Wife’s clue Nixon is in
All signs are that Gov. Cuomo better get ready to take on Cynthia Nixon.
Nixon’s spouse has quit her job with the city — the best evidence yet that the “Sex and the City” star is getting ready to announce a run for governor.
The Department of Education confirmed on Tuesday that Christine Marinoni has resigned from her $131,708-a-year position as a special adviser for community partnerships. She was hired in May 2014. Nixon insists she hasn’t made up her mind about entering September’s Democratic primary, but all indicators point to her jumping into the race.
She has criticized Cuomo’s positions on education, has been talking to political consultants and has filmed what appears to be a campaign ad.
Marinoni’s sudden resignation is the topper.
It would have been awkward — at the least — for her to campaign for Nixon while on the city payroll.
Both Nixon and Marinoni have strong ties to Mayor de Blasio.
A Democratic Party source pointed to further proof of Nixon’s intentions in a photo snapped last week in Soho, where the actress was being followed by a film crew.
The source spotted Matt McLaughlin, a political and film consultant who worked on de Blasio’s 2013 campaign, with the film crew right behind Nixon.
That made it clear the footage was for a potential campaign ad, not for a show.
McLaughlin is a business partner of former de Blasio campaign manager Bill Hyers, with whom Nixon is reportedly negotiating to run her campaign.
The Hyers-McLaughlin duo also worked on Bernie Sanders’ insurgent campaign for president.
And they’ve recently made a splash with an ad for unknown steel worker Randy Bryce, a Democrat seeking to unseat GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin.
Election experts said that as long as Nixon is spending her own money, she doesn’t have to file any paperwork yet with the state Board of Elections to declare her candidacy.
“It sure looks like a rollout — that she’s running for governor. Everything indicates this is real deal,” Baruch College political science Professor Doug Muzzio said.
“I don’t think she can win. But if she puts up a good organization, she could damage Cuomo. She could easily break 40 percent.”
Veteran Democratic consultant George Arzt said he now believes Nixon is a go for governor.
“It looks like a rollout — Hollywood style,” Arzt said.