Andrew Cuomo and Mark Green, and perhaps others, will be
squaring off in the 2006 Democratic primary for state attorney
general. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to enter the race, and
now the Republicans see the seat Eliot Spitzer is vacating as a
prime target for their candidate. The question is, who will that
be?
The rumor mill has been churning out the names of the Westchester
district attorney, Jeanine Pirro, who is very popular among Fox
News watchers, and a state senator of Nassau County, Michael
Balboni. I've never met either of these potential candidates, but
there are those who believe we have a very viable candidate right
here in New York City: Daniel Donovan, the new Staten Island D.A.
He hasn't made any formal announcement. In fact, it was only a
rumor that made me seek an interview with the busy prosecutor, to
pin down the gossip about his possible run. Mr. Donovan has been
the district attorney for only a year and is enjoying the job
very much, he said, but he was noncommittal about running for
attorney general.
There have been quite a number of positive changes in the
district attorney's office since his election, and one of his
biggest boosters is his former boss, Guy Molinari, the former
borough president. Mr. Molinari once ran for district attorney
and is familiar with the problems that existed within that
department. In just the one year since Mr. Donovan came on board,
Mr. Molinari told me, there's been a remarkable improvement.
"Dan's done a terrific job as the district attorney. What is
unbelievable is that he's done it with the same people who were
there before," Mr. Molinari said. "I've specialized in
recruiting many candidates over the years, between 50 and 60,
including John Mc-Cain," he continued. "I have never
felt higher praise for anyone as I feel for Dan Donovan. He was
my chief of staff for six years and he was unique. He has the
ability to handle any issue and run with it. He was the chief
negotiator with the Giuliani administration over the Fresh Kills
landfill closing." Mr. Molinari was on medical leave at the
time, he said.
Mr. Molinari's enthusiasm for his former chief of staff was
evident during our conversation, and when he said "everybody
likes Dan," he wasn't being overzealous. Mr. Donovan does
enjoy a good working relationship not only with his staff but
with police officers as well. The New York State Shields, a
police fraternal association, named him Person of the Year in
2004 for service to law enforcement. He was elected third vice
president of the New York State District Attorneys Association
two weeks ago at the group's winter conference .
So Mr. Donovan's a popular guy. He may even be a great guy, but
would he make a great attorney general? One would have to look at
his record to make that determination. His office leads the city
in the rate of felony convictions; led the city in 2004 in the
conviction and incarceration of Megan's Law violators, and
obtained the first felony conviction in the state under
Stephanie's Law, targeting video voyeurs.
Several notorious cases that had been open for years were finally
settled last year. His prosecutors nailed an alleged drug
enforcer for the 1987 slaying of a West Brighton woman. They
convicted Andre Rand of the 1981 kidnapping of Holly Ann Hughes.
Rapists, killers, bias criminals, drunk drivers, even graffiti
vandals were dealt with swiftly.
Daniel Donovan learned from the best. After all, he was an
assistant district attorney to Robert Morgenthau, Manhattan's
D.A., who is widely regarded as one of the nation's best
prosecutors. All this may be very impressive, but how smart have
the Republicans been in fielding candidates in this state? Their
recent record is abysmal. Will they go for Ms. Pirro, who is an
attractive and telegenic candidate but carries the baggage of her
husband's tax-evasion conviction? Mr. Balboni is ... who?
There is another factor to consider. Eliot Spitzer used his
position as A.G. to target pregnancy-crisis centers that offered
alternatives to abortion. Pro-choice advocates contributed
significantly to his campaign. Mr. Donovan, I've been told by
admirers, would be more independent.
"Dan is a very compassionate guy," Guy Molinari said.
He illustrated that with an anecdote that I'm sure Mr. Donovan
would not want me to repeat in public. But I didn't need any
convincing. I've witnessed his successful interaction with
victimized Mexican immigrants. Most striking to me was the sight
of a photograph he keeps near his computer keyboard of little
Holly Ann Hughes.
Mr. Donovan may be a compassionate man, but when it comes to
catching criminals, he is all business.