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State Meeting, 8/30/95
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State Meeting, 8/30/95
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Jennifer O'Connor's Subject Files
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[New York]
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Donald L. Fowler
Christopher J. Dodd
National Chair
General Chair
copy your genn Eve
MEMO TO: For the Record
FROM:
Donald L. Fowler DA7
RE:
Meeting with New York State Political People on August 30
DATE:
September 7, 1995
At the meeting convened by Chairs Judith Hope and John Sullivan, we had about 20 politically
significant people. A complete list of those attending is attached. Among the more important
comments were the following:
1.
Congressman Charles Rangel insisted on beginning a specific, directed voter registration
in the African-American/Latino communities. He was joined in this by Roberta Ramirez,
the leader in the Bronx.
2.
Congressman Rangel and Congressman Tom Manton both insisted that we be more
upbeat in conducting our business.
3.
Arthur Eve indicated that we need to be more effective in delivering the message. He
agrees that we have a good record, but we haven't done a very good job in explaining
it. He suggested we identify some key people, have meetings across the state and get
them to help us spread the word.
4.
Denny Farrell indicated that the Democratic performance in the upstate in 1994 was very
bad. We have to do better both in the City and in the Upstate in order to win in 1996.
Normally a 500,000 vote margin in the City wins statewide, but in 1994, Democrats
produced a 600,000 vote margin in the City, but still lost because of the poor
performance in the Upstate.
5.
Dennis Hughes said we are late getting started with our voter registration effort and the
New York State Party needs an executive director in the immediate future.
Democratic Party Headquarters
430 South Capitol Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
202.863.8000
FAX: 202.863.8174
Paid for by the Democratic National Committee. Contributions to the Democratic National Committee are not tax deductible.
2
6.
Eileen Dugan said we have to work not only for the presidential campaign, but also for
the Party at the assembly district level. One thing that needs to be done is to identify
good candidates and provide them with a good campaign apparatus.
7.
Dick Fafalia suggested that we get local input before we make television buys. He was
particularly critical of the buy made on the Medicare question. I told him that was
difficult to do, but if he had suggestions he should send them to us and we will try to
incorporate them into future television buys.
8.
Kate Lacey said we need to build the Party all over the state. We cannot suffer losses in
the Upstate as we did in 1994 and hope to win anything.
9.
Delegate selection process begins in October/November. Immediate preparations need
to be made now.
It was a good meeting, but a great deal needs to be done in the immediate future to build an
effective state operation.
DLF/dao
cc:
Harold Ickes
Doug Sosnik
Minyon Moore
Maureen Garde
08/28/95
15:45
NO. 396 002
ROM NVC DEMOCRATIC FAX NO. 2128181723
AUG 28, 1995 11:25 AM P. 2
NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
60 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10165
212-883-0259
John Sullivan
Judith Hope
Executive Chair
State Chair
MEMORANDUM
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
DETERMINED TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE
DATE:
August 28, 1995
MARKING INITIALS: MI DATE: 4/22/24
TO:
Chairman Don Fowler
2024- 0267-5
FROM:
State Chair Judith Hope
RE:
New York City Meeting
Wednesday, August 30th - 9AM
24th floor conference room 2418 - Paul, Weiss, Rifkin et al
1285 Avenue of the Americas
This meeting has been billed as "a small meeting to discuss preliminary planning for
the 1996 presidential race." I have invited principals, i.e., individuals who either: A)
are political leaders by virtue of the public offilce held, or B) will be actively involved in
campaigns for their own interests In 1996. Since those in the second category will be
raising and spending campaign dollars, and actively engaged In their own campaigns
in '96, it is important to create a mechanism for communication and cooperation in
order to advance the Coordinated Campaign.
I foresee the need for periodic meetings of this nature, with the plan to expand the
circle of participants with each meeting.
As for organized labor, I have invited only representatives of the AFL-CIO leadership to
this initial meeting because Chairman Fowler will be meeting with the full Labor
Advisory Committee after he speaks to the New York State Committee Meeting on
September 5th. in Syracuse, 1 have also Invited Jay Mazur (UNITE) because he is a
trusted friend of the administration and should be considered a "senior adviser" to the
Clinton Campaign in New York.
Attending the Meeting will be:
Speaker Sheldon Silver - Speaker Silver was first elected to the State Assembly in
1976 representing the residents of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He has been
re-elected by substantial margins every election since then, and was elected Speaker
on February 11, 1994. He has inherited the tacit leadership of the state democratic
Page 1
08/28/95
15:46
NO. 396 903
ROM NYC DEMOCRATIC FRX NO. 2128181723
AUG 28, 1995 11:26 AM P. 3
since the party no long has the governor's seat. Democrats vacancies. control the State
Assembly party by a margin of 94 to 53 Republicans, with three
Gerry Harper - Counsel to the New York State Committee and our host for this meeting
at his law firm: Paul, Weiss, Rifkin
Suzy and Is sending Suzy Ballantyne and Dennis Hughes.) Suzy
Ballantyne - Political Director NY State AFL-CIO (President Ed Cleary is a is unable
to knowledgeable, attend experienced campaign person in all geographical areas of New York
State.
Henry Berger - Acting as Counsel to the Clinton Campaign (per Instructions from
Jennifer O'Connor).
Billy Cunningham - Chief of Staff to US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Arthur Eve - Senior Assemblyman from Buffalo. Highly Influential in African-American
community. Greatly respected for political judgment. Father of White House Alde Eric
Eve.
Dick Farfalla - Effectively the "Political Director" for NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver. Although he is on the State Assembly payroll, during off-hours he directs the
activities of the paid staff of the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee. This
committee is probably the best financed, best equipped, and most effective Democratic
political committee in New York State at this point In time. The committee exists
pursuant to the bylaws of the Democratic State Committee, but following the loss of
Governor Cuomo In '94, the transfer of political power to the State Assembly and to
Speaker Silver has, in fact, strengthened this committee.
In 1996. the entire State Legislature will be up for re-election. The State
Assembly Is the last bastion of Democratic majority In state government. Republican
State Chairman Bill Powers has announced his intention to spend whatever it takes to
win the majority in the State Assembly and has been raising millions of dollars,
already, to accomplish this objective. In the past, people associated with DACC have
expressed some concem over sharing the Democratic ticket with President Bill
Clinton.
Herman Farrell, Jr. - "Denny" Farrell is Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee of
the NYS Assembly, a powerful and prestigious position. He is a trusted political
adviser to Speaker Silver.
Jeff Feldman - Council to the Kings County Democratic Committee (Brooklyn) which
has a sizable percentage of the four million registered Democrats in New York State.
He is here representing Kings County Democratic Chair Clarence Norman who is on
vacation.
Page 2
08/28/95
15:46
NO. 396
004
KCM NYC DEMOCRATIC FAX NO. 2128181723
AUG 28, 1995 11127 AM
P. 4
Dennis Hughes - Chief Aide to AFL-CIO President Ed Cleary.
Carl Kruger - Committee. Minority Leader Marty Connor is unable to controls the state meeting
State Senator Kruger from Brooklyn is Chair of the State attend Senate this
Campaign but would like to be Included in the future. The Republican Party
senate by a margin of 37 to 24.
A. Paterson - State Senator Paterson from Harlem and the Upper West Side is
David the son of former Secretary of State Basil Paterson. African-American and legally
blind, Senator Paterson is greatly respected for his intelligence, hard work, and
integrity. He is a major leader in the New York African-American community.
Kate Lacey - Governmental Aide and political adviser to State Comptroller Carl
McCall. Former campaign alde to Geraldine Ferraro. Knowledgeable about upstate
politics.
Jay Mazur - The *Senior Statesman* of the New York labor community. Highly
regarded and respected by all segments of labor. Trusted advisor to Harold Ickes.
Roberto Ramirez - A member of the state assembly and Chairman of the Bronx County
Democratic Party. An energetic and very effective political leader. He will be elected
to the DNC at the September 5th State Committee meeting.
Judy Rapfogel - Chief of Staff to Speaker Sheldon Silver, she has worked for the
Speaker for over sixteen years and is his highly trusted chief aide. Knowledgeable
about New York City politics, particularly the lower east side, the Speaker's district.
Attached is a complete attendance sheet.
Page 3
08/28/95
15:46
NO. 396
005
ROM NYC DEMOCRATIC FAX NO. 2128181723
AUG 28, 1995
11:27 AM
5
F
August 30 Don Fowler Meeting
E
D
c
B
A
Will Attend
WIII Not
First
Fax #
pnone #
1
Last Name
518-436-6901
518-436-8516
2
Eallantyne
Suzy
514-9016
514.8888
3
Henry
Berger
4
Mark
417-5530
212-447-5545
Bloom
Michael
315-452-0872
315-452-1044
5
Bragman
212-777-6040
a
6
Cleary
>
7
Cohen
David
staff
212-447-5545
8
Connor
Marty
9
Billy
518-439-0257
518-439-9544
Cunningham
Eileen
718-237-5908
718-875-2311
10
Dugan
11
Eve
Arthur
716-895-2484
716-892-7961
Dick
518-455-5767
12
Farfalia
13
Farrell
Denny
385-6668
385-6791
14
Feldman
Jeff
718-596-4013
718-875-5870
15
Harper
Gerry
16
Hughes
Dennis
212-777-8422
518-436-8516
17
Kruger
Carl
718-743-5958
718-743-8610
18
Lacey
Kate
518-473-8940
518-474-0364
19
Manton
Tom
718-472-0489
718-708-1400
20
Mazur
Jay
212-315-3803
212-265-7000
21
McCabe
Kevin
212-788-7126
212-788-7210
22
McCall
Carl
518-474-4040
518-473-3004
23
McLoughlin
Brian
718-762-0917
718-762-6575
24
Norman
Clarence
718-778-3010
718-875-5870
25
Paterson
David
212-678-0001
2 E
Ramirez
Roberto
718-792-3882
718-931-5200
27
Rangel
Charlle
212-663-4277
212-663-3900
28
Rapfogel
Judy
212-385-6619
385-6611
2 {I
Silver
Speaker
212-385-6619
385-6611
30
Sullivan
John
315-343-1097
315-343-2742
31
Valone
Peter
788-7207
212-788-7210