Campaign finance records filed this week by Senate candidate Shawn Morse show he’s paid Stanley Schlein, a politically connected Bronx lawyer who helped negotiate favorable perks for disgraced former Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada and worked with him during the 2009 leadership coup.

Records filed with the Board of Elections show Morse paid Schlein $10,000 for consultant work.

When Democrats in the Senate initially gained a majority, Schlein was in the thick of things for the so-called “amigos” and helped Espada negotiate a committee chairmanship and other concessions from then-Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Schlein was later at Espada’s side during the June-July 2009 coup that ground New York government to a halt before it was resolved in a deal that saw Democrats return to power and Espada keep the ceremonial title of majority leader (Schlein and Espada were enemies at one point, when he worked to get Espada kicked off a ballot which resulted in the two coming to blows).

It’s not unusual that Schlein is popping up, considering that the lobbyist/real-estate lawyer has had his hands in state legislative and city races over the years, though previously he’s been confined to downstate arenas and has ties to Councilman Larry Seabrook, who was found guilty of corruption charges last month.

And it’s also not unusual for various rogues from the affair to pop up in electoral politics (Democrat Chuck Swanick, who is competing with Mike Amodeo in a primary to challenge Sen. Mark Grisanti, has ties to Steve Pigeon).

Still, it’s a potential hazard for the Independent Democratic Conference, which is backing Morse, with direct contributions as well as some of IDC Leader Jeff Klein’s top contributors.

The IDC, and Klein especially, have worked hard to differentiate themselves from the coup instigators, insisting they aren’t interested in power, but working with Republicans on substantive policy issues.

Morse’s filing this week indicates a relatively high burn rate. He reported spending $40,907 and has $85,519 in cash.

 

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