Carla Palumbo to Join Assembly Race

Democratic Bloodbath in 131st A.D.?

City Council member Carla Palumbo will announce shortly her candidacy for the State Assembly seat being vacated by Susan John, according to our Democratic Party sources.

Ms. Palumbo, a former County Legislator. is said to be furious that neither Democratic Chairman Joe Morelle nor other party leaders even consulted her -- an obvious contender for the Assembly seat -- before lining up behind the candidacy of long-time Assembly employee Harry Bronson.

Councilwoman Palumbo was conspicuously absent from Bronson's announcement of his candidacy last Saturday.

This makes three contenders for the Democratic line:   Palumbo, Bronson and School Board Member Willa Powell.

Given Palumbo's long history of party loyalty and close political relationship with Mayor Duffy, it will be interesting to see whether party loyalists break for Team Palumbo or Team Bronson.