New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is so sought after by Little League baseball that six different teams invited her to their Opening Day one Saturday. She attended two of the games.
The Democratic mayoral hopeful was in even more demand as the holidays approached. She received invites to at least 60 parties from political clubs, labor unions and other groups last December. She rejected 44 of them.
A Daily News review of Quinn’s schedule found that she declined invitations to more than 400 events last year.
Deciding which events to skip is a perilous process for any high-profile candidate. Usually, that process is hidden from view.
But Quinn’s office provided The News a rare peek at her choices. In response to a request under the Freedom of Information Law for copies of her 2012 schedule, Quinn’s staff listed invitations she declined along with the events she attended.
Jefferson Siegel
Council Speaker Christine Quinn greets pooch Quila, 1, at the launch of the ‘Women for Chris’ initiative in April. The group announced its endorsement of Quinn for mayor.
Among groups on Quinn’s rejected list were ones that failed to offer her a chance to speak, according to notes on the schedule.
Others didn’t make the cut because an aide recommended taking a pass.
“Speaker Quinn is honored to be invited to as many events as she is, and she wishes that she could attend each and every one herself,” Council spokesman Justin Goodman said, noting that her office sometimes sends a staffer to fill in for Quinn.
Some events were probably just too far away — like the New York Building Congress’ annual golf outing in Westchester County and the Empire State Pride Agenda’s Hamptons Tea Dance on Long Island.
Others didn’t seem essential, such as a State of the Union party at Blondie’s bar on W. 79th St. and an Elie Tahari fashion show.
Seth Wenig/The Associated Press
Surrounded by family and supporters, New York City Council Speaker and mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn, center, speaks to the media as she announces her mayoral run in March.
Quinn’s office said some rejected events didn’t even make the list. The ones placed on her schedule were put there to give Quinn an opportunity to reconsider if time opened up, and to give her office an opportunity to send a representative, aides said.
A proxy can ease the rejection when Quinn declines, but feelings do get bruised.
Take the Lunar New Year Parade. Steven Tin, executive director of the Better Chinatown Society, said his office has invited Quinn to the parade year after year.
“I think she’s an important part of the city and most major officials come down to support this event,” Tin said. Quinn was booked to attend a Manhattan wedding that day.
Another group, Leaders of the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, invited Quinn to a rally at City Hall protesting budget cuts proposed by Mayor Bloomberg.
David Handschuh/New York Daily News
The group Asian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning marched in New York City’s Lunar New Year Parade for the first time in 2010, the year of the Tiger. Steven Tin, executive director of the Better Chinatown Society, said his office has invited Christine Quinn to the parade every year. But the city council speaker and candidate for mayor was booked to attend a wedding on the same day in 2012.
James Bolas said his group, which provides aid to runaway and homeless youth, was disappointed that Quinn was a no-show.
“Everyone wants the speaker at their event but, you know, what’s it take to show up for five minutes and say something, voice your support?” he said.
Quinn’s schedule shows she was booked for a noon meeting at City Hall about property taxes.
Political consultant Evan Thies says all the choices can be tricky.
“The candidate’s time in a high-profile race is very precious,” he said. “You have to choose between a number of factors, including the political importance of the event and the exposure you can get to voters by attending.”
Joe Marino/New York Daily News
New York City Council Speaker and mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn participates in a forum sponsored by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance aboard the Hornblower Infinity at Pier 40 in April.
Sometimes Quinn snubbed events hosted by fellow politicians, such as a discussion on “Paid Sick Time in San Francisco.”
“That’s the place where I think she should have been,” said the host, Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan).
Quinn had a meeting with the Council’s Banking Committee at the same time.
She sometimes had more personal reasons for not attending. The schedule notes “not inclusive” next to the March 25 Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Parade.
Quinn has refused to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Ave. because gay pride messages are banned.
Her schedule shows down time on May 19, 2012 — her wedding day. She rejected three events that day.
tmoore@nydailynews.com