Senator Higgins?

It's looking more and more likely Hillary Clinton will be vacating her U.S. Senate seat.

And it's becoming more and more apparent that Brian Higgins is drawing serious interest as her possible replacement, if the talk of the chattering class is any indication. The argument that it's upstate's time for a statewide office appears to be gaining traction.

This is not to say Higgins is going to get the appointment. But perhaps it's time to kick around the pros and cons and implications of a Higgins appointment.

I'll start.

Pro: Western New York gets a strong voice in the statewide political apparatus.

Con: He could wind up losing the seat to a downstater as soon as it comes up for election, short-circuiting a promising career in the Congress.

Implication: A lot of musical chairs at the local level as pols scramble for his Congressional seat, with the winner creating a void that is filled by someone who creates yet antoher void. And so on.

Kind of obvious stuff, I'll admit. But I want to start on conversation. To further lubricate the conversation, here's an online poll. One vote per reader, please.

Comments

[PGR88]

I say choose Lynn Marinelli for Hillary's seat. She is a calming influence on the fractious Erie County Legislature. She is a relative unknown, but can do the job, and would represent NY well, being a woman (and Italian!)

[lanres]

There is no "Contest" for Hillary's seat.
It will be decided by who can "support and sustain" that position! Can Higgins - "Buffalo Connection" bring enough green to the Party to cover a future election?

[Dave]

She's a woman and Italian! Great. Let's give her the job! She's over qualified with that description. We might as well give it to Hoyt because he wears a suit and knows where Washington is. Just think of the interns there.....

[HapKlein]

I doubt that Higgins can overcome the strength of the downstate politicos. In New York State being from The City or Long Island is a guarantee of success.

But denying this fine young man success denies New York of great potential. I have only spoken with him once or twice but have seen him present views, defend actions and nominate priorities no fewer than a dozen times and this guy is a born politician who knows how to make the system work.

He does his homework he knows the structure of government and what he has to do to make it play to his tune. He is pure magic and effective and a really nice person.

I hope he makes it this time but if not I have faith he will be Senator…and maybe more.

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Where's the "none of the above" option in the poll?

[Kenny]

Higgins is AWESOME. Say NO to Brown

[If it's Sunday]

First of all, she's not Italian, she married an Italian. Her maiden name wasn't the slightest bit Italian. So we can see how well informed the comment from PGR88 is.

Second of all, it doesn't matter even one little bit what her ancestry is. Why in the world would PGR88 tell us that being of Italian descent makes someone more qualified? Ridiculous.

Third, she's barely competent to be a county legislator. Quite often she gives a deer in the headlights response to reporter questions of even the slightest complexity. Nice person, somewhat competent, but she's also a long time politician who voted for all Giambra budgets. Every single one of the Giambra budgets that caused such a mess and the control board were backed by her. Nuff said.

Fourth, the senator won't be from WNY. WNY is simply not important enough unless a candidate was someone truly excellent and with a power base. None of these suggested WNY candidates are even above average in ability or speaking skills, and none have much power.

[Neil]

If he's as effective a Senator as he's been a as Congressman - he'll be just as effective as Hillary has been for this area, which is to say - not at all.

[Jim Ostrowski]

Brian Higgins is a canard.

That such a man who is deeply ensconced in the political machine that has destroyed Buffalo, is considered to be a force for good, is itself, proof of Buffalo's decadence.

[Simple Country Lawyer]

Dear Jim,
We finally agree on something.... see my post of 11/5/08 as follows. But I do have a suggestion for you, you need a translator.....this isn't the NY Times it's Buffalo...translate "canard" and "esconced" for these boobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:::

What a great opportunity to get rid of carpetbagging Hillary and to get a real New Yorker. BUT BRIAN HIGGINS????NO,NO,NO,God help us. He has really done nothing for Buffalo. He poses well for pictures and toots his own horn incessantly. He seems to care more about Ireland than Buffalo and I invite him to go back there and stay. He always needs a haircut and insists on wearing French tailored suits. He looks more like an aspiring actor than a politician. That career would be good for him as a "Reverse Reagan" a politician who goes into acting instead of the other way around. Isn't there a decent intelligent person out there who isn't a millionaire that could help us fix some of the problems of this dying city???

Posted by: Simple Country Lawyer | November 15, 2008 at 08:00 AM