Sherrill Who? Local insiders are abuzz with talk of Sherrill R. Spatz, who on Monday was appointed head of a new office charged with investigating and monitoring lucrative judicial appointments throughout New York State. Three weeks ago, Judith S. Kaye, the state's chief judge, addressed allegations of political patronage in her State of the Judiciary speech and promised to investigate the matter. Now, she has created a new permanent position called the Unified Court System's Special Inspector General for Fiduciary Appointments, and named Spatz to the post.

Through the office of chief administrative judge Jonathan Lippman, Spatz will have full subpoena power. The scope of her office allows her to investigate matters past, present and future. For the past five years, she was Trial Counsel for the Division of Enforcement of the New York Stock Exchange. Prior to that, she worked in the Rackets Bureau of the Manhattan DAís office. There, she successfully investigated and prosecuted Judge Arthur R. Scott, Jr., who was arrested in 1995 on charges of taking bribes.

But what can we expect from her now? Thus far, sources have not been able to tell. "It sounds to me like (Kaye has) picked someone tough," said one source. ìIt seems like this could be a take-no-prisoners outlook. But then again, she could come in and there could be a dust storm for six months or a year, and then life returns to normal."

"I can say Iíll be really fair," said Spatz. "I'll look at whatever there is to look at. I will talk to people and follow leads, and we'll see what's there. There's no pre-judgment made as to what will be found."

The FBI is also conducting its own investigation, but the scope of their search will be limited to Brooklyn. The issue came under scrutiny when this column first reported news of a letter written by attorneys Thomas Garry and Arnold Ludwig, in which they resigned their positions on the Kings County Democratic Law Committee and expressed outrage over being denied lucrative judicial assignments despite years of loyalty to the county party. In the letter, Gary and Ludwig imply that they were passed over for the assignments in favor of Ravi Batra, a party fundraiser. Assemblymember Clarence Norman, chair of the Kings County Executive Committee, is Of Counsel to Batra's law firm. Norman has repeatedly denied that favoritism and part connections play any role in the court assignments.

Of the letter, Spatz said, "We will be investigating it." Her salary is $115,000. She has no timetable for the investigation, but will choose a staff "as soon as possible," she said.

Round Two Assemblymember Clarence Norman and challenger James E. Davis launched opening salvos in the upcoming race for Normanís 43rd district Assembly seat. In 1998, Davis, a police officer and minister, lost to Norman by a final margin of under 700 votes. Davis' showing convinced many insiders that Norman, an 18-year incumbent, is vulnerable.

Shortly after the general election that year, Davis was fired from his job because his name appeared on the ballot under the Liberal line. Police Department policy prohibits an officer from being the candidate of any particular party. But Davis challenged his dismissal in court, and two weeks ago the court ruled that Davis was not in fact the Liberal Party candidate -- which both Davis and the Liberal Party had asserted. Davis was reinstated with backpay, which he will use as seed money for another run at Norman. And he wasted no time in upping the ante, saying that Norman and Mayor Giuliani had ìput a political hitî on him by getting him fired. Norman quickly distributed fliers calling the allegation preposterous.

"I've never heard anything as ludicrous as that,î he said. Davis also charged that Norman has ignored his district the whole time he's been in office. He treats our community like hes a slumlord," said Davis. "I think he's failed the community. Heís been in office (18) years, and he's burned out."

For his part, Norman said that he will demand that Davis produce a public accounting of the funds he raised for his Stop The Violence March. "These marches surprisingly coincide and always take place when he runs for office. And yet when we look at his financial disclosures, we don't see any indication that he does fund raisers." Davis said that he finances his march and his campaign with much of his own money, and that Norman was trying to deflect attention from the judicial patronage investigation.

The early tone of the race suggests that it will be one of only a few Brooklyn contests to garner any interest. Norman said that the 1998 election was close because he spent too much energy aiding the campaigns of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and other local candidates. Also, he said, "I allowed my opponent to bombard the district with lies and I did not respond."

"That knucklehead gave me 14 months to politick," said Davis. "This time we will indeed be focused," said Norman.

A Flashpoint While Assemblymember Clarence Norman will be focused on his own race, there is one other contest in which he will be actively involved -- the battle between Councilmember Una Clarke and Rep. Major Owens. Clarke, who is term limited, has decided to challenge Owens, setting off a tiff in which Owens accused Clarke, his former protege, of betraying him, and Clarke accused Owens of forgetting his constituency. About 23 percent of Norman's Assembly district overlaps Clarke's Councilmanic district. More than that, about 95 percent of Norman's district is included in Owens' 11th Congressional district. "We will be pushing for Owens when we push for my reelection," said Norman.

With relative peace presiding in Brooklyn during this election cycle, the Owens-Clarke match-up is one serious hotspot. The contest was recently ratcheted up a notch when the Coalition for Community Empowerment sent a letter urging Clarke not to run because her candidacy would divide the African and Caribbean American communities. The letter was signed by Councilmembers Annette Robinson and Tracey Boyland; Rep Ed Towns; State Senators John Sampson, Velmanette Montgomery, and Ada Smith; as well as Assemblymembers William Boyland, Norman, Nick Perry, Darryl Towns and Al Vann.

The opposition is pretty well stacked against Clarke, and her camp is calling the letter and its implications boldly undemocratic. Clarke's run, they say, is an example of the growing influence and aspiration of the Caribbean American community. Besides, they ask, since when was ballot choice a bad thing?

But Clarke has one possible ally in James E. Davis, Norman's challenger. "Have I contemplated an alliance? You better believe I've contemplated it," said Davis. Davis has reached out to Clarke, but Clarke has not yet said she will campaign with him. Davis said that he supports Clark'ís right to run and called the letter "bully tactics."

"If Una Clarke wants to win this election, she should align with me. I am the Reverend Al Sharpton of the 43rd Assembly District, and I am the Reverend Al Sharpton of the 11th Congressional District" added Davis. "I got 3,000 votes (in 1998) and I think someone should sit down with me."

Unsatisfying Meal Deputy Borough President Jeannette Gadson did sit down last week with Assemblymember Joan Millman, chair of the countywide county committee, to ask for Millman's endorsement in Gadson's bid for the borough presidency. Gadson, the county's candidate, faces tough battles from Councilmember Ken Fisher and State Senator Marty Markowitz. State Senator Carl Kruger, and Assemblymembers Darryl towns and Dov Hikind could also enter the race.

Gadson and Millman had a nice breakfast, but Gadson came away empty-handed. Millman has Fisher right in her backyard, and she might not want to alienate him in an election year for her. "(Gadson) understood less that I'm in a difficult position in this race and more so that Iím not making any endorsements at this time," said Millman. "That's significant because she's not automatically supporting county," said one source. "There are certain districts where you would think that the leaders would support anyone Clarence (Norman) asked them to. I thought this would have been one of them."

Borough Politics Archive
January 31 column.
January 24 column.
January 17 column.
December 16 column.
December 9 column.
December 2 column.
November 25 column.
November 18 column.
November 11 column.
November 4 column.