Reply #5: Agreed...but with a few caveats [View All]

[SoCalDem]

"filling" a seat is not "winning an election" ..Usually speed is of the essence, and the tenure of the term is never more than 2 years, because of the current federal limitations, so it's unfair to expect someone to be in a position that presents itself in NY...appointed until '10, then run again..and again in '12 when the normal 6-yr cycle repeats.

That's a LOT of money to expect one person or several to have to spend & raise in such a short time..escpecially when it means they will spend less time actually BEING the senator, because of all the fundraising they will have to do..

I would prefer the legislature , the governor, and the exiting senator (unless he/she dies) to submit 5 or 6 names each, and then the names that repeat on the lists...say the top 3 make it onto a ballot.. for the FIRST go-round..and then to have the 6-yr cycle RE-set with the next 2 yr election, so they only have to run ONCE after the appointment.

Appointmnets rarely happen anyway..