Micah Kellner

Micah Kellner
PFLAG Awards Luncheon, February 2010
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 76th district
In office
June 2007 – December 31, 2013
Preceded by Alexander Grannis
Succeeded by Sheldon Silver
Personal details
Born December 5, 1978[1]
Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Marie Ternes
Residence New York, New York, U.S.
Alma mater New York University
Profession Politician, legislator
Website Official website

Micah Z. Kellner[2] (born December 5, 1978)[1] is an American politician from the state of New York. A Democrat, he is currently a member of the New York State Assembly from the 76th district, which includes Manhattan's Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island (map)[3] serving a term until December 31, 2014. In September 2013 he lost the primary election for the Democratic nomination for the New York City Council seat for the 5th District by about 1,000 votes to attorney Ben Kallos.

Early life and career

An advocate for the disabled, Kellner was born with cerebral palsy.[3] He attended the Pingry School, graduating in the class of 1997.[4] He graduated from New York University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film, television and radio. He worked as an aide to Senator Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and City Comptroller William C. Thompson before being elected to the Assembly in 2007.[5]

New York State Assembly

Following the appointment of Assemblyman Alexander "Pete" Grannis as Commissioner of New York State's Department of Environment Conservation early in 2007, Kellner was selected as the Democratic nominee for the special election held to fill the vacancy. In that election, held on June 5, 2007, he received 64% of the vote, comfortably defeating his Republican opponent.[6]

During the 2013-14 term of the Legislature in Albany, Kellner became Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology and serves on the Committee on Banks, the Committee on Cities, the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, and the Committee on Racing and Wagering.[7] He has advocated for and co-sponsored legislation in the areas of affordable housing, fairer government funding formulas for New York City’s public schools, mass transit and a cleaner environment, reproductive freedom and stem cell research, marriage equality for same-sex couples, the rights of persons with disabilities, and authored laws on pedestrian safety, prescription drug pricing, and the operations of New York State's "Big 11" research libraries.[8] On June 27, 2013, Kellner chaired a hearing on "The Sale of Public Library Buildings in New York City" at which Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Edmund Morris testified against the New York Public Library's controversial Central Library Plan.[9] In July 2013, Kellner challenged Apple Inc. and Google, Inc., to ban the availability of so-called "secret spy applications" from their application marketplaces.[10]

In August 2010, New York State's then-Governor, David Paterson, signed "Elle's Law," legislation introduced by Kellner that allows for the suspension of up to six months of the New York State driver's license of any driver inflcting serious physical injury on another person while committing a traffic violation. The law was named after Elle Vandenberghe, a three-year-old Upper East Side girl living in Kellner's district who was seriously injured after being struck by a motorist who was illegally backing through an intersection against a red light to find a parking space.[11]

Kellner helped lobby the New York City Department of Education to open a new public middle school to alleviate classroom overcrowding on the Manhattan's Upper East Side. The opening of the new middle school was announced in March 2013.[12] He sponsored Oreo's Law in the New York State Assembly to require the release of a shelter animal to a rescue group upon request of the rescue group prior to euthanasia of the animal. The law is named in memory of Oreo, a dog who survived abuse at the hands of her former owner, recovered from her injuries, but was then euthanized by the ASPCA in New York City, despite the offer of a No Kill sanctuary to guarantee her lifetime care.[13]

City Council Campaign and Allegations of Sexual Harassment

In early 2013, Kellner announced his intentions to run for the New York City Council seat in District 5 being vacated by Jessica Lappin. Initially, he received significant support, being endorsed by most local elected officials. In late June, however, the New York Post reported that he had accepted a campaign contribution from a taxi manufacturer whose handicapped-accessible vehicle was being considered for adoption by New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission.[14]

On July 23, 2013, The New York Times reported that in 2009 Kellner had engaged in inappropriate Internet chat with a young female staffer. Kellner apologized in a statement to the Times, saying, "Over four years ago, for a few weeks while I was still single, I exchanged instant messages with a female member of my staff that were flirtatious. It was inappropriate. I was wrong and it was stupid. When I was told that my staffer felt the messages were unprofessional, I immediately stopped and regretted placing her in that position. I was sorry then and I am sorry now.” The New York Daily News subsequently quoted an anonymous source identified only as a former Kellner staffer saying that Kellner had made life "horrible" for the other staffer after she had allegedly rebuffed his advances.[15]

Following the media reports, several elected officials withdrew their endorsement of Kellner in the City Council race, including Lappin, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and two state senators.[16] The day after the allegations against Kellner were revealed, the National Organization for Women's NYC chapter endorsed one of his two opponents in the Democratic primary for City Council, Benjamin Kallos.[17] The state's ethics commission launched an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Kellner.[18] 32BJ SEIU rescinded its support as well, and endorsed his rival, Benjamin Kallos,[19] who went on to defeat Kellner in the September 10, 2013 primary.[20] On December 31, 2013, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that Kellner should deny the sexual harassment allegations or resign.[21]

Personal life

Kellner is openly bisexual[22] and is one of six LGBT members of the New York Legislature, alongside Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Daniel O'Donnell, Matthew Titone and Harry Bronson, as well as Senator Brad Hoylman. His 2007 Assembly campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which provided financial and strategic assistance.

Marriage

On December 17, 2011, Kellner married Marie Ternes, a public relations professional.[23]

Election results

Micah Z. Kellner (DEM - WOR) ... 4,254
Gregory T. Camp (REP - IND) ... 2,273
Micah Z. Kellner (DEM - WOR) ... 36,682
Georgiana Viest (REP) ... 11,636
Micah Z. Kellner (DEM - WOR) ... 22,741
Michael K. Zumbluskus (REP) ... 7,998
Micah Z. Kellner (DEM - WOR) ... 34,040
Michael K. Zumbluskus (REP) ... 10,689

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "State Assembly: Micah Z. Kellner (D-WFP), District 65". Capitol Info. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hicks, Jonathan P. (June 6, 2007). "Comptroller’s Aide Wins Upper East Side Assembly Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Class Notes: 1997, Micah Kellner" (PDF). The Pingry Review. Winter 2008.
  5. ↑ "Assembly District 65, Micah Engel Kellner: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  6. ↑ Mahoney, Joe (June 6, 2007). "Dem notches win in Assembly special elex". New York Daily News.
  7. ↑ Committee Membership
  8. ↑ Micah Z. Kellner Assemblyman: Bills
  9. ↑ Pogrebin, Robin (June 27, 2013). "Critics Prompt New Review of Library Plan". The New York Times.
  10. ↑ Daily News (New York) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/albany-pol-hangup-spy-phone-apps-article-1.1391974. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ New York City Department of Education to open new middle school at dnainfo.com, March 8, 2013.
  13. ↑ Sulzberger, A.G. (November 19, 2009). "Oreo, Abused Then Euthanized, Inspires Legislation". The New York Times.
  14. ↑ Report of allegations of sexual harassment against Kellner, New York Post, June 2013.
  15. ↑ Coverage of Kellner sexual scandal, New York Times, July 23, 2013.
  16. ↑ Daily News (New York) http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2013/07/micah-kellners-city-council-bid-backing-crumbles-after-sexual-harassment-alleg. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ New York Daily News political blogsite on Kellner scandals
  18. ↑ "Investigation Launched Into Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Assemblyman Micah Kellner". NY1. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  19. ↑ Kellner loses endorsement by 32B-J
  20. ↑ Kallos defeats Kellner, Huffington Post
  21. ↑ Statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
  22. ↑ "NY Assemblymember Kellner Given Brenda Howard Award". BiNet USA News and Updates. February 21, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Marie Ternes, Micah Kellner - Weddings". The New York Times. December 18, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Special Election Results, 65th Assembly District: June 5, 2007" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  25. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  26. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  27. ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections.

External links

New York Assembly
Preceded by
Alexander "Pete" Grannis		 New York State Assembly
65th district
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
Sheldon Silver
New York Assembly
Preceded by
Peter Rivera		 New York State Assembly
76th district
2013–present 		Incumbent