State Senate Watch: Battle For Long Island
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:26:00
Sen. Craig Johnson (D)
2007 Special Election Results:
Craig Johnson (D-WF): 27,632
Maureen O’Connell (R-I-C): 23,995
Fundraising to date for expected candidates:
Craig Johnson: $278,871.90
Barbara Donno: N/A
Ever since Craig Johnson won his special election last January, Republicans have been gunning for this seat, long held by Michael Balboni, before he stepped down to become the state’s homeland security czar. But sources said disagreements amongst local and state Republicans have delayed the decision on who would take on Johnson. Meanwhile, Johnson has begun to consolidate his position in the Senate and with his constituents.
Sources said Republicans have settled on Plandome Manor Mayor Barbara Donno as their candidate against Johnson. This decision is expected to be announced soon. Donno did not return messages left for comment at her village hall office. A homemaker who served several terms on the Manhasset school board, Donno won the mayoralty last spring. Plandome Manor is an affluent village of 843, where the median income clocks in at just below $200,000.
Johnson is currently facing intense criticism from a small group in his district calling itself the North Shore Committee for Truth. According to the group’s website, its members have dedicated themselves to attacking Johnson for his views on an array of subjects, from his position on the third track for the LIRR to education spending. State campaign finance records show the committee has received only two donations, totaling $6,348.92, both from the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in Albany. Johnson has recently been fighting back, especially on the third track issue.
Sen. Kemp Hannon (R)
2006 Election Results:
Kemp Hannon (R-I-C): 40,277
Casilda Roper-Simpson (D): 29,656
Fundraising to date for expected candidates:
David Mejias: $33,700
Kemp Hannon: $181,131
The race for Sen. Kemp Hannon’s seat in Nassau County is sure to be one of the most talked about in the state this year. But so far, no one likely to be involved is talking much at all.
Nassau County Legislator David Mejias, who lost to Rep. Peter King (R-Nassau) in 2006, has been recruited to challenge Hannon. Well known from his congressional race, where he was rated as King’s most competitive challenger in years, Mejias declined to take on King again in order to make the Senate race.
Mejias, the first Hispanic elected to the Nassau County Legislature, lost to King by 12 points. He narrowly held onto his county legislative seat last year, a fact that Republicans like to speak about with glee. But Democrats point out that the parts of Mejias’ county legislature district where he did the worst are not within the Senate district.
A spokeswoman for Mejias said he will not be discussing the Senate race in public for several weeks. She also declined to formally confirm that Mejias is making the race. Hannon could not be reached for comment.
Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R)
2006 Election Results
Caesar Trunzo (R-I-C): 33,261
Jimmy Dahroug (D): 27,705
David Ochoa (WFP): 1,345
Fundraising to date for expected candidates:
Caesar Trunzo: $67,650
Jimmy Dahroug: $77,207
Chris Bodkin: N/A
While Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Suffolk) tops the list of endangered Republican senators from Long Island, Democrats have yet to make a final decision on who will challenge him this year. Jimmy Dahroug, an aide to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy (D) and the unsuccessful candidate against Trunzo in the last two elections, never really stopped campaigning after his narrow 2006 loss. He believes the nomination should be his. But Islip Council Member Chris Bodkin, who was until recently a member of the Trunzo-controlled Islip Republican Party, has bolted the GOP for the Democrats and has indicated he wants to carry his new party’s banner in the race against Trunzo.
Bodkin denies that he changed parties purely in order to take on Trunzo this fall. He said he had a number of differences with the Republican Party, local and national. The GOP’s recent performance is “abysmal and embarrassing,” and that alone explains his switch.
“I was only too happy to leave the Republicans and join the Democrats,” he said.
Dahroug has raised a stink about Bodkin’s interest in the race, insisting that he is the “real” Democrat in the race. Dahroug attributes his 2006 loss to his not having a minor party line, which he believes he will get this year.
While Bodkin has only started the process of exploring a campaign, Dahroug has been putting his in place for a year, giving him an important edge in raising money and organizing support, as Bodkin begins the process of convincing those in the know that he is not a political opportunist. Bodkin believes he can win over party leaders and avoid a primary with Dahroug.
In 2006, Dahroug won a competitive primary in order to run against Trunzo. But another primary this year could potentially endanger Democratic chances in the general election.
While the Democrats slug it out, Trunzo has had to deal with his own issues. A senator since 1973 and one of the oldest senators, Trunzo has been plagued by health issues for over a year, leading many to question whether he would seek another term.
Trunzo spokesman Chris Molluso said that his boss will be running again this year and is looking forward to the race.
Trunzo may have to protect his own right flank, as sources said that there are rumblings that he may have a primary challenger out of Islip. There have been challenges to Trunzo’s longtime control of the Islip GOP and this could lead to a Senate primary this September. Assembly Member Phil Boyle (R-Suffolk), who has been mentioned as a potential primary challenger, said that he will not run against Trunzo this year.
Molluso said Trunzo and others have been laboring to coalesce the Islip GOP’s disparate strands. He is confident that this will avoid a primary, even if not every local Republican is ultimately satisfied.
“There may be a few cranks and malcontents who are complaining,” Molluso said.
2007 Special Election Results:
Craig Johnson (D-WF): 27,632
Maureen O’Connell (R-I-C): 23,995
Fundraising to date for expected candidates:
Craig Johnson: $278,871.90
Barbara Donno: N/A
Ever since Craig Johnson won his special election last January, Republicans have been gunning for this seat, long held by Michael Balboni, before he stepped down to become the state’s homeland security czar. But sources said disagreements amongst local and state Republicans have delayed the decision on who would take on Johnson. Meanwhile, Johnson has begun to consolidate his position in the Senate and with his constituents.
Sources said Republicans have settled on Plandome Manor Mayor Barbara Donno as their candidate against Johnson. This decision is expected to be announced soon. Donno did not return messages left for comment at her village hall office. A homemaker who served several terms on the Manhasset school board, Donno won the mayoralty last spring. Plandome Manor is an affluent village of 843, where the median income clocks in at just below $200,000.
Johnson is currently facing intense criticism from a small group in his district calling itself the North Shore Committee for Truth. According to the group’s website, its members have dedicated themselves to attacking Johnson for his views on an array of subjects, from his position on the third track for the LIRR to education spending. State campaign finance records show the committee has received only two donations, totaling $6,348.92, both from the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in Albany. Johnson has recently been fighting back, especially on the third track issue.
Sen. Kemp Hannon (R)
2006 Election Results:
Kemp Hannon (R-I-C): 40,277
Casilda Roper-Simpson (D): 29,656
Fundraising to date for expected candidates:
David Mejias: $33,700
Kemp Hannon: $181,131
The race for Sen. Kemp Hannon’s seat in Nassau County is sure to be one of the most talked about in the state this year. But so far, no one likely to be involved is talking much at all.
Nassau County Legislator David Mejias, who lost to Rep. Peter King (R-Nassau) in 2006, has been recruited to challenge Hannon. Well known from his congressional race, where he was rated as King’s most competitive challenger in years, Mejias declined to take on King again in order to make the Senate race.
Mejias, the first Hispanic elected to the Nassau County Legislature, lost to King by 12 points. He narrowly held onto his county legislative seat last year, a fact that Republicans like to speak about with glee. But Democrats point out that the parts of Mejias’ county legislature district where he did the worst are not within the Senate district.
A spokeswoman for Mejias said he will not be discussing the Senate race in public for several weeks. She also declined to formally confirm that Mejias is making the race. Hannon could not be reached for comment.
Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R)
2006 Election Results
Caesar Trunzo (R-I-C): 33,261
Jimmy Dahroug (D): 27,705
David Ochoa (WFP): 1,345
Fundraising to date for expected candidates:
Caesar Trunzo: $67,650
Jimmy Dahroug: $77,207
Chris Bodkin: N/A
While Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Suffolk) tops the list of endangered Republican senators from Long Island, Democrats have yet to make a final decision on who will challenge him this year. Jimmy Dahroug, an aide to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy (D) and the unsuccessful candidate against Trunzo in the last two elections, never really stopped campaigning after his narrow 2006 loss. He believes the nomination should be his. But Islip Council Member Chris Bodkin, who was until recently a member of the Trunzo-controlled Islip Republican Party, has bolted the GOP for the Democrats and has indicated he wants to carry his new party’s banner in the race against Trunzo.
Bodkin denies that he changed parties purely in order to take on Trunzo this fall. He said he had a number of differences with the Republican Party, local and national. The GOP’s recent performance is “abysmal and embarrassing,” and that alone explains his switch.
“I was only too happy to leave the Republicans and join the Democrats,” he said.
Dahroug has raised a stink about Bodkin’s interest in the race, insisting that he is the “real” Democrat in the race. Dahroug attributes his 2006 loss to his not having a minor party line, which he believes he will get this year.
While Bodkin has only started the process of exploring a campaign, Dahroug has been putting his in place for a year, giving him an important edge in raising money and organizing support, as Bodkin begins the process of convincing those in the know that he is not a political opportunist. Bodkin believes he can win over party leaders and avoid a primary with Dahroug.
In 2006, Dahroug won a competitive primary in order to run against Trunzo. But another primary this year could potentially endanger Democratic chances in the general election.
While the Democrats slug it out, Trunzo has had to deal with his own issues. A senator since 1973 and one of the oldest senators, Trunzo has been plagued by health issues for over a year, leading many to question whether he would seek another term.
Trunzo spokesman Chris Molluso said that his boss will be running again this year and is looking forward to the race.
Trunzo may have to protect his own right flank, as sources said that there are rumblings that he may have a primary challenger out of Islip. There have been challenges to Trunzo’s longtime control of the Islip GOP and this could lead to a Senate primary this September. Assembly Member Phil Boyle (R-Suffolk), who has been mentioned as a potential primary challenger, said that he will not run against Trunzo this year.
Molluso said Trunzo and others have been laboring to coalesce the Islip GOP’s disparate strands. He is confident that this will avoid a primary, even if not every local Republican is ultimately satisfied.
“There may be a few cranks and malcontents who are complaining,” Molluso said.
