Tish on the run
James wants AG post, will announce today
ALBANY — City Public Advocate Letitia James has decided to run for state attorney general.
James began telling people of her plans in recent days, created a statewide campaign committee on Tuesday and is set to hold a kickoff rally on Wednesday.
The Daily News first reported the plans Tuesday on its website.
James is not seeking to be appointed interim attorney general for the remainder of the year by the state Legislature, which Tuesday began two days of interviews with 12 potential candidates.
Instead, the public advocate (photo inset), who in 2014 became the first woman of color to hold citywide office in New York City, decided to seek the nomination for attorney general at the state Democratic Party convention scheduled for May 23-24.
James’ office had no immediate comment.
Besides James, other potential Democratic candidates are former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who hasn’t ruled it out; Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who a source said is moving closer toward a run; Fordham law Prof. Zephyr Teachout, who created an exploratory committee this week; and state Sen. Michael Gianaris of Queens.
Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Nassau County) announced she will seek reelection to Congress and not run for attorney general’s job. Meanwhile, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn), who is chairing the legislative screening panel, said it’s possible the body may not make a recommendation to the full Legislature until after the political conventions next week.
He and others on the panel bristled at those who insist they should simply leave acting Attorney General Barbara Underwood in the job.
Lentol said the screening panel is “completely unbowed” by arguments that Underwood automatically deserves the appointment, saying it will come down to who is best qualified.
Even so, those on the panel — and even those seeking the appointment — were full of praise for Underwood, who was elevated to acting attorney general last week after Eric Schneiderman resigned from the post abruptly in the wake of a New York magazine article claiming he physically assaulted four women.
After her one hour before the panel, Underwood said she’s spoken to Schneiderman once since he resigned.
“I believe I had one conversation about moving his things out of my office, what is now my office,” she said.
Leecia Eve, a one-time aide to Hillary Clinton, was supposed to interview with the panel but withdrew her name at the last minute, not long after The News reported that her law license was listed as delinquent by the state.