Kaminsky introduces bill to keep ex-pols out of office
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EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced ex-pols could not run for office again for 10 years under bill by NYS lawmaker
ALBANY — With disgraced former state Sen. Carl Kruger reportedly considering a political comeback, a state lawmaker from Long Island is pushing legislation that would bar politicians convicted of public integrity-related felonies from seeking office for 10 years.
The bill by Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Nassau County Democrat and former federal prosecutor who put several state lawmakers behind bars, would prohibit those convicted of crimes including criminal mischief, larceny, official misconduct, and bribery involving a public trust from running for office or holding the leadership post of a political party for a decade.
The legislation would also bar convicted felons from joining a political committee for five years after completing sentences.
“We’re not talking about denying someone the right to be free or make a living or participating in the system,” Kaminsky said. “But certainly when you are convicted or plead guilty to violating the public’s trust, which is no small thing, I think you’ve lost the right to represent people and be in charge of public funds and make decisions that impact millions.”
Kaminsky’s bill would cover races for state and local office but not federal office.
[Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, D-Long Beach, speaks during a joint legislative budget hearing Jan. 20, 2016, in Albany, N.Y.]
Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, D-Long Beach, speaks during a joint legislative budget hearing Jan. 20, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. (AP)
Last week, the Legislature passed voting reforms aimed at encouraging greater participation in the political process. In 2018, Gov. Cuomo issued thousands of conditional pardons that restored voting rights to parolees.
Kaminsky said his legislation is not at odds with those measures.
“There’s so many talented people in our state from every walk of life—is having a convicted felon really the best that we can do?” Kaminsky said. “We certainly want to encourage more people to get involved and discourage people convicted of felonies from having more public trust.”
Kaminsky said “it’s an open question” whether the bill would directly impact Kruger since his conviction occurred years ago and the legislation has not been passed..There was a recent report on kingscountypolitics.com that Kruger, who in 2012 was sentenced to seven years behind bars on federal corruption charges, is out of prison and eyeing a Brooklyn City Council seat.
Other ex-cons, including disgraced former City Councilman and ex-state Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) and former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island) unsuccessfully ran for office again after leaving prison, though Monserrate did win a district leader post in 2018.
Kaminsky sponsored the bill as an assemblyman and took it over in the Senate.
In 2017, New Yorkers passed a constitutional amendment that gave judges the power to reduce or revoke completely the pensions of public officials convicted of crimes related to their offices or jobs.