http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/11/farrell_starts_raising_for_09.html

The New York Daily News

The Daily Politics

November 7, 2007

 

Farrell Starts Raising For '09

 

Former State Democratic Chair/current Manhattan Democratic Chair and Assemblyman Herman "Denny" Farrell Jr. is having a $500-a-head fundraiser tomorrow night for the Farrell Exploratory Committee for 2009 at Tavern on the Green (no invite yet, sorry).

 

UPDATE: Here's the invite. (Thanks, reader!)

 

This will be Farrell's first fundraiser for his new city committee are he prepares for his run for the Council seat now held by term-limited Councilman Robert Jackson.

 

Farrell has confirmed he's eyeing the Jackson seat, noting that a desire to spend more time with his toddler daughter in the city is a big motivation factor, but also stressed that he intends to run for re-election to his own Assembly seat next fall.

 

The Tavern event is expected to draw an interesting mix of pols, some of whom – Assemblyman Keith Wright and Adriano Espaillat, to name two – have been thinking about the two big chairs Farrell will have to give up if he shifts from the Capitol to City Hall: The Manhattan party and the powerful Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

 

Both Wright and Farrell have confirmed the younger Harlem assemblyman is being "groomed" to take control of the Manhattan Democratic Party.

 

Farrell also hopes to be in the mix when discussion turns to the question electing the next Council Speaker will be - mentioning game that so far includes himself and Harlem Councilwoman Inez Dickens, who is a Charlie Rangel protégé, among others.

 

It has been hypothesized to me that Farrell and Dickens might cut a deal that enables her to serve two four years as speaker before she's forced out by term limits and then allows him to pick up where she left off. But, of course, a lot depends on where the other borough chairs and Council members are. (Thanks, Jerry).

 

Posted by Elizabeth Benjamin on November 7, 2007 2:17 PM