On October 6, Raymond B. Harding, former leader of the New York Liberal Party, plead guilty to receiving $800,000 from a state pension fund, in exchange for favors done for New York state’s former Controller. See this New York Times story. The Liberal Party went off the ballot in November 2002, after having been on every statewide ballot in the state starting in 1944. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for this news.
On September 17, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he may run for Governor of Nevada in 2010 as an independent. He said he would make up his mind in three weeks, so an announcement is probably coming soon. He can’t run for another term as Mayor because of city term limits.
On October 5, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Greenwell v Parsley, no. 08-1328. The case had arisen in Bullitt County, Kentucky, in 2005, when the Sheriff read in the newspapers that one of his Deputies intended to run against him in 2006. The Sheriff was a Democrat and his deputy was a Republican. The sheriff fired the Deputy, and the Deputy sued, but lost in both U.S. District Court and in the 6th Circuit.
The 6th circuit had issued a similar opinion in 1997, Carver v Dennis. In that decision, the 6th Circuit had said, “The First Amendment does not require that an official in an employer’s situation nourish a viper in the nest.” The more recent Greenwell 6th circuit decision is only five pages long because it depends on the 1997 precedent. However, six other Circuits had ruled that government employees cannot be fired just because they declare their candidacy for public office, so it was reasonable to assume that the U.S. Supreme Court might take Greenwell v Parsley to settle the split in the Circuits. But, the Court did not take the case. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
On October 5, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Greenwell v Parsley, no. 08-1328. The case had arisen in Bullitt County, Kentucky, in 2005, when the Sheriff read in the newspapers that one of his Deputies intended to run against him in 2006. The Sheriff was a Democrat and his deputy was a Republican. The sheriff fired the Deputy, and the Deputy sued, but lost in both U.S. District Court and in the 6th Circuit.
The 6th circuit had issued a similar opinion in 1997, Carver v Dennis. In that decision, the 6th Circuit had said, “The First Amendment does not require that an official in an employer’s situation nourish a viper in the nest.” The more recent Greenwell 6th circuit decision is only five pages long because it depends on the 1997 precedent. However, six other Circuits had ruled that government employees cannot be fired just because they declare their candidacy for public office, so it was reasonable to assume that the U.S. Supreme Court might take Greenwell v Parsley to settle the split in the Circuits. But, the Court did not take the case. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
On October 5, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, chair of the New York State Senate Elections Committee, said he will introduce a bill to eliminate run-off primaries in New York city. See this story. Because Addabbo is chair, it is very likely this bill will make headway when the State Senate next convenes. It is not now in session.
