15 Comments

1. Brian says:

   November 22, 2008 at 7:39 am

   Iannello doesn’t live in the Assembly District. The shared border between the 144th Assembly District and the 10th Legislative District is Grand Island; Iannello resides in Tonawanda (or Amherst if you believe Rus Thompson).
   I would guess that his back fill would not come from the Hoyt shop, but rather as a peace-offering to another political group that feels that they are owed something. My prediction is that if Higgins or Brown receive the appointment, and Hoyt back-fills their position, someone like Marc Copolla would be appointed the new Assemblyperson.
2. Terry says:

   November 22, 2008 at 7:42 am

   Given the Congressional Page and Intern scandals over the years, I can well expect that Hoyt will eagerly step up to Higgins’ slot…”I’m going to DisneyWorld!”
3. Matt Bova says:

   November 22, 2008 at 9:11 am

   IF Sam gets the congressional seat, he’s going to have an extremely hard time getting elected to it.

   The district is huge and he’d probably face both a primary and a challenge by someone like Jack Quinn III.

   I know I’m not known as a fan of Sam, but none of this is an exaggeration and we might as well cede the seat to the GOP in the next election.

   Stepping into a vacancy in the Mayor’s office would be much better for him.
4. Adam K. says:

   November 22, 2008 at 9:30 am

   Is Sam Hoyt still electable to an office besides his own seat?

   Iannello can’t run for that; she lives in Schimminger’s district and there is a 1 year residency rule in New York for Assembly districts.

   Maria Whyte?
5. buffalomom says:

   November 22, 2008 at 11:09 am

   I think we are getting ahead of ourselves. What are the REAL chances Higgins gets it?
6. Chris from OP says:

   November 22, 2008 at 11:39 am

   And no one is going to make a joke about Sam Hoyt filling slots other than the one he’s already taken an oath to fill…….
7. Rory says:

   November 22, 2008 at 12:00 pm

   no chance anyone is looking upstate for this. Doesn’t anyone realize we are like the Kansas of this state to these people. As I am writing this I am thinking to myself…only the GOP is capable of such a thing.
8. BH Liddell Hart says:

   November 22, 2008 at 12:15 pm

   Well Hoyt couldn’t just take either seat.

   If Higgins were appointed, then there would be a special election for his replacement. With the special, there would be no primary, the parties would directly nominate their candidates. In that case you would likely see Poloncarz or Hochul as the candidate. A Republican can win the seat, as Jack Quinn has shown, Hoyt hasn’t shown he can win outside the city yet. Poloncarz, if he wanted it, would probably be the first choice, due to his ties to Dem HQ, Hochul would be second in line, is my guess.

   If Brown were to become Senator, then the Council President becomes acting Mayor, who is Fronczak (I think??). That would set a scramble in the open Mayor’s seat. Hoyt would certainly be a top contender but he has shown he can only rely on about 55% from his Assembly Seat. Mickey Kearns wants to run, which would probably keep South Buffalo with him. Fronczak would probably want to run too, his district is low on population though, and the polish vote ain’t what it used to be in the city. There are no major Italian candidates not tied to the Hoyt organization who could run. The big question is who Grassroots puts forward, 40% of the primary vote will be Black and they vote in a bloc for credible Black candidates. Grassroots has a weak bench right now though, their council members aren’t strong enough. Antoine Thompson would be the obvious heir, but he is pretty deeply involved as a State Senator, which would make their best options a judge like Ogden, McLeod or Russell, if any of them are willing to give up being a judge to run. Hoyt and 2 other white candidates, particularly ethnic ones, would make it difficult for him to win against a credible Black candidate.

   If Hoyt were to take a seat, Iannello couldn’t replace him, she doesn’t live in the district as it’s been said before. There is a residency requirement and even if she somehow got it not being close with the Hoyt people, it would be a tough seat to defend in a primary with your base in GI. Hoyt replacements would more likely be Cuomo aide John Maggoire, Maria Whyte, Mike LoCurto, or Sean Ryan.

   Replacing Iannello? EC Dems exec director Kathy Callan, Kenmore Trustee Kathy Bestine, Kenmore Trustee Tim McCarthy, City of Tonawanda Councilman Rick Davis.
9. mike hudson says:

   November 22, 2008 at 2:22 pm

   it is sheer fantasy to think that either higgins or brown will get the seat, should it become open. the thought of elevating hoyt is a bad joke, pundit, and why would ianello get the seat when the democrats of her district clearly supported joe mesi instead? no shame in a little cage rattling to buck up readership, mind you. i’ve been known to do it myself from time to time.
10. RaChaCha says:

    November 22, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    Assuming for a moment that Sam Hoyt would fill one of those vacancies, why has no one mentioned Councilman David Rivera as a candidate to fill Sam’s vacant Assembly seat–? David seems like a good man to me, and very involved.
11. buffalomom says:

    November 22, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    @ BH – Kathy Callan is good at what she does which does not include being particularly nice to people. I cannot imagine her going door-to-door or to lawn fetes shaking hands and charming people during a campaign at all.
12. buffalomom says:

    November 22, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    i say give it to brown so we can get him and his losers out of city hall!
13. Jon Splett says:

    November 22, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Byron Brown?

    Seriously?

    People REALLY think Byron Brown would hold a seat Bloomberg and Rudy could be eyeing? Because he’s done what exactly? Built a Bass Pro?…(oh wait)

    I have a feeling these ‘rumors’ are nothing more than wishful thinking by the Buffalo media and an excuse to write a few easy columns.
14. Wayne's World Party Time says:

    November 22, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    Well Mr. Hudson, maybe Democrats have buyers remorse after watching Baby Joe Mesi lose Erie County by 5,800 when there are 2,700 more Democrats than Republicans.
15. Buffalo Hodgepodge says:

    November 23, 2008 at 10:55 am

    If Byron Brown or Brian Higgins come to hold the US Senate seat formerly held by Robert F. Kennedy, add me to the population flight out of New York state.