I recently spent a day with a young lady where in the early afternoon we went to a performance of the ballet, and in the evening, we went to see a Professional Bull-Riders show.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other? “She’ll need to be able to keep a conversation, and at the same time, listen to me speak and talk to her.”
Jeffrey Klein State Senator
(D-Bronx/Westchester)
Age: 47
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I work 24-7. It’s very rare that I get off on a Friday night or even a Saturday night.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “People are impressed. I usually say first when they ask me what I do that I’m a lawyer. And then I get into the State Senate. I always find people are intrigued or impressed. They’re not quite sure if you’re a United States Senator or a State Senator. I have gotten, ‘Do you work with Hillary?’”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I had a two-year relationship that unfortunately ended in August. So I really haven’t been dating that much.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “I’ve always had long term relationships over the years. But I’m still hopeful. And there are a lot of nice, interesting women out there.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Albany is very work related. It’s not what you would call a meet-greet-town.”
Marcus FergusonDirector of Government Affairs New York Business Council
Age: 31
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I think it’s hit and miss. Sometimes you go through periods when it seems easier. Sometimes it is more difficult to date people you work with. It doesn’t generally happen for people to date within the same office.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “I think some people who are of a different political party may not be open to it, but people are mostly agnostic. Women don’t say it’s an absolute must or definite no.”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I went on a date with a girl, and a little piece of her hair looked like it had fallen out. It turns out she had a hair piece attachment on, and it was being held in by a pin, and I was caught off guard by that.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I find Lionheart’s is a good place, and Bombers. It’s a very diverse, young, professional environment with a lot of people.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other? “I guess I am looking for someone who is very attractive, nice and friendly. I have no political requirements. I date people in both parties.”
Kenneth ZebrowskiAssembly Member
(D-Rockland)
Age: 27
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “I find it difficult to hold down any type of long-term relationship. There is a lot of travel. It is a lot of weekend work, early mornings, Saturdays and Sundays.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “Generally they think it is sort of bizarre, to tell you the truth. I’m 27 and people’s first reaction is ‘Wait, what do you do?’ A lot of my peers think I am sort of an anomaly.”
What is your best recent date experience? “I generally enjoy a quiet dinner. I go out to dinner and maybe get a couple of drinks, not traveling into the city.”
What is your worst recent date experience? “Well, my worst date would be dragging into the city and spending an hour and a half stuck in traffic on the West Side Highway to go to some stuffy Upper West Side restaurant.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “Quite honestly, I find the Albany scene pretty dead. I’m in here at 9 and out at 9. Occasionally, I’ll go out to dinner with a few colleagues who are generally twice my age.”
Diane Savino State Senator (D-Brooklyn/Staten Island)
Age: 40
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “We all have people who do our schedules. So if someone were to even ask me, ‘Oh, what are you doing Friday night?’ I actually would have to say, ‘Oh, I have to call my office. I don’t know.’”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “From time to time I’ll be in rooms that are not political and I’ll be talking to a man, and he’ll say, ‘So what do you do for a living?’ And I’ll actually find myself hesitating. Usually I’ll start by saying, ‘Oh, I work for the government.’ You don’t want to just say to the guy, ‘Oh, I’m a New York State Senator.’ Because immediately he’ll say, ‘Okay, gotta go.’”
What’s your worst recent date experience? “I can’t remember my worst date partly because I won’t go out with anybody. I don’t mean that I’m too picky. If I’m not immediately attracted to you, I’m not interested. Some women will go out with anybody who asks them because they figure what the hell, it’s a free meal.”
What’s your best recent date experience? “Dinner and a movie. Pretty boring but it was nice.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “The last place you want to start a relationship is in Albany. That’d be like doing it in a fishbowl.”
Sean ShortellMember of advance team for Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Age: 23
Is it tough finding time to date with the demands of a job in politics? “Oh yeah. I’m always on the road. So basically if I plan things, they often get changed last minute because of my travel schedule. Today I am here, and tomorrow I could have something else.”
How do people respond when you tell them you work in politics? “A lot of girls out there are looking for finance guys. But the girls who want to get to know me often have an interest in politics, current events.”
What’s your worst recent date experience?“I once went down to New York to set up a date with a girl. We met up at this bar near Madison Square Garden. All of a sudden the girl looks towards the door and gets weirded out. She says ‘I have a boyfriend, and he just walked in here.’ As it turned out, he worked for a rival office and I knew him. She went into the bathroom and managed to slip out. On the way out, I said hi to her boyfriend like it was nothing.”
Where do you look to meet people? Is there any place in Albany that stands out? “I try not to mix work with dating too much. In my free time, I like Jillian’s or wherever my friends are going. If you do attend a political event, at least you have interests in common with whoever you’ll meet there.”
What are you looking for in a potential significant other?“I don’t want to get bored too quick. I want her to be pretty and intelligent, and herself. I want to be able to say something crazy and have her laugh.”
