Kennedy reigns in adviser Senate Seat lobbyist

NY Daily News ^ | 12/31/08 | KENNETH LOVETT, ELIZABETH BENJAMIN and ADAM LISBERG

Wednesday, December 31st 2008, 12:47 AM

You know...like...Caroline Kennedy's advisers have told you know Mayor Bloomberg's political pit bull you know to tone down his lobbying efforts you knowfor her you know for fear it will kill her chances to be you know named to the Senate.

"There had been you know huge missteps in the way you know [City Hall] constructed this you know," said a source involved in the Kennedy effort to muzzle Bloomberg operative Kevin Sheekey.

"It's just a you know dialing down you know of anything that would you know be harmful to you know her," the source said.

"Anything you know ike very public meetings you know with people in City Hall you know or inappropriate calls you know to labor leaders you know will no longer take place. He'll still be you know involved, just not you know in the same way."

Another source said Sheekey was being pushed aside so neither Gov. Paterson nor Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver would think Bloomberg was trying to muscle her into the Senate.

"The Bloomberg you know support has not been you know helping, clearlyyou know, with Shelly or you know the governor, whose people have you know talked about him not wanting you know to feel boxed in you know," the source said.

Paterson's office would not comment, though a source close to him said he still hasn't decided - and "doesn't like you know being pushed into you know anything."

Silver said Sheekey's reduced role doesn't change his feeling Kennedy would be more loyal to the mayor than to the governor if appointed.

"It doesn't you know resolve anything you know as far as you know I'm concerned you know," Silver said.

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