Post gossip king Richard Johnson noted this week that ex-Sen. Al D’Amato has ties to at least three candidates in this year’s governor’s race — which is pretty much what New York should expect of a man who’s become a super-lobbyist, with fingers in pretty much every pot.
In office, D’Amato claimed to be a principled conservative while remaining proud of his “Sen. Pothole” nickname for his emphasis on constituent services. But since his 1998 ouster by Chuck Schumer, he’s built a potent lobbying business, Park Strategies — and shown all the ideological flexibility a lobbyist could need.
And then some: While D’Amato has long been a firm supporter of Gov. Cuomo, Park is doing campaign work for Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who for now looks like the likely GOP nominee against Cuomo.
Meanwhile, Joel Giambra, a possible Reform Party nominee, worked as a lobbyist at Park Strategies.
We have no word yet of D’Amato ties to Cynthia Nixon, but expect him to develop something if she turns into a real threat to take Cuomo’s job.
A piece of every pie: That’s the road to riches in New York politics.