If Farouk Samaroo has evidence that recently elected state Assemblyman Michael Miller is “insensitive” to the minority communities that make up the majority of Queens, he should make it public immediately.
But if, as it appears, he is floating this charge to further his own political ambition, he has done a disservice to all the people living in his district. Samaroo is an Indo-Guyanese American who served as a staffer in the office of former Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin.
In September, Miller won the special election to replace disgraced ex-Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio. Samaroo wanted to run for this office, but his hopes were dashed when Gov. David Paterson called for the special election. In special elections, the party picks a candidate and all people hoping to get on the ballot have to collect 1,500 signatures within five days of the announcement of the special election. The system should be changed.
But we cringe at the charge that a public official is racially insensitive because certain minorities are not represented on his or her staff. Newly elected officials often staff their offices with people they already know and trust. In many cases, these people assisted in the campaign or worked with the candidate in another office.
Stung by Samaroo’s criticism, Miller pointed out he has one black and one Latino staffer. He noted he also works with Latchman Budhai, an Indo-Guyanese civic leader in Richmond Hill. His response is understandable but should not have been necessary.
The assemblyman should be judged by the way he represents and responds to the needs of the people in his district, not by some kind of hiring quota. If the Latinos, Eastern Europeans and Indo-Guyanese have special needs, we would hope a member of Miller’s staff will take the time to meet with them and hear them out.
Miller represents one the most diverse Assembly districts in the most diverse county in the country. Like any elected official, his feet should be held to the fire and he should be held accountable for the votes he makes in Albany and the laws he champions.
But he should not feel compelled to respond to critics playing the race card.
