By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN WEST — State Sen. Eric Schneiderman referenced an unlikely hero during Monday’s debate between the five Democratic candidates vying for attorney general — disgraced ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Before he was felled by a prostitution scandal as governor, Spitzer was the most powerful attorney general the state had ever seen, a point Schniederman raised while arguing with candidates over whether the attorney general's office currently has enough authority.
"I can't do everything, but I can do anything," he jokingly quoted Spitzer as saying, in reference to the wide-ranging power Spitzer acquired in office.
But Assemblyman Richard Brodsky blasted Spitzer for "acting like a bully some of the time" and said his conduct was "inappropriate and did tremendous damage."
Nassau County district attorney Kathleen Rice also disagreed with Schneiderman’s assessment that the AG’s office already had enough power, saying that real reform led by the AG’s office will require new legislation.
"The laws are woefully inefficient," she said. "I think it's about time we start talking about what we need, which is real power for the Attorney General."
Interestingly, moderator Edward-Isaac Dovere, editor of City Hall and The Capitol newspapers, failed to quiz either Rice or Schneiderman about the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Each has accused the other of not working hard enough to repeal them.
The one thing all the candidates agreed on is that state government needs to be reformed.
"The state government and the state economy are in crisis," Brodsky said.
Attorney Sean Coffey called the current budget standstill "a disgrace."
"Our government is broken. People have lost faith, and they need to be able to believe again," he said.
The candidates also all expressed strong support for an end to partisan redistricting. All but one — former New York State Superintendent of Insurance Eric Dinallo — said they oppose non-partisan elections.
The candidates also introduced a broad range of reform proposals. Dinallo called for legislation that would limit lawmakers' outside business interests. Coffey pushed for public campaign financing of some campaigns by 2014. Brodsky argued the AG's office should be granted the authority to open cases of corruption against public officials. Rice continued to stress the need to repair confidence in the state government and the need for pension reform.
"We do not have a system here in New York State that can support the pension obligations going forward," Rice warned.
The winner of the Democratic race will go on to face Republican candidate Dan Donovan, Richmond County D.A., in the fall.
