Friends, I found this clip from an interview County Democrat Party Chair Joe Morelle did with City Newspaper in December last year.

Anyone you think would be a good candidate for the 2011 county exec race?

I think we have a number of potential candidates. The one who comes to mind the quickest is the mayor. I believe firmly that if Bob Duffy ran for county executive that Maggie Brooks would probably retire and choose not to run. That’s what my advice to her would be because Bob transcends city-suburban boundaries. He is viewed by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike as someone who has got enormous integrity and exhibits great leadership skills. I’d love to see him run for county executive.

After Bob Duffy’s refusal to explain to the public why he’s trying to take over control of the Rochester City school district this might very well be a leading candidate for overstatement of the year.

Mayor Duffy is handling this issue very poorly and has ticked off (in one way or another) just about everyone in the City except Joe Morelle and David Gantt.  This has been his first real leadership test since becoming Mayor in 2006 and he appears to be stumbling.  No matter what happens at the end of the day Duffy’s perceived failure at managing the issue correctly just may cost him more personal political capital that he intended to expend.

It is still up in the air how this will affect Duffy’s chances for running for any higher office.  His name has been floated for County Executive, Congress and as a Lieutenant Governor candidate for both David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo.  As this issue is already creating divisiveness throughout the local community, I think his running for County Executive next year is off the table.  That particular ship is quickly sailing away.