By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – For the first time in 22 years, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is facing a Democratic primary. Not one, but two, political newcomers are challenging one of the state's most powerful office-holders.
Paul Newell and Luke Henry were still in diapers when Sheldon Silver was a freshman lawmaker in the Assembly. Now, each is embarking on a campaign to unseat the veteran incumbent. Silver's not commenting on the challenge. But he has campaign warchest of $3 million. And his influence stretches from his Manhattan district to Buffalo.
Newell, by comparison, has just $40,000 saved up. Henry has yet to say how much he has. Newell is a former congressional staffer while Henry is an attorney.
Their story was told Tuesday in the "Albany Times Union" by three aspiring reporters from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. We reached one of the three, Meghan Goth, just as she was heading to class Tuesday night.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear Mark Scott's interview now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.