By David Cruz 

Senator Jeff Klein emerged victorious in securing an endorsement from the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, after a lengthy evening of accusations of betrayal, debates, rebuttals and questions over whether their decision could cause a divide.

Klein, head of the power-sharing Independent Democratic Conference, won support over challenger and deep-rooted Ben Franklin Club member Oliver Koppell. The final tally was 96 votes for Klein, 38 for Koppell and 11 abstentions.

“I’m disappointed,” said Koppell, shortly after the final count was announced.

The tally culminated a raucous, drawn out meeting that re-hashed political maneuvers of Koppell and Klein that had roiled members before. Koppell used the speaking portion of the meeting to label Klein a turncoat for having formed the IDC, which he insists shifts power to Senate Republicans. Klein, a Democrat, defended his position in forming the IDC as a method to resolve the notorious dysfunction that the Albany Legislature was known for.

“When somebody is doing a good job you don’t throw them out of office,” said Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, a key member of the club, who last week announced his support for Klein.

And though a winner had been indeed picked, the outright hostility that coursed throughout the meeting certainly disturbed the current president Ellen Feld.