Dec 26, 2006 3:22 pm US/Eastern
Spitzer Picks State Senator To Run Homeland Sec.
ALBANY (AP) ―
Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer tapped a Republican state senator on Tuesday to head up the administration's homeland security efforts.
"Senator (Michael) Balboni has all the skills we need," said Democrat Spitzer, a smiling Balboni by his side at an Albany news conference.
The Long Island Republican said he was "tremendously" surprised when a top Spitzer aide asked him recently if he might be interested in the job.
Balboni, 47, a senator since winning a special election in 1997, has been chairman of the Senate's Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. He served in the state Assembly before his election to the Senate.
Spitzer said Balboni's salary as deputy secretary for public security had yet to be determined. Balboni will oversee homeland security and law enforcement issues for Spitzer.
Spitzer pledged a bipartisan administration during his successful campaign for governor. Both he and Balboni said Tuesday that the appointment was proof of that.
"A terrorist bomb will never discriminate between Democrat and Republican," Balboni said.
The appointment means Spitzer will get to call a special election to fill the seat being vacated by Balboni, giving Democrats another shot at narrowing the Senate's Republican majority. The 7th Senate District in Nassau County has 78,000 Democrats and fewer than 72,000 Republicans. "It is a competitive seat," said Balboni.
Last year, Balboni abandoned a possible run for state attorney general in part because of concerns that move could cost the GOP the seat. He easily won re-election to a new two-year term in November.
The Senate lineup as of Jan. 1 was to be 34 Republicans and 28 Democrats.
"This is not part of any other ulterior scheme," Spitzer assured reporters at his news conference.
Balboni said that when he informed state Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno of his decision to leave the Senate, "he was very gracious, very gracious."
"He said to me, `You can't pass up this opportunity,"' Balboni recalled.
The Senate GOP has lost four seats in the past four years and Bruno announced last week that his private business dealings are under investigation by the FBI. Bruno runs a consulting company.
While one GOP senator, John Bonacic of Orange County, has called for Bruno to step aside as majority because of the investigation, Balboni said Tuesday that he will vote to re-elect Bruno as majority leader when the Senate reconvenes next week.
"I hope my colleagues will do the same," Balboni said.
Bruno issued a statement congratulating Spitzer on his selection of Balboni, calling the senator "a nationally recognized expert in matters of homeland security."
"We will miss him in his role as a senator, but we look forward to working with him and the new administration on homeland security and other public safety issues," Bruno added.
Balboni, a graduate of St. John's University Law School, said his top priorities on the homeland security front include better border and rail security.
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