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The political life is a tough one. The job can grind you up and wear you down. And the people are a fickle lot. A hero today is a fallen idol tomorrow.
But for those with politics in their blood, the passion burns on long after they”™ve left public office.
“It”™s an addiction being in politics, serving in government,” said Nick Spano, 56, of Yonkers.
He should know, having spent nearly three decades in public office ”“ 20 of those years as a Republican state senator representing parts of Westchester.
Spano now sits on the other side of the desk. He founded Empire Strategic Planning, a lobbying firm, in 2007 and represents a number of private sector interests in the Hudson Valley, including developer Louis Cappelli, Con Edison, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway and the Greater New York Hospital Association.
Initially, under a state ethics rule, Spano was prohibited from lobbying former colleagues for two years. That changed in January. “I can now lobby the members,” he said. “I have a solid book of clients ”¦ My role is to monitor the process in Albany, to be an advocate on their behalf.”
While Spano talks enthusiastically about business opportunities and enjoying a “normal” life, he reminisces about his days in Albany: “I miss the fight. I miss the action. I miss being part of that legislative process.”
Would he run again?
“I think about it all the time,” he said. “I love it ”¦ and if there”™s an opportunity in the future where I can serve I will seize that opportunity.”
And another run for public office could include a bid for Westchester County executive, possibly on the Democratic ticket, but “only” if Andy Spano were to retire. He cited his friendship with and support for the current County Executive Spano (no relation). If he were to make another bid for the Senate, however, he vowed to run as a Republican. Spano”™s younger brother Michael Spano, a Republican-turned-Democrat, represents Westchester in the 93rd Assembly District.
Nick Spano was elected to the state Assembly in 1978 and to the state Senate eight years later. As senator for the 35th District, he represented Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant and the city of Yonkers. He was senior assistant majority leader and chairman of several committees, including Labor and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Spano lost his Senate seat to Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins in 2006.
In a wide-ranging interview Jan. 30, Spano talked about his political career, a “difficult” transition to the private sector and what led him to start his own business.
“I look back with pride, with 28 years of a record up in the state Capitol ”¦ and I”™m very happy that my business that I established is doing very well. And I”™m also happy that my daughter gave me a little grandchild, so now I”™m grandpa and I can spend some time (with family), having some fun and doing the things that I continue to say ”˜normal”™ people take for granted.”
Spano also offered observances on the state of the economy and lessons to be learned in the public and private sectors.
