We’re all buzzing about Bob Duffy’s public smackdown — wrapped in a PC package, of course — of City Council President Lovely Warren’s mayoral ambitions. Our former mayor and current lieutenant governor said Warren shouldn’t run — yet — and that he’s throwing his support behind incumbent Mayor Tom Richards.
“Rochester needs them both,” Duffy said in the D&C.
It’s pretty ballsy of Duffy (pictured right) to insert himself into a race that doesn’t exist yet. Neither Warren nor Richards, for that matter, have said they’re going to run. It’s especially curious when you remember that Duffy began his own political career by challenging the party establishment — he forced a primary against endorsed mayoral candidate Wade Norwood.
It’s also fascinating to see Duffy come out against Warren — a protégé of State Assembly member David Gantt — when he was so solicitous of all things Gantt during Duffy’s failed bid for mayoral control of the Rochester school district. Duffy and Gantt haven’t always been besties — their relationship is best described as an off-and-on marriage of convenience. And Duffy needed Gantt to pass mayoral control legislation.
I guess things look a little different from the state capital.
This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2013.
I was also somewhat stunned by the Duffy smackdown of Lovely Warren. Regardless of what you may think of her prospects as Mayor, his “wait your turn” condescension toward a black woman who dares to even think of running against a rich white male is astounding. Can anyone imagine a Republican politician saying something like that? The editorial writers at the D&C would be in high dudgeon and charges of racism would come jumping off the pages of City. Yet for some reason, perhaps because he is a Democrat and Second Banana to Andrew Cuomo, he is escaping criticism. Yet another double standard from the news media in this town.
Sadly, Bob Duffy, who did a horrible job as our mayor, believes he should decide who should be mayor forever! He started things he never finished (like Ren Sq), he abandoned us to take the job “official ribbon cutter of NYS). He is a double dipper with pension money as a cop and pay as Lt. Governor…and it is time for him to be silent!
Let us, the poor unwashed, dumb voters, decide who our mayor should be!
Actually Duffy is not speaking for himself. He never has and never will because he never has and never will have,the independent power base to do so, unless by some miracle he becomes Governor after Cuomo becomes President. He is firing a warning shot across David Gantt’s bow on behalf of the Governor (with a 59% approval rating) and more importantly, Joe Morelle, the Democratic Party chair. Many may not know this, but there is a divide in this community between white suburban Democrats (Morelle, Richards) and African-American urban Democrats (Gantt, Warren). Warren is Gantt’s chief of staff and proxy. Richards (and Duffy) are Morelle’s proxies. So Duffy’s not-so-subtle warning to Warren is that the white suburban Democrats (along with people like Sandy Parker from RBA and Anne Kress at MCC) will control Democratic politics in Rochester, even if so far, their efforts have been less than stellar (the school district, Ren Square, PATEC).
Lets look at what’s at stake in a primary race against incumbent Mayor Tom Richards. As of today, neither Richards nor Warren have formally announced, so all we have is a trial balloon floated by Council President Warren. I have no doubt that Mayor Richards will announce in the near future. If Warren does choose to challenge Richards, it’s very likely that other less qualified office seekers will also throw in their hats, once again creating a very messy and contentious race, which no doubt will have long term implications for the entire community. Perhaps opening the door to someone who is not at all qualified to fill the position. This is not a gender or ethnicity contest, it’s what is the value of continuity during these fiscally challenging times. If by some unpredictable event, someone other than Richards is elected, how disruptive will a new Mayor and his/her cabinet selection need to get up to speed, and what are the consequences of those changes? The choice is, what’s best for the entire community, not just some sub-set of the community. On another point, LG Duffy did not “smack-down” Council President Warren, he simply stated his views that he thinks both are needed. That currently there is a positive synergy between Council and the Administration, which is high praise for both. As for Mayoral Control of schools, that battle needs to fought in the State Legislature, where Democratic and Republican local delegate’s need to agree that it would be a good thing for Rochester.
Frankspeak
Stay above the fray…vote Green Party 🙂
Why the surprise over ex-Republican Bobby’s horning into the unfolding of the next mayoral election? After all he hand-picked non-Democrat Tommy to be his Jr. Ass’t Mayor and heir apparent. and to have done other than vocally re-endorse him would be interpreted (correctly) as an admission that he made a mistake in backing Tommy in the first place.
Kind of like expecting that Barack will support anyone other than VP Joe for the 2016 nomination.
The Duffy remarks, as well as those of Joesph Morelle, speak to the arrogance of the Democratic Party’s leadership. The interesting angle is how Assemblyman Gantt will respond.
Great choice of words. I bet it was a full out “smackdown.” Why not add a boxing ring while we’re at it? Why don’t we all open your eyes and realize that the community of Rochester would be the ones who suffer if both Richards and Warren ran against each other? The divide that those campaigns would cause the city, City Council and the future of the city would end in nothing but controversy. Let’s all get off our high horses and realize it’s not a good idea, whether who we want to run or not. We don’t need our top officials in the City, our decision makers playing “Lets Pick Sides and Hate Each Other” for months and have that game continue after the election. At the end of the day, Albany or not, Duffy is the most influential name this city has and his opinion will matter to majority here in Rochester.
I don’t understand why people won’t stand behind their comments with their full name. I don’t read the comment if there is not a person brave enough to stand behind it.