Maziarz Out, SD-62 Up For Grabs
Here is the statement that soon-to-be-former State Senator George Maziarz issued in order to explain his very sudden and unexpected decision to resign*:
It is no secret to my family and close friends that I have been considering retirement from the State Legislature for the last five years. And as I geared up for another long campaign season, I realized I just did not have the passion and commitment that I have had in the past to see it through.
People will ask me why now and the simple answer is there is never the perfect time to step away. I had the honor of following the late John Daly into the State Senate. I remember him telling me when he left the Senate it was simply time for the next generation of leaders in the Legislature. After nearly two decades in office, I fully understand what he meant and feel that way today.
My second daughter gets married this summer and that is a much bigger priority for me than another grueling campaign. My family has sacrificed enough for my public service through the years and I cannot ask for any more.
To the people of Niagara, Orleans and Monroe counties who I have had the pleasure to represent since 1995, I extend my heart felt appreciation for your continued support. I always told people that being your Senator was the greatest job in the world, one I dedicated myself to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We accomplished great things and I did my best to help my constituents with any problem…big or small. Thank you for giving a kid from North Tonawanda the chance to fulfill his dream of serving in the State Senate.
Gee shucks, that’s swell.
But not so fast.
People just finished collecting petition signatures to get Maziarz’s name on the ballot. He could have easily announced a planned resignation earlier this year. You don’t just drop out of your career politicianship because you’re bored and you need more time for your kids. You don’t simply bow out from the “greatest job in the world” suddenly on a Sunday night.
Mike Caputo’s PoliticsNY broke the story this weekend, and noted that the resignation comes quickly on the heels of the abrupt resignations of two of Maziarz’s top staffers. On July 11th, the Niagara County Democratic Committee issued a press release demanding a state investigation of Maziarz’s campaign spending:
This week we learned Maziarz’s Chief of Staff Alisa Colatarci and Office Manager Marcus Hall both resigned. Given the U.S. Justice Department’s increased focus on public corruption in Albany, if there are reports of senior staff members resigning it should raise some eyebrows.
Eyebrows have indeed been raised ever since City & State revealed in May that two WNY Republican senators – Maziarz and Pat Gallivan – were coming under scrutiny for campaign spending.
State Sen. George Maziarz shelled out more than $140,000 in campaign funds over a six-year period without identifying what exactly he purchased, according to an investigation by the now defunct Moreland Commission on Public Corruption—by far the most of any state lawmaker. State Sen. Patrick Gallivan was found to have about $80,000 in unreported campaign credit card expenses, including hundreds of dollars spent on cigars, tanning, and at salons and casinos. State Sen. Greg Ball laid out around $23,000 at retail stores, including Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic and Amore Clothing.
This must be why the Republicans haven’t been making much noise about the disbanding of the Moreland Commission as part of the overall budget deal earlier this year. Keep stumm and don’t kill the job.
But the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan said, in effect, “not so fast”.
To date, there has been considerable speculation about what exactly the Moreland Commission’s investigations team probed over the months it was in operation, but few specifics have been disclosed to the public. Several legislators and critics have openly dismissed the Commission’s work as a “witch hunt.” Conversely, Moreland Commissioner Makau Mutua said earlier this month that the Commission had unearthed potential criminality by 10 to 12 state lawmakers.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara was interested enough in finding out what the Commission had discovered that he has launched an inquiry, in part, to get to the bottom of whether “investigations potentially significant to the public interest have been bargained away as part of the negotiated arrangement between legislative and executive leaders,” as he wrote in a letter to the Commission’s members on April 3—a reference to the ethics deal struck between the governor and the Legislature as part of their budget agreement at the end of March, which coincided with Cuomo’s announcement that he was shutting down the Commission.
How does this all play into Maziarz’s resignation? Well, take a look at Binghamton-area Republican state senator Tom Libous – the second-highest ranking GOPer in the Senate- who was just indicted for lying to the FBI about getting his kid a job, and promising to direct work to that firm as a quid-pro-quo. The son was indicted for tax evasion and embezzlement. Libous was also out in front to try and block an extension on the fracking ban, mostly because his wife and a big campaign donor stand to benefit financially from a lifting of the ban.
Is Bharara poised to indict Maziarz for corruption that the Moreland Commission uncovered and then simply stopped doing anything about to placate Shelly Silver and Dean Skelos? Consider what City & State uncovered:
The legislator with the most number of entries about him is state Sen. George Maziarz, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate leadership. According to the documents, Maziarz amassed more than $140,000 in unitemized campaign expenses in filings reported between 2008 and 2013—which averages out to more than $23,000 a year, or nearly $2,000 a month. The senator’s campaign also had “over $67,000 of charges and expenditures to Chase and Chase Card Services,” identified broadly as “office” expenses. The total sum, which exceeded by tens of thousands of dollars the amount of unspecified expenditures by each of the other lawmakers flagged, is broken down in depth within the documents and includes details not included in the senator’s public campaign filings.
The Commission found that the Maziarz campaign doled out more than $125,000 at retailers such as Target and BJ’s Wholesale Club, including $56,250 in expenditures that investigators concluded had not been reported. Another $10,000 from the senator’s re-election funds went to specialty chocolatiers, a florist and wineries and wine stores. The campaign committee also paid for $7,850 worth of reading materials at Borders, Readers Digest and Barnes & Noble, with $2,000 labeled as “unreported” by the Commission.
The Commission also tabulated the Maziarz campaign spending $12,000 at arts and crafts stores like Michaels and Oriental Trading; $7,000 at the now-defunct online gift boutique Southern Living at HOME and its successor, Willow House; and $4,000 on purchases related to children, including from Toys ”R” Us and Mud Pie, and payments to Do-do, the clown.
A company called MEM Enterprises also received a cumulative $39,000 from the Maziarz campaign. A Commission document notes that the company has only one employee, brings in $54,000 a year and is based at a residence owned by a person who appears to be the senator’s relative. Efforts to reach MEM Enterprises were unsuccessful, however, based upon inquiries made by City & State, it appears that the company’s address is the same as that of the senator’s brother, Marvin Maziarz, a retired Niagara County Community College professor.
As for Pat Gallivan,
The next highest total was run up by Gallivan, who had about $80,000 in “unreported credit card expenses.” In Gallivan’s case, records for a Capital One card revealed $1,200 spent at casinos, $1,000 on cigars and $300 on “tanning beds and at salons.” The senator also had approximately $4,000 in unreported charges to AT&T, $3,500 in unreported charges to Verizon Wireless, $4,000 in charges to the DeLacy Ford dealership in Elma, N.Y., and almost $3,000 in unreported loan payments to M&T Bank. The Commission was apparently unable to obtain records for an American Express card that had $47,000 in unreported campaign charges.
Generally speaking, lawmakers are forbidden from converting campaign finances to personal use. This sort of analysis of campaign spending is unprecedented, and for decades, no one has bothered to look into any of this.
It’s quite clear that Maziarz’s unforeseen and hurried exit has to do with something much more grave than a general feeling of political ennui and a sudden desire to focus on his daughter’s nuptials.
Another corrupt lawmaker in a hypercorrupt Albany? Big surprise, and the way in which this unfolded reveals the degree to which no person or party in Albany has a desire to clean up that city’s act for the good of the people in this state. Thankfully, the people working on the Moreland Commission’s investigations were disgusted enough to forward their investigations to law enforcement.
About two years ago, Carl Paladino and his cult following tried to unseat Maziarz by spreading rumors that he was gay. It was an especially disgusting campaign – just as you might expect from Carl, Rus Thompson, and any other right-wing homophobe you might encounter.
It was so ugly and hateful, that I endorsed Maziarz because of it, and also because Paladino was openly backing Maziarz’s primary opponent, Johnny Destino (who is now a Democrat and running for Maziarz’s now-vacant seat). Consider, then, that Paladino and Rus Thompson could have – but didn’t – pushed instead an argument that Maziarz was corrupt. That would have been a tougher argument to make, and by no means as much fun to a couple of gay-bashers, but at least it would have smacked of factual accuracy.
But most importantly, recall Governor Cuomo’s agreement with the Working Families Party to start backing the idea of a Democratic Senate in exchange for its fusion endorsement. With Libous’ indictment and Maziarz’s departure, that’s two Republican seats up for grabs. (Libous and Maziarz, incidentally, were not backbenchers – they were quite powerful). The Republicans have a de facto majority in the Senate thanks to a small group of breakaway Democrats led by Jeffery Klein, the “Independent Democratic Conference”.
Right now, the Senate is made up of 29 Republicans, 24 Democrats (2 formerly Democratic seats are vacant), 1 Democrat caucusing with the Republicans, and the 4 members of the IDC. If the IDC decides to abandon its Republican ties the Democrats get a majority.
The NYS Board of Elections reveals that Democratic enrollment in the 62nd District is almost 63,000 Democrats and just under 60,000 Republicans. 4,000 are enrolled Conservative, 1,200 are enrolled in the WFP, and 8,200 are in the Independence Party. The Greens have fewer than 400 enrollees. With a slight Democratic enrollment advantage, this seat is wholly up for grabs.
* I use the word “resign” not to denote an immediate Maziarz withdrawal from public office, but merely to connote the fact that he’s choosing to not seek re-election to his Senatorship-for-life. As of right now, Maziarz is expected to complete his term of office.
So some good actually came out of the Moreland commission…..
Not much – “State payroll records show that Moreland Commission Executive Director
Regina Calcaterra, who at $175,000 a year makes just $4,000 less than
the governor, is still receiving about $6,700 every two weeks despite
the commission’s work having ended.”
It sounds like the Moreland Commission, and Cuomo, are facing an investigation.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/months-plug-pulled-moreland-commission-executive-director-paid-blog-entry-1.1848846
Hopefully…….
Do-do……
“Working Families Party”? Do you mean ACORN?
ACORN was one of those that helped found the WFP many years ago…and, of course, ACORN is still very F-ing dead.
Yeah, except WFP is using ACORN’s offices (2 Nevins Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn), furniture, employees, and executive director (Bertha Lewis). Very F-ing dead, indeed.
Horrible. Can you imagine, ACORN actually tried to help the poor!
Yeah, helped them commit vote fraud, housing fraud, money laundering, prostitution..
http://youtu.be/LtTnizEnC1U
Not one of the above. Not a single. solitary. one.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/09/acorn.fraud.claims/
No, not one. Thousands.
“Accusations”. “Allegations”. “Claims”.
“Convictions”. “Guilty pleas”. “Sustained on appeal.”
http://ballotpedia.org/ACORN_and_voter_registration_fraud
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB124182750646102435
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/09/Nevada-Acorn-Conviction-Upheld
You mean any wrongdoing was reported and prosecuted? And you’re citing Breitbart!?
I know you detest ACORN because it predominately helped minorities, the poor, and females, but let’s not pretend like this wasn’t a ginned-up right wing witch-hunt designed to limit those three groups’ voting rights.
Also: http://www.salon.com/2014/06/24/gops_voter_fraud_humiliation_turns_out_wisconsins_worst_case_is_a_republican/
When you can’t counter the facts, attack the source. ACORN employees have been convicted of vote fraud time and time again.
And this March, when convicted serial vote fraudster Melowese Richardson was released from prison, there was Al Sharpton to give her a hug, and praise her for fighting for the right to vote multiple times.
Indeed, we aim to limit these groups’ right to vote — to a single ballot.
How about Ann Coulter getting nailed on election fraud?
Or how about the folks in the great state of Florida who will be having district lines redrawn because it benefitted the Republicans?
Or will you be going radio silent because it’s YOUR guys who are getting nailed?
Nothing like citing a bunch of right wing FAUX sources for your argument….got anything new on BENGAZI????????
http://www.proskauer.com/files/uploads/report2.pdf
ONCE AGAIN, ACORN is DEAD. DEAD. DEAD!
Naturally, that won’t stop Hammy from beating it to death.
The ACORN has sprouted.
Have you ever been able to stay on topic in a discussion?
No, everything is ultimately a union conspiracy if you stare at it long enough. WFP is a spineless bunch of wienies. No self respecting union thug would be caught dead associating with the likes of them.
The WFP should be called The Unionista Party.
“ACORN”? Do you mean Benghazi?
Good comments and coverage but the Democrat numbers are very suspect.
I have lived at two addresses of Robin Schimminger’s District for nearly his entire term in office. I have been part of Sierra Lobbying efforts several times with his staff and found them remarkably resistant to most environmental suggestions. His record shows him with more pro-Republican Votes than many upstate Republicans.
I spoke of this with another Assembly member of considerable acumen. He assured me Robin fits his District like a glove.
Based on a lifetime of observation I have to conclude Northern Erie County- Southern Niagara Counties are in that realm of ersatz Conservatism that seems prevalent in this region. Many voters register Democrat as do their mostly blue collar neighbors and families but think its more appropriate to vote for Republican promises of lower taxes.
I cannot think of any other reason why we are saddled with such permanent incumbency. Most Republican offices remain more sinecures than competitive politics should allow. Its sad to watch much of this area move sideways rather than in progressive directions by the resultant foot dragging reluctance to actually have active government.
So now who’s going to be Mike Hudson’s new “Old Friend”? Something is really wrong with this picture.Old George would kill before giving up his seat.
“A man so crooked he requires the help of three aides to screw his pants on in the morning”.
~HST
I wonder what job Gallivan will pursue now in his never ending drive to collect more taxpayer funded pensions than anyone in history……
“Right now, the Senate is made up of 29 Republicans, 24 Democrats (2 formerly Democratic seats are vacant), 1 Democrat caucusing with the Republicans, and the 4 members of the IDC. If the IDC decides to abandon its Republican ties the Democrats get a majority. ”
24 + 4 is less than 29
Two Dem seats are vacant, will be filled with Dems (most likely). That means we’re talking about 26 + 4.
1) You did not imply after the filling of two vacant seats, which will not happen until after the next election/next term as Cuomo has neglected to call special elections
2) The IDC has already said they will caucus with the rest of the democratic caucus after this years election/the next term
So if your point was that there will be a democratic majority with the IDC joining them, after elections, your point is moot. It also wasn’t your point. Take the mulligan on this one.
I didn’t imply anything. I wrote that there were 29 GOP and 24 DEM in the Senate. 2 DEM seats are vacant. They aren’t counted now, but will be come January, and they will most likely be DEM because of where they are. The IDC has indicated that they may caucus with DEM, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
I don’t know what’s moot about my point, other than pointing out that GOP Senators are finding themselves in trouble with the US Attorney downstate, not to mention a pledge by Cuomo to support the notion of a DEM majority Senate with the resources to accomplish just that, as well as whatever strongarming is needed to rein in any dissidents.
I don’t know what you’re arguing with me about, but I didn’t make any mistake.
Actually, there are 29 Republicans plus one Dem who caucuses with them. There are 24 Democrats in the mainline Dem caucus, there are 5 members of the IDC, there are 2 Dem under indictment who were kicked out of their caucuses and there are two open seats, 1 Republican and 1 Dem.
Democrats under indictment? Is that possible? After reading Alan Bedenko’s blog I did not think that happened
Are any of them from western New York?
What depresses me is the the rank dishonesty so pervasive in our society. No one seems to hold themselves accountable for just doing the right thing.
We can count on Alan to hold the corrupt republicans accountable. However to find the equally corrupt democrats you will have to look elsewhere
I’m old enough to remember when Republicans had the intellectual fortitude and bravery to run their own local blogs, rather than just be trolls on Facebook and Disqus.
Out of curiosity, I wonder was there any proof of Paladino being involved with the “Georgie Girl” web content about Maziarz or rumors of him being gay?
The chain of links make a good case that Rus Thompson did it.
Was the assumption that everything Thompson ever does is also to be blamed on Paladino, or was there a more substantive connection, or only speculation?
At the time, I had multiple sources telling me that Carl was involved, and he also promoted it on FB and Twitter, IIRC.
But on the bright side Alan’s sources told him that he had stopped beating his gay boyfriend