Spin Cycle

The quotes add up to a lot of posturing and no action, so all but the process junkies can skip this entry, but they were out in the open Tuesday. A hug of Sen. Dean Skelos by Paterson at the end of the session reminded one sharp Albany observer of Don Rickles getting pseudo-sentimental at the end of an insult-spewing Friar's Roast. A few samples:

Paterson to Skelos: “I never got a suggestion from you. What I got is a lecture.” At a prior session, Skelos told Paterson he did not need to be lectured as he was in law school.

“Maybe we’ve made — amazingly — some progress here,” Paterson said at the session's end.

Tedisco, Assembly GOP minority leader, drew this barb from Paterson: “Today is exam day and you’re just talking about getting your homework done.”

Paterson on the open nature of the session: “This is the closest I’ve seen to an actual leaders meeting. What you are really observing is… people in government trying to work situations out,”

Skelos to Paterson: "You stated, 'I wanted the Senate and Assembly to vote on my bill, whatever way the bills go.'... The Senate is ready to honor your request."

Paterson reply: "I didn't mean the exact bill that was printed. That has never happened in this institution. ... I put the bills out, and I allowed all of your to make corrections, to make adjustments."

Senate Democratic Majority Leader-in-waiting Malcolm Smith called Skelos' objections "a charade" and "gamesmanship."

Below you find the real Rickles with a previous governor:

Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood), 82, who's served more than 30 years in the post, leaves office Dec. 31 after losing on Election Day to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian Foley. Reporter Jennifer Maloney writes about Islip's Democratic supervisor, Philip Nolan, and the town board, making a gesture of respect:

The Democrat-controlled Islip town board today approved a resolution to rename its Brentwood senior center in honor of Sen. Trunzo -- who has also served as chairman of the town's Republican committee.

"We wish him well," said Democratic Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan, after a unanimous vote renamed the facility the "Caesar Trunzo Senior Center".

Nolan said Trunzo's parents had been active members of the center.
As for whether the soon-to-be-retired senator will enjoy any membership perks at the center that bears his name, Nolan said: "Whatever he needs."

For the record, the political narrative from the Skelos camp about the special session now ended is that the Senate Republicans (now in apparent lame-duck majority mode) came away with a vow from the governor to come across with next year's projections as soon as possible, that the full scenario of cuts would be considered in conjunction with next year's problems, and that there would be an economic stimulus package involved.

We're not sure what all that means....

Skelos said on his way back to his office in the Legislative Office Building that Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Rockville Centre), currently Health Committee chairman, will hold hearings on the impact of potential health-care cuts and similar hearings will be held in other subject areas. "It will be a tough budget," he said.

One longtime observer noted that today's exercise was doomed beforehand since relations between Skelos and Paterson are poisoned anyway. Delusionally or not, the GOP is still talking about turning to "friends" among Democrats before conceding the majority, a.k.a. the Gang of Three.

Bottom line, as stated earlier: Republicans won't be signing off on cuts before the new Senate membership with its 32-30 Democratic edge takes over in January, and meanwhile, the fiscal clock ticks....

Earlier, Liz B at the Daily News put Rep. Nydia Velazquez' name on the map as "front runner" in the who-could-succeed-Hillary speculation contest should the state's junior senator leave her seat for the Obama administration.

Gov. David Paterson, would presumably be putting a U.S. Senate candidate on the same ballot as himself. As a Latina, she could help balance a statewide ticket, ethnically speaking, and obviously he'd have chosen a woman to represent another, more famous one.

Some Democratic activists, however, aren't betting the fundraising committee on her ascension.

In picking a candidate, Paterson and company are expected to consider name recognition, the ability to raise major-league funds, how the candidate polls, and any possible liabilities. New York's other senator Charles Schumer might have something to say too, which opens the related question of how he and Paterson work. One insider noted Velazquez, well-liked by leadership in the House, would find herself in a new forum devoid of seniority if she went to the Senate. And, there's geography; Paterson, now at the head of a New York City-heavy state government, might look to expand his base of elected support by picking, say, a suburbanite (Suozzi? Lowi? Israel?) or a western New Yorker (Higgins?). He might be considering a woman for lieutenant governor, said a longtime ally. Others say Velazquez -- based in Brooklyn and one of Clinton's backers for president -- is not a bad name for Paterson to leak at a time when some see as thin the number of Hispanics in his power circle. One Paterson-friendly Albany hand said, "Don't forget about Greg Meeks," the Queens Congressman.

Right now, the only official who was elected statewide for his current job is Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Paterson ran in tandem as lieutenant governor under Eliot Spitzer, and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was chosen by the Legislature to succeed Alan Hevesi. Legislative leaders are chosen by their conferences. To some Democrats, that's an argument to make Cuomo Senator -- which, who knows, the AG may not even want.

Albany insiders wonder what happened to Gov. David Paterson’s statement last month that he was considering former family court judge Karen Burstein for his chief counsel — a seemingly elusive appointment for this executive chamber. Paterson's first pick for the post on a permanent basis, Justice James Yates, changed his mind months ago after his name was announced.

Gov. David A. Paterson appointed former state Attorney General Robert Abrams (left) to a board charged with keeping the United Nations in New York City, James T. Madore tells us.

Abrams will serve as an unpaid member of the United Nations Development Corp., which secures office and residential space for the international body.

Abrams also served on the transition teams of Eliot Spitzer to be governor and Andrew Cuomo to be attorney general. Abrams said, “I look forward to assisting the United Nations as it continues to serve the world community from its special home in New York.”

The national spotlight may be swinging back to Sen. Hillary Clinton, but inside the state, alumni of Charles Schumer’s Senate and Congressional offices have come to occupy a slew of political and public posts.

Now, 10 years after Democrat Schumer ousted Republican Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, the political Seed of Chucky may be growing.

On a short list for U.S. Attorney in Manhattan is Preet Bharara, chief counsel to Schumer on the Senate Judiciary Committee and visible player in the probe last year of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ office.

This fall Schumer backed a primary by the co-author of his book “Positively American,” Daniel Squadron, who ousted veteran Sen. Martin Connor in Brooklyn. One Democratic source mentions ex-aide Chris Hahn, head of United Way on Long Island, for a run for Brookhaven supervisor, though at least one other candidate seems right now to have stronger chances.

Schumer’s three-year man on Long Island, Matt Cohen, now directs government relations for LIPA.

One-time Schumer aides, now elected, include: Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens), Assemb. Michael Cusick (D-Staten Island), Assemb. Alan Maisel (D-Brooklyn), and Brooklyn City Council members Michael Nelson and David Yassky.

Among the well-connected private consultants formerly in Schumer’s employ: Michael Tobman of the New York City firm Hudson TG. There’s also Josh Isay, of the Knickerbocker division of Squier Knapp Dunn Communications — which even carries on its Web site a friendly plug from Schumer: “If you need television advertising, direct mail or communications advice, I can think of no better place to go.”

A little more than four months into his tenure as one of Albany's ruling troika, Senate GOP leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) lost his statewide majority on Tuesday to the Democrats when colleagues Serphin Maltese of Queens and Caesar Trunzo of Suffolk were unseated.

But Skelos won re-election to his district seat by a wide margin against first-time underdog candidate and law professor Roy Simon. (Uncertified election-night results after the jump). Despite the incumbent's obvious advantage, Simon supporters are telling us in detail that they got an unwelcome seminar in harassment at polling locations in the Nassau district.

State law bars electioneering within 100 feet of polling places. Simon’s people insist they were beyond that limit but discouraged from exercising their rights. At times they said they were stalked by beefy men who emerged from vehicles adorned with Republican signs, and at others, had police unjustifiably set on them.

Nicole Simon, 26, the candidate’s daughter, described harassment at two locations. Murray Reiss, 59, said he leafleted at a proper distance from the Baldwin fire station but an official emerged and told him to move behind a private shed. Simon consultant Arthur Z. Schwartz described interference in West Hempstead and Valley Stream. Stephen Anchin, 64, president of the Five Town Democrats, was arrested, campaign workers said.

“My attorney asked me not to talk to anyone about what happened until we’ve talked further,” Anchin said.

Schwartz, an election lawyer and veteran Democratic activist, as well as early Obama backer out of lower Manhattan, told Newsday: "I have been doing this for a long time and can only express it this way: There was a 20-minute period with big guys around me... in which the emotional reaction was the same as when I was involved in working against the Klan in northern Mississippi in the late 70's."

But a Skelos staffer denied anyone in his campaign heard of such incidents. More as it develops.

Gov. David Paterson, in Puerto Rico, says Medicaid and school aid will be on the chopping block.

The long-term nonaggression pact between Suffolk Democrats headed by Richard Schaffer and Republican Sen. Owen Johnson has no future now that that house has flipped, and Joe Mondello talks of a comeback, Rick Brand reports here.

Where is the economy going and what can the presidents do, Henican asks.

Jim Sleeper takes on the wider meaning of Hussein-the-middle-name in this interesting piece.

Call it congestion pricing, call it Manhattan tolls, or call it East River bridge tolls. The idea keeps popping up as if it's a game of Whack-a-Mole. Now for the bridge-toll permutation to make a comeback.

Rookie Sen. Brian Foley of Brookhaven, joining the new Democratic majority in January, faces big pressure to deliver, Patrick Whittle reports here.

A revised bailout package for AIG is coming, the WSJ reports.

Our initial numbers on the 6th Senate District from election night were off. Our Newsday chart had Kemp Hannon, the Republican incumbent, winning with his usual 56 percent, and that's what we were going by in this posting earlier today. But as Nassau Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs points out, the official numbers from the county elections board show that first-time Democratic challenger Kristen McElroy came much closer to pulling her upset than first projected. Hannon for the moment shows 51.5 percent and McElroy 48.5 percent, or 56,880 to 53,524. There will be a recanvass of machines on Monday, with absentee and affidavit ballots still to be counted.

Stay tuned. There might have been more to that Democratic drumroll in and around Garden City after all. And with the jury still reported out on Frank Padavan v. Jim Gennaro over in Queens, the Albany Gang of Four might have to try some recruiting if things break a certain way. That is, Malcolm Smith's majority could grow.

Jim Gaughran is a former Suffolk legislator who once ran a valiant but losing race against the late Republican Ralph Marino. He has a copy of this Edwin Baily button -- from about a century ago -- Suffolk's last Democratic state Senator. Just keep it in mind as the evening wears on.

Rick Brand

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who aspires to become this century's one-man Tammany Hall, last night was the voice on robo-calls in the 55th S.D. -- for Sen. Serphin Maltese (left), on whose electoral survival today the state Senate's Republican majority may hinge. Funny back story: Less than a mayoral term ago, close Maltese ally Tom Ognibene was opposing Bloomberg for the 2005 Republican nomination (to which the mayor belonged when that was expedient), whereupon the mayor summoned up his well-paid help to bump the GOP Councilman -- vile provincial peasant! --from the primary ballot. There were also reports that Team Bloomberg was trying to buy Ognibene off with an administration job -- which of course were sniffily denied. There was once talk of a City Hall alliance with Joe Addabbo Jr. (right), Maltese's challenger.

All that is ancient (?) history, of course. Since Queens is in New York City, and since Bloomberg plans to be its mayor again, he will quid and quo as he and his club see fit.

John Pinto, a Democrat on the ballot for Assembly today in the 17th district, which covers parts of the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead in Nassau County, received a campaign contribution from a lawyer who was forced to relinquish a state pension in the recent crackdown. The previous account is here.

For Tuesday's election, Friends of Tom McKevitt (in photo) has done negative mailings, obtained by Newsday's Eden Laikin, that scream: "John Pinto was Caught Red Handed ... We Can Do Better Than John Pinto's Pay-to-Play Politics." Both Pinto and the attorney Albert D'Agostino said when we first reported the matter that they didn't see what the issue was ... Sounds a little like those Donno ads against Johnson -- a lot of sizzle.

At least one high-ranking Republican official was more than peeved that two nights before an election that threatens to blow up the GOP's last bastion of state power -- the Senate majority --Sen. Alfonse D'Amato was raising big bucks for Democratic Gov. David Paterson and praising him to the skies. (D'Amato has been quoted elsewhere as saying that he believes the crew headed by Majority Leader Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre will hang on, so not to worry). Echoing the McCain theme, the former senator blasted Wall Street greed -- even though several previous reports have noted that D'Amato as a consultant has himself been hired by Freddie Mac and AIG.

Phony robocalls went out over the weekend to some of the state's most hotly contested state Senate districts, purportedly from a gay newspaper endorsing Democratic Senate contenders because they back “legalized gay marriage.”

The automated call says that “the Gay City News is calling to let you know they proudly endorse” a specific candidate because they will “vote to legalize gay marriage” as well as the “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender agenda.”

There is such a publication, but Paul Schnindler, editor 47,000 ciruclation free weekly, said his paper had nothing to do with the phone calls. He called the phone blitz “wholly illegitimate” and those involved are “people trading in lies.”

Rick Brand

Two days before a hotly contested national and state election, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce annual dinner was the scene of uncommon mutual expressions of admiration between Democrats and Republicans, Newsday's Sid Cassese informs us. He files this report:

Democratic Gov. David Paterson, a Hempstead High School graduate and the chamber’s Man of the Year, praised his former community neighbor Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre, the Republican State Senate Majority Leader, for his leadership in addressing — along with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) — the state’s budget crisis in an early session of the legislature.

Skelos, a re-election candidate sitting in the audience of about 1,000, simply nodded his head. But later, Republican Congressman Pete King of Seaford, also up for re-election, praised Paterson. “I’m proud to say that David Paterson is our Governor,” he said. “I’m proud to have him come before Congress and represent New York State, and I’m proud to stand with him.”

Former Republican U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato, who was part of a team that hosted a fundraiser Sunday for Paterson in Island Park at a minimum of $1,000 a plate, praised the governor for his decisive action in dealing with the state’s budget crisis.

“You are standing up for what is right,” he told Paterson. “We can’t continue to do business as usual.” Former Long Beach Democratic Chairman and current chamber chairman Larry Elovich told the audience to vote for Pete King.

On the eve of this political judgment day, reviews have already begun of what could have been done and what should or should not have been said. To begin honoring the wrapup of this longest-ever, costliest-ever national campaign, here's a bipartisan sampling of statements that our power players would like to have worded differently, or not made at all, or later apologized for, or would just as soon have everyone forget:

Sen. Barack Obama (April 2008): "In some small towns in Pennsylvania [with high unemployment] ... they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Sen. John McCain (December 2007): "There are more and more questions at the town-hall meetings about the economy. ... The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. ... I've got [former Fed chairman Alan] Greenspan's book."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (February 2008), comparing herself to Obama: "Speeches don't fill up your tank, speeches don't fill your prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night. ... I offer solutions. It's one thing to get people excited; I want to empower you."

President George W. Bush (July 2003): "There are some [in Iraq] who feel like uh, that if they attack us, that we may decide to leave prematurely. ... My answer is, bring 'em on. We got the force necessary to deal with the security situation."

Gov. David A. Paterson (March 2008), on past affairs: "Several years ago there were a number of women. ... I was pretty upset and I was kind of just angry and for a period of time I was using poor judgment."

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (January 2004), of diet doctor Robert Atkins, killed in a fall on an icy sidewalk: "I don't believe that -- that he dropped dead slipping on a sidewalk. Yeah, right. ... The guy was fat - big guy - but heavy."

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (January 2008), on Obama, in support of Clinton: "You can't shuck and jive at a press conference. All those moves you can make with the press don't work when you're in someone's living room."

Rep. Charles Rangel (September 2008), on how he misunderstood the taxing and finances on his Dominican Republic house in conversations with partners: "Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, they'd start speaking Spanish."

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (August 2004): "And thank God that Dick Cheney, a man with his experience and his knowledge and his strength and his background, is our vice president."

Sen. Joseph Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin: Where to start?

Most of these can be categorized as statements that became invonvenient to have uttered. For flat-out flubs let us not forget the world's champion: the man from the Republican power elite who could make all Americans feel good about their own critical abilities, former Vice President Dan Quayle. For you kids watching at home, take a look at why Quayle was legendary:

We're saddened to hear that Terence D. Tolbert, 44, well known in several of his roles in New York City government and politics, died suddenly of a heart attack in Nevada, where the Harlem resident was on leave from his job with the city Education Department and helping run that state's Obama campaign. For the full statement issued by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office, click below.

With polls opening early tomorrow, political insiders are already looking ahead to the post-election landscape.

Republicans, for example, are already whispering that hard-working first-timer Lee Zeldin 28, a lawyer and Iraq vet (photo, right), would make a strong contender against Legis. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) next year if he loses tomorrow to Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton).

In Brookhaven, insiders are already looking ahead at the next supervisor race even though Democratic incumbent Brian Foley is still enmeshed in a multi-million battle against veteran GOP Sen. Caesar Trunzo.

Some party insiders say that Foley, win or lose, is unlikely to remain as supervisor. Leading potential Democratic contenders for supervisor are Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and Assenb. Marc Alessi, though both appear reluctant starters.

On the Republican side, town board member Kathy Walsh is the leading contender. Should Foley lose, insiders expect him to move on to either a state job, or a post at Stony Brook University or Suffolk Community College.

And whether or not Trunzo wins, Islip’s 82-year-old GOP leader has already said he will step down from his party post before year’s end. Backers of Trunzo and ailing vice chairwoman Jeanette Messina are touting assistant town attorney Robert Cicale, while mavericks are pushing Frank Tantone.

Rick Brand

This fall Long Islander Ryan Bonner, a student at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, has been working the Suffolk County terrain of the widely-watched Foley-Trunzo race, where dissatisfaction within the GOP is well-known and continually cited in this space by our staff and by those who post comments.

Bonner interviewed several local figures for a recent class assignment. Here's what he filed, and shared with us:

When Tom O’Hara received a letter in the mail just after the Town of Islip primary elections in 2005, he was almost certain as to what was inside: the resignation of State Sen. Caesar Trunzo, stepping down as the head of the Islip Republican Party.

The Trunzo-backed candidates in the primary for two open seats on the Town Board had been soundly defeated and O’Hara assumed Trunzo had gotten the message.

Instead, O’Hara, a town committeeman, opened the envelope and found a letter from Trunzo asking for support for his reelection as party chairman, a post he’s held since 1989.

“When your candidates are beaten 2-1, the people have spoken,” said O’Hara, who served as Trunzo’s legislative aide from 1989-1993. “There is an underlying problem when a political leader holds public office and repeatedly does not put the party’s priorities above his own.”

As earlier posted here by James T. Madore, the Siena poll this morning reports what -- if accurate -- would be a remarkable surge for Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley in his efforts to unseat veteran state Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood).

Observers are trying to figure out the basic question -- whether such a substantial John McCain/Brian Foley vote could be real or stand up at the polls. Remember, this is the Siena poll whose methods Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos challenged earlier in when it came to Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson's likelihood to beat GOP challenger Barbara Donno, and which the Siena folks defended.

But on the ground, there's been special drama within the Islip GOP over Trunzo's party leadership, as an upcoming post will elaborate on. Meanwhile the same bank of polls shows Sen. Kemp Hannon over in Nassau looking like a very safe bet to win re-election.

Here's a rundown of Siena's results in hot Senate races issued today, which you can comb over yourself by clicking here.

3rd. SD: Foley 56 percent, Trunzo 34 percent, undecided 9 percent.
6th SD: Hannon 56 percent, McElroy 30 percent, undecided 15 percent.
15th SD: Addabbo (D) 45 percent, Maltese (R) 43 percent, undecided 13 percent.

The latest Siena figures in four key state Senate reaces seem to suggest that, regardless of national trends, the earth (shown here in NASA photo) has not suddenly gone off its axis, and legislative incumbents are mostly retaining their traditional advantages.

In Westchester, Democratic incumbent Suzi Oppenheimer maintains a big lead over her Republican challenger.

In Monroe County, Republican Sen. Joseph Robach, subject of harsh rumor about his personal conduct, nonetheless leads 52 percent to 39 percent.

And in and around Erie County, veteran Republican Sen. Dale Volker is holding on by the same spread, according to Siena.

Of course, in a 62-member upper house, it will only take a net shift of one or two seats to topple the Republican majority, now at 31-29. The question remains what the exceptions and open seats might bring.

For details, here's the Siena poll site.

In a first round of follow-up polls published today, the Siena Research Institute finds that rookie Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) lost a bit of ground to Republican challenger Barbara Donno -- but her scenario for surpassing him seems to remain clouded at best.

Here's the summary just issued by Siena's Steve Greenberg:

"Johnson has a 50-35 percent lead over Donno, down from a 49-25 percent lead in the previous Siena New York Poll. Johnson has the support of more than three-quarters of Democrats, while Donno has the support of more than two-thirds of Republicans. Johnson has a nearly two-to-one lead among independent voters, 50-28 percent, up from 36-24 percent in the last poll. Donno's overall gain in the poll comes largely from Republican voters, where she went from leading 47-28 percent, to now leading 68-19 percent."

"Johnson is viewed favorably by 40 percent and unfavorably by 28 percent of voters (36-17 percent last poll). Donno currently has a 29-23 percent favorable rating (16-9 percent last poll)."

"Johnson's lead is larger than the 51-42 percent lead Barack Obama has over John McCain in the district."

"Senator Johnson has picked up a point to hit 50 percent, while Donno has picked up 10 points, closing the gap to 15 points. Donno's challenge in a district with a Democratic enrollment edge is made more difficult because nearly half of voters have no opinion of Donno, and among those who do know her, nearly as many have an unfavorable view as have a
favorable view."

Now Democrat Kristen McElroy, bolstered by a lot of buzz around her chances in the 6th S.D., is attacking her opponent Sen. Kemp Hannon with the charge that he and the GOP Senate majority are "a big part of the reason" for unaffordable health insurance premiums.

For the full text of the statement, click "continued" line below. The essence of the claim is that HMO rate deregulation spearheaded by the house majority years ago caused premiums to rise faster than paychecks and Hannon and others received big contributions from drug companies and other health-care interests. Hannon chairs the Senate health committee.

"When I go to work in Albany, I'm going to work for the families and small businesses here in Nassau County," says McElroy in a statement. "HMOs got their loopholes, and Kemp Hannon got his money. That's got to change."

UPDATE: Joe Conway, spokesman for the state Senate Republican campaign committee, replies, "Everyone knows that no one fights harder to protect the rights of patients throughout New York State than Senator Kemp Hannon.

"From requiring independent appeals for health care coverage, to banning drive-through deliveries, to expanding coverage for mammography and other life saving procedures, Kemp Hannon has helped improve the quality of health care for millions of New Yorkers.

"In contrast, no one seems to know much at all about Kristen McElroy, but she certainly seems to have a double-standard.

"While raising virtually no money from within the district, Kristen McElroy has received thousands of dollars in contributions from liberal special interests from outside the State. She herself said, in an on-line interview, 'Lucky for me I know the right people.'"

Just when you thought it was safe to pick up the phone, robo-calling is under way in Nassau’s perpetually-contested 7th S.D.

Our colleague Michael Amon notified us of a taped call to Port Washington that followed the attack script from Republican Barbara Donno, playing on her opponent Sen. Craig Johnson being in a law firm where an ex-partner was improperly receiving a school-district pension.

What followed, Amon said, was a robo-call from the Johnson camp — blasting Donno’s negative approach, with the pitch, “Sen. Craig Johnson has always been on your side and will always be fighting for you.”

With apologies to the folks at Law & Order:

In the New York political system, there are two distinct but equally named Bill Cunninghams: One who used to be in public service -- and one who still is.

These are their stories.

Ca-chung.

We just got off the phone with William T. Cunnngham. He is the one shown with the glasses in the photo at left. He works for Dan Klores in New York City. He is NOT repeat NOT the guy who was just named acting secretary to Gov. David A. Paterson. The guy with the glasses at left is the one who used to be a top adviser to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Once long ago he was executive director of the state Democratic Party. His political roots trace back to Gov. Hugh Carey. He worked for the late Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan. He was NOT in the news last week.

"I don't have a number at the end of my name," explained this same Bloomberg-Carey-Cuomo-Moynihan-Klores (BCCMK) guy. The other guy, William J. Cunningham III, has a III at the end of his name.

William J. Cunningham III (in photo at right) was a top aide to Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who was a partner in the Meyer-Suozzi firm, with Harold Ickes, the Sen. Hillary Clinton person. This is also the Cunningham who ran against Steve Levy and lost for Suffolk executive, who IS now acting secretary to Gov. David Paterson. Acting Secretary William J. Cunningham III, in photo at right.

William T. Cunningham (BCCMK), who is NOT this governor's guy, said he got a call today from his sister. Her neighbor in Rockland County said she heard on the news he got a new job. The sister called to check. He told her he does not have a new job. It's the other one. Also, a well-known attorney called him today to congratulate him on this big new job that he does not have.

"Wait," the non-Paterson BCCMK Cunningham said as if realizing something all of a sudden. "Can I get a state car to drive if I go down to the pool and ask for one?...Hold on. Wait a minute... I'm not saying anything."

Just for the record: Neither of these New-York-government-and-politics Bill Cunninghams is the same as either the pro-McCain radio person from out in America or the former basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Guaranteed we'll have to explain this again some day soon.

Dan Janison

Earlier this month, Gov. David A. Paterson signed a sweeping package of pension-reform bills into law that will make it more difficult for recipients of public pensions to also draw public salaries.

But at least one double-dipper, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice’s second-in-command, Albert Teichman, is expected to be unaffected. Teichman, 62, who retired from the Brooklyn district attorney’s office in 2001, has earned both a $150,000 salary and a $74,000 pension since he started in the office in 2006. He’s the only non-investigator in the Nassau or Suffolk DAs’ offices, or the state Attorney General’s office, with a waiver allowing him to collect a pension and a public salary.

Eric Phillips, spokesman for Rice (in photo, right) said he expects Teichman to retain his waiver under the new law. Not only is Teichman exceedingly well qualified, Phillips said, but his office twice posted Teichman’s job and received no other applications.

That’s not surprising. The description posted for Teichman’s job was so specific that few candidates — not even the district attorney — could qualify. It calls for 25 years as a prosecutor, experience supervising a staff of at least 250, and prior executive experience in a DA’s office.

The state bills also are aimed only at those hired from the effective date onward.

Ann Givens

New York’s Independence Party has launched an all-out mail blitz for veteran State Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood), in photo at left, in his re-election bid.

But the state party, which has Trunzo on its ballot line, says it will not disclose how it is financing the mailings or how much it is spending on them until January. Three mailings have already gone out and more are likely, though party officials didn’t give specifics. Party sources say Trunzo is the only Long Island GOP Senator for whom the minor party is doing mail, but sources say GOP veteran Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City), in photo at right, may also get help.

The tag line on the mailings is “State Senator Caesar Trunzo Independent For Us.” The pieces praise Trunzo for supporting the tax cap, keeping property taxes down, and keeping the cost of living down. No piece solicits votes for Trunzo but invites residents to call the senator at 631-360-3236 and “tell him to keep fighting” for them. Party officials say the mailings are funded out of the party’s housekeeping account and they are “issue advocacy” pieces.

Because the mailings do not urge votes for a candidate, party officials say they do not have to report the fundraising or expenditures until January. Mailings that solicit votes must report their spending and fundraising 32 and 11 days before the election, and 10 days after. “We’ve done everything by the book,” said Frank MacKay, state chairman. But Doug Forand, Senate Democrats campaign consultant, said Trunzo is the minor party’s candidate and MacKay is “jumping though hoops” to “clearly try to evade” campaign finance laws.

Rick Brand