The Advocate Richard Blassberg

Charlie King Has The Right Idea

Several days ago Charlie King, one of four candidates running in the Democratic Primary for State Attorney General made the right move. Realizing that he was trailing the leaders Andrew Cuomo and Mark Green by an
insurmountable percentage he withdrew from the race and threw his support behind Cuomo. In doing so he called upon all Democrats, and Mark Green, in particular, to rally behind whomever emerges as the Democratic candidate as the result of the primary. Sean Patrick Maloney, a youthful lawyer with considerable state and federal governmental experience remains in the race, of late acting as more of a referee between Cuomo and Green at debates and other public forums. Maloney, would appear to have a bright political future, and has articulated many of the issues plaguing New York State, including the mantle of hundreds of public authorities that have for years been pork barrels for whatever party occupied the Governor’s Mansion.

Clearly the two major contenders from the beginning have been Cuomo and Green, each with ego enough for three, and perhaps, more baggage than they need. One could make an equally cogent argument for one over the other, Green having been the New York City Public Advocate, and probably having spent the last twenty-five years dealing with and litigating the kinds of issues the State Attorney General is likely to come up against.

Cuomo, on the other hand, has greater name recognition, and extensive experience not merely dealing with issues, likewise related to the concerns of a state attorney general, but also possessing management experience, having served as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development with hundreds of lawyers and support staff at his command. He also has the endorsement, and public support of many more prominent Democratic leaders and office holders, an important asset in the general election.

When Cuomo appeared several days ago in Westchester, for a press conference at Planned Parenthood in White Plains, numerous elected Democrats came out to speak in support of him, including Congresswoman, Nita Lowey, County Executive Andrew Spano, County Legislator, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick, and County Legislator Tom Abinanti,. The kind of support that brings influential
leaders and government officials to a candidate’s side, on a moments notice, will be particularly significant in the
upcoming general election should he be the Democratic candidate, because the Republican vying for the Attorney
Generals Office, Jeanine Pirro has been known to win elections with heavy reliance upon media imagery and
cross-over voting.

There is no doubt that either Mark Green or Andrew Cuomo is capable of becoming a competent and effective
People’s Lawyer. However, it is absolutely essential for the health and well-being of New York State, that Jeanine Pirro not become the Chief Law Enforcement Officer. As those of us with knowledge of her activities as
Westchester’s District Attorney, are only too well aware, Mrs. Pirro brings both personal and public criminal conduct to the table. Only recently have Federal and State Appellate Courts begun to expose her extreme prosecutorial misconduct over twelve years, that sent many innocent individuals to prison with altered evidence and perjured testimony, while at the same time covering up her own, her husband’s, and their political allies’ blatant criminal activities. In short, whoever emerges from the Democratic Primary as the party’s candidate for New York Attorney General must be given the full support of the losing primary candidates, as well as their supporters. Egos and personal ambitions must be laid aside for the good of the People of New York. Charlie King has the right idea.