Judge Issues Restraining Order Blocking Ravitch from Serving as Lietuenant Governor

7/21/09 By The Associated Press

MINEOLA — A judge has issued a restraining order blocking Richard Ravitch from serving as New York Gov. David Paterson's lieutenant governor

State Supreme Court Justice William LaMarca issued his ruling in Nassau County late Tuesday afternoon.

Paterson appointed Ravitch, a former head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, earlier this month as a way of breaking a monthlong leadership deadlock in the state Senate — a deadlock that was resolved anyway when a Democratic senator who had defected to the Republican caucus switched back.

Attorneys for the state Senate argued the state Constitution does not allow for the appointment of a lieutenant governor when a vacancy occurs.

The governor's attorney says a state law allows him to fill some vacant posts until the next election.

Petition Signing Season is Over

Petition signing season is over. The Board of Elections gives EVERYONE 6 weeks to get this done. Like everything in life, there are those who get up and out early and get their work done and others procrastinate and wait until the last minute.

Hey procrastinator candidates: Did you file your acceptance for parties other than your own? Those petitions won't be any good without your acceptance.

The next season is a short season: Petition Challenge Season.

It's always interesting to see who understands the rules and follows them on their petitions, and who doesn't and gets their petitions challenged. Also who carried the petitions? FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL

All of this will starting dripping out in dribs and drabs from the Board of Elections.

Feel free to post your Petition Challenge Season and Other Petition News here.

If he's gay, we're cool with that

If he's gay, we're cool with that. There are some other blogs and comments out there that are alleging that Andy Zweben is the person who originally found the Craigslist Man to Man personal of Mike Madsen and that Zweben himself is gay. Who else looks at Man to Man ads, but gay men? If Mr. Zweben is gay, we are OK with that and so should everyone else. You can say whatever you want about him, but to attack him because he is gay is every bit as wrong as attacking Mike Madsen because he is gay.

Zatz and Bartels are in

Carl Zatz (D) and Tracey Bartels (D) are in. Both have announced that they will be running for Ulster County Legislator in District 8.

Zatz has previously beaten the Conservative Party candidate Jack Hayes in the race for Supervisor.

The Republican Party has backed Hayes (C), Ken Rock (R-incumbent) and Cathy Terrizzi (R-incumbent).

Republicans did not back Republican Minority Leader Glenn Noonan at their convention. Noonan is carrying petitions and will force a primary in September in his bid to try and reclaim his spot on the Republican ballot line in November.