By Francis S. Barry, Rutgers University Press, 306 pages, $26.95
Francis S. Barry’s new book, “The Scandal of Reform,” exposes the follies of New York City politics by focusing on the persistent and unsuccessful efforts at election reform during the past 120 years. Barry, who is the chief speech writer for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, narrates the history of repetitive failures as reformers proposed changes in the election law aimed at wrestling political power from political professionals. Somehow, each time the political professionals triumphantly reappeared.
