Failed Senate candidate tapped by Pataki for insurance post (Howard Mills)

[Khephra]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- State Assemblyman Howard Mills, who failed miserably in his bid this year to unseat Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, will be nominated by fellow Republican George Pataki to become state insurance superintendent, the governor announced Thursday.

Mills would replace Gregory Serio in the $127,000-a-year post. Pataki said Serio, who has headed the state Insurance Department since May 2001, would be taking an unspecified job in the private sector after he departs next month.

Mills' nomination will be subject to confirmation by the Republican-led state Senate.

With top state Republican leaders struggling to find someone they thought would be a credible challenger to Schumer, Mills came to the rescue in February when he called Pataki and said he would run for the Senate instead of seeking re-election to the Democratic-controlled Assembly where he was deputy minority leader.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--mills-pataki1230dec30,0,1215440.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[bahrbearian]

1. It worked well for Ashcroft.

[ArthurDent]

2. Amazing

I'm agnostic toward Mills, as he is significantly more moderate than conservative. But his big campaign point was that he gave up what was pretty much a lock of a job -- his Assemlby seat -- to run a can't-win race vs. Schumer.

Looks like he ended up okay.

[aquart]

3. Did you think he did it for nothing? Please.

Schumer ran essentially unopposed. I never even saw a Mills commercial. It was a joke campaign. Nobody falls on the sword like that for free.

[Historic NY]

4. Exactly he was an opportunist.............n/t