Here's a new name to add to the list of people eyeing a run for Rep. Charlie Rangel's seat should he decide not to seek re-election this fall: Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell.
"I certainly like being a legislator, I think I'm good at being a legislator; if a vacancy occurs in the congressional district where I live, I will certainly consider it," the Manhattan Democrat told me during a brief interview just now in the Assembly chamber.
If elected, O'Donnell would be the first openly gay member of the state's congressional delegation.
O'Donnell noted all but one ED of his district is located within Rangel's district and pointed out that he has lived on the same block for more than 20 years.
He also has a connection north of his district, which ends at 125th Street, having served on Community Board 9 for seven years prior to his election to the Assembly in 2002.
I asked O'Donnell how long he has been considering a run for Congress. He replied that he gave some hard thought to his future when he was interviewed by Gov. David Paterson last year for the US Senate seat Hillary Clinton was vacating.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/odonnell-considering-congressi.html