An aide to Deputy Senate Minority Leader Jeff Klein will be handling press for Democratic Councilman Joe Addabbo’s bid to unseat veteran Queens Republican Sen. Serphin Maltese in November.
Klein’s communications director, Alexis Grenell, 25, confirmed she will be spend the three months “volunteering” for Addabbo, using up vacation and accumulated comp. time.
(UPDATE: The above paragraph has been altered to reflect the fact that, as a reader reminds me, there is no overtime for legislative staffers - although there is a one-house bill in that would change that situation.
Comp. time is awarded at the discretion of the lawmakers, so staffers don't generally have to sacrifice anything to do political work.
(Before taking on Maltese, Addabbo has to face his primary opponent, Albert Baldeo, who came within less than 800 votes of unseating Maltese in 2006, but is not the favored candidate of the Democratic establishment).
Maltese is one of the Democrats’ top targets this fall. Klein’s lending of a staffer to Addabbo raised some eyebrows, as Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, whose job Klein is speculated to covet, has yet to make a similar move.
This also comes on the heels of Klein's big July 15 financial report, which showed he led his Democratic colleagues in fundraising, out-raised Smith and also contributed more to incumbents and candidates.
Klein raised $711,351 and has $1.05 million on hand. He contributed $1,000 to Addabbo's campaign, $1,000 to Don Barber, $2,500 to "Baby" Joe Mesi, and $2,500 to Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins.
Smith raised $537,492 and has $782,048 on hand. His only Senate contribution was $5,500 to Sen. Marty Connor, who once held the minority leader's post and faces a tough primary challenge from Dan Squadron.
Klein, a Bronx Democrat, downplayed the decision to send a staffer to Addabbo, saying he’s “lucky to have a very talented staff that is just as committed as I am to taking the majority” and adding that he expects other members’ aides will soon make similar moves.
It's not unusual for public sector staffers to use their personal and vacation time to work on campaigns - in fact, it's an expected (if not always directly spelled out) aspect of the job. That stands to reason, since their jobs ultimately depend on keeping the bosses they serve - and their bosses' friends and allies - in office.
Just last week, Council Speaker Christine Quinn lent a spokesman from her press shop, Anthony Hogrebe, to Councilman Mike McMahon's congressional campaign.
According to Quinn's office, Hogrebe will be paid by McMahon's campaign.
