It had been a long week at Kings County Politics and when Friday rolled around I was happy as a duck in water to get to Denny’s Steak Pub for an ice-cold beer or four to suck the heat out from the broiling summer day.
No sooner than I get served, however, when who should walk into the bar and plop on the stool next to me, but my old friend and political pundit Stumpy Wagers.
“You hear the news? John Sampson got convicted of a few felony counts. Another Brooklyn pol eats the corruption dust,” said Stumpy slapping a ten on the bar and nodding to the bartender for a pint of Brooklyn Lager.
“Yeah. I know.”
“Why didn’t you write about it then.”
I took a long gulp and thought nice thoughts. “Guess I never liked to kick a man when he’s down.”
“Hmmph. Kicking a man when he’s down is part of politics. Are you sure you’re Mr. Kings County Politics?”
“Last time I checked my ID -NYC,” I replied. “Either way, I’m more into the scramble to replace Sampson. Should be quite a race. District includes Canarsie, East New York, Mill Basin, a sliver of Marine Park and a square of Sheepshead Bay.
“The way I see it, that race is all about Kings County Democratic boss Frank Seddio against rabble-rouser Assemblyman Charles Barron. Two men that know Brooklyn machine politics like a sailor knows the sea.
“Tsk, tsk,” I said. “The last time I let you write about a race in KCP was when you picked Geoffrey Davis to walk away with the 43rd Assembly seat and Diana Richardson to finish last. And we all know how that turned out. The Working Families Party is still barely talking to Kings County Politics after that one. I swear for a progressive party they got a longer memory than my estranged wife remembering all the things I done wrong by her.”
“Well I don’t need to be right cause I’m a political pundit,” said Stump. “Or haven’t you seen our ilk go on about Donald Trump lately?”
“Good point. But I hardly see Frank Seddio wanting to run for the senate seat even if it represents his beloved Canarsie,” I said.
“Nah, Frank is having too much fun being “Da boss” without having to hike to Albany, but he sure as hell wants to play kingmaker in his own backyard. And one person who can spoil that party is Charles Barron. That’s why you hear names like former Bloomberg administration official Samuel Pierre popping up.”
“I don’t see Charles running,” I said. “Even if it does mean a lot more clout and money to spread around.”
“Maybe Charles will and maybe he won’t, but if he doesn’t I’m sure he’ll push someone like district leader Joy Simmons, who works in his wife’s city council office. Say what you will about Charles, but he knows the political game and he’s a smart legislator.”
“I don’t know Stumps. I think the district leaders will get together and fall behind someone to run. And there will be more smoke in the backroom or pizza parlor than a Fourth of July barbecue,” I said. “And I wouldn’t bet a five that Barron or someone from his machine will get the nod.”
Stumpy finished his beer, wiped his mouth with a bar napkin and ordered another. “Then it’s a bet, five dollars,” he said. “Cause they don’t call me Stumpy Wagers for nothing.”
