No one knows the power, anger, and wretched wrath Sheldon Silver once yielded in the halls of Albany more than former Democratic New York State Assemblyman Michael “Mickey” Kearns.
The year was 2012. Kearns, who now serves as Erie County Clerk, was in a hotly contested special election against an establishment Democrat.
His main campaign message: I won’t take marching orders from legislative dictator Silver and won’t support him for Speaker.
This hard line stance made Kearns “persona non grata” with Democrats and especially the Assembly Speaker.
“He was so powerful. But I ran against him. When I won Silver said to me ‘a lot of guys run campaigns against me, then they fall into line.’ His aide told me ‘when I tell you how to vote, you vote that way.’ While I didn’t do that, lots of people succumbed to that power,” said Kearns.
Silver left this mortal coil more than two years ago, on January 24th, 2022. Just recently “The City” publication posted a poignant, tragic, and sad story on his final days in federal prison. Silver died in solitude behind bars in a prison hospital, serving time on a public corruption charge.
The man who once ruled Albany with an iron first died frail and alone.
Politicians and lobbyists once lined the hallways of his office, begging for him to allow legislation to be passed.
No one came to see Silver as he lay dying on his deathbed according to The City. He lost 60 pounds because of horrific intestinal issues, could not move due to debilitating back pain, and prison officials blocked his wife from seeing him.
Sheldon “Shelly” Silver was a shell of his former self. The Albany Kingmaker whose subjects bowed down and repeatedly kissed the Speaker’s ring died a broken, lonely peasant.
He died alone on a cold prison hospital bed.
It is one of the biggest rises and falls in the history of New York politics, one Kearns reflected on during an interview with the South Shore Press. The way he died compared to how he ruled and dominated could not be more different.
“We did not get along. I looked him right in the face and told him ‘I’m not voting for you for Speaker. I’m not supporting you.’ Silver threatened me. He wanted my 100% approval. I wouldn't give him that,” added Kearns.
The political and legislative consequences for not bowing and buckling to Silver were swift and severe. Kearns was not allowed to join his own Democratic conference. He was given no staff in Albany. Silver refused to bring any of his proposed bills to the floor.
Kearns held firm and held his head high. He was a conference of one.
As for Silver, his sharp and hard downfall began shortly after being charged in the kickback scheme that ultimately led to his prison sentence. He submitted his resignation as Speaker on January 30th, 2015, but remained a member of the Assembly. Silver became a lonely backbencher, one of 150 lawmakers.
No one came to his defense when Silver needed it most.
“I was close friends with a New York City Assemblyman. He was close friends with Silver. When he lost the Speakership, Silver was in the members lunchroom. Someone said to him that no one fought for him when the chips were down. Silver then exploded and raged ‘all you motherfu$&ers who I helped over the years, you fu$&ed me. At least Kearns had the (testicles) to confront me to my face,’” recalled Kearns.
That moment of being abandoned and alone at a time of need turned out to be prophetic for Silver. It happened once again at the time of his death.
Silver was 77-years-old when he died of cardiac arrest. The City reported that he exhibited “altered mental status changes” as he lay dying. The former Assembly Speaker was confined to a prison hospital bed, had no friends or loved one at his side, and for all intents and purposes died alone, outside of prison staff.
“What good is being powerful when you die alone in prison? What good are the accolades? It’s sad. At the end of the day, we are not in control. God is the higher power. How you treat people matters. But he monetized his office for personal gain. Where were his friends? What a way to end your life,” concluded Kearns.