Carlucci Contemplates Power Move

Despite election results seemingly tilting NY Senate to liberal control, Carlucci’s coalition of “Democrats” may defect to align with GOP leadership

BY DYLAN SKRILOFF

Will he or won’t he? All eyes are on State Senator David Carlucci and his political boss Jeff Klein of the Independent Democrat Conference.

Even though the Democrats have won the New York Senate numbers-wise, at least one member of the party has already announced he plans to caucus with the Republicans and it appears that the four-man IDC might do the same, drawing comparisons to the “four amigos” of State Senators Ruben Diaz, Carl Kruger, Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate, who defected to GOP leadership the last time the Democrats held the numerical advantage.

When asked by the Rockland County Times, Senator Carlucci said “party politics isn’t what’s important. Leadership is.” He said that the IDC would make their choice “based on what’s good for the constituents.”

In Wednesday’s NY Times it was reported that Klein would indeed caucus with the GOP. However, Klein denied the report and said he had yet to make a decision. In fact, Klein said he was considering lobbying to change Senate rules to allow for a third independent caucus to go along with the Democrats and Republicans.

The Working Families Party and workers unions held a press conference in Rockland County on Tuesday to highlight their “progressive” agenda and to implore State Senator David Carlucci. Joining them was County Legislator Ilan Schoenberger, although Schoenberger stopped short of explicitly making any remarks aimed at Carlucci.

The Working Families Party chairman Bob Milone said Carlucci should follow the will of the voters and allow for Democratic leadership of the senate.

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