Simanowitzs successful manager offers post-election view from the trenches

Photo: Office of Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz

By ROSS M. WALLENSTEIN arlier this year, I read the news that the legendary assemblymember from Queens, Nettie Mayersohn, was retiring after 28 years in the state legislature at the age

13. This meant that we had approximately 100 days to raise money and through contact with voters and local media make Michaels name as synonymous to voters as Netties had been during her time

FIRST PERSON
of 86. I had known her longtime chief of staff, Michael Simanowitz, from my years working for another Queens legend, Representative Gary Ackerman. When I heard about Netties retirement plans, I called Michael and asked if I could run his inevitable campaign to replace her in the Assembly. We began a conversation and, by June 1, I hit the ground running as his new campaign manager. We knew that the governor would call a special election. If not, Michael would have to run in November to fill the remaining year of his boss term. The year was destined to be boring politically. But, by the end of June, Representative Anthony Weiner had resigned, as did five more assemblymembers from around the state. The governor called the special election for primary day, Sept.

Running a political campaign can be extremely difficult, depending on the candidate. I had the pleasure of working for a man who genuinely cares about the people he now represents in Albany.
as their representative. Many political observers said that the election was Michaels to lose and that such a serious campaign was unnecessary. But we

had a Republican opponent on the ballot and we were not going to take anything for granted. We mounted an aggressive field operation. Michael, the early favorite, could have stayed home at night with his wife and four children, but instead spent several hours each day (except Friday nights and Saturdays) knocking on doors. He knocked on close to 1,000 doors per week. He talked to voters throughout the 27th Assembly District, which stretches south from College Point all the way down to Richmond Hill. He answered questions on topics ranging from the state budget to the redevelopment of Willets Point. He was well received everywhere he went. The best part about managing a campaign for a veteran political staffer like Michael is that he did not need any training or prepping when it came to important policy matters. From his 15 years as chief of staff to Assemblywoman Mayersohn, he is very, very familiar with anything a potential voter could throw at him. Every campaign deals with curveballs along the way. Our curveball came in the form of the hotly con-

Michael Simanowitz is sworn in after winning the special election to replace Nettie Mayersohn in the 27th Assembly District.

tested race for Weiners former congressional seat, whose district overlapped with ours. We contended with the race which received national attention for press and financial contributions. But we persevered. We found other sources of funding from people who knew Michael through his years of service. And we got free press from reporters looking to cover something in Queens besides the congressional race.

lections in this country are generally held on Tuesdays. Since the 9/11 attacks, primary day often conflicts with remembrances in New York and around the nation. This year posed a particular challenge with the anniversary coming out right before voters went to the polls. We decided early on not to campaign on Sunday, Sept. 11. That day, Michael went to as many memorial ceremonies throughout the district as he could, but he didnt knock on any doors. Obviously, with an observant candidate, Saturdays are out as well. This meant that from late Friday afternoon until Monday morning, my candidate was not able to talk to any voters. We trusted volunteers to help get out Michaels name at events on Saturday, Sept. 10 and also were confident that Michael had done a good job convincing voters that he was the right choice. Monday, Sept. 12 was a very long day. I was in the campaign office from early in the morning until close to 11 p.m. We had over a dozen dedicated volunteers making calls to voters until just after 8 p.m. and I stayed late to set

up the office for the morning. Tuesday was as expected an even longer day. I was up at 5 a.m. and in the campaign office by 5:45 ready for the hordes of people who would be coming in and out for the next 18 hours. That last day, we coordinated volunteers (by then I had some very experienced hands pitching in during the last 48 hours) and executed our crucial strategy for Election Day visibility. We were able to have multiple volunteers out with Simanowitz for Assembly posters at a majority of the 26 polling places throughout the district. We even had several prominent elected officials, including State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and other local legislators, stand with Michael in front of poll sites or bus stops to campaign. We orchestrated a very well-run election night operation, whereby we had people help us close the polls (a standard practice of tallying votes from each polling place to ensure an accurate count). There are 26 poll sites throughout the district. Twenty of them were staffed with very able volunteers who called into our headquarters with the aggregate numbers for each election district as they were tacked to the walls by Board of Election workers. At 10 p.m., after much hard work by everyone involved, we knew that Michael Simanowitz would be the next assemblymember from Queens. He had carried almost every part of the district. He did especially well in areas where he regularly knocked on doors. When all the votes were tallied days later, he had won 76 percent of the vote a feat unheard of for a non-incumbent. continued on page 21

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JEWISH WORLD NOV. 25 - DEC. 1, 2011

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continued from page 19 in a lot of beautiful things on consignment that people normally wouldnt let go. The two women have also opened a boutique in Southampton Avas, at 71 Jobs Lane. Though the shop has mostly new items, Calamita says, We are taking on some resale there vintage jewelry, clothing. She explains, Avas was named after my 5year-old granddaughter. It opened on her birthday three years ago. The Clearing House 414 First Street Greenport 631.477.3484 www.tchx.net Hours: Fri., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. After three years in Southampton, The Clearing

House has now been in Greenport for five. Aside from continued business ties through estate sales, for example with the Hamptons, there are familial ties as well. Co-owner Victoria Collete is mother to Tisha Collete of the Southampton and Sag Harbor Collette stores. Victorias partner, Nick Nicolino, jokes, We say that whenever something is sold on consignment on the East End, theres a Collette who gets a cut of it. Of The Clearing Houses consignment and liquidation business, Nicolino says, We not only service all of the East End, but New York City, New Jersey basically the entire metro area. The Clearing House has just liquidated a 15,000-square-foot estate in Sagaponack, says Nicolino, next door to Ira Rennerts [who built the largest private residence in the U.S.].

People want to move, they have furniture they dont want, we clear it out. He adds that The Clearing House also donates many appliances to charity, such as Habitat for Humanity and domestic violence shelters. The Clearing House also does onsite

estate sales, advertising through social media and email lists. As to the state of the economy, Nicolino reflects: It can help you if you know what you are doing. People are definitely selling for less, whether its houses or furniture. Someone comes to

me with a sofa they paid $10,000 for they have to be prepared to get nowhere near that now. The Clearing House, which Nicolino ultimately described as geared to do big projects, has been featured in Newsday and SmartMoney.

The economy has helped us a little, hurt us a little. We are certainly getting in a lot of beautiful things on consignment that people normally wouldnt let go. Marjorie Scanlon, Around Again

Campaign

Albany. Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz wants to make his community and all communities in New York State a better place to continued from page 18 That night we celebrated with live. If I didnt believe that, I wouldmany of the assemblyman-elects nt have put in the time to help him family and friends as well as the vol- get elected. I take pride in knowing that he will help betunteers and union ter the lives of his members who constituents for helped us over many years to come. the course of the Maybe one day, campaign. another lucky camAfter a decade paign manager will in politics, Ive get a chance like I been part of more did: to run a successthan a dozen camful campaign to paigns. I can say replace the legendary this without hesiassemblymember tation: nights that from the 27th end in celebration Assembly District are much, much but hopefully not for better than those at least 28 more that end with a years. sullen candidate and a distraught Ross Wallenstein staff. is a political and communications prounning a fessional. He manpolitical aged Assemblyman campaign is a tough job. It requires a lot of time Michael Simanowitzs special and energy. The job can be extreme- election campaign this year and ly difficult, depending on the candi- has served as an aide to date. I had the pleasure of working Governors Eliot Spitzer and for a man who genuinely cares about David Paterson and Congressman the people he now represents in Gary Ackerman.

We had several prominent elected officials, including State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and other local legislators, stand with Michael in front of poll sites or bus stops to campaign.

JEWISH WORLD NOV. 25 - DEC. 1, 2011

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