NY-26: Powers Endorsed By Rochester Building Trades Council

by: robert.harding

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 13:09:12 PM EDT

Today, Powers added another union to the list when the Rochester Building and Construction Trade Council gave Powers their endorsement.

"Jon is a breath of fresh air," said Frank Wirt, President of the Rochester Building and Construction Trade Council. "We need someone that isn't a career politician in Congress that can help bring the change we need to put our country back on track. Jon is trying to change the direction of this country to help the working people of Western New York. He makes us proud to be Americans."

The Rochester Building and Construction Trades Council represents over 16,000 working men and women in Monroe and surrounding counties.

The Rochester Building and Construction Trades Council is made up of 17 local union groups representing various construction trade unions including the Sheet Metal Workers, Bricklayers, Boilermakers, Electrical Workers, and others.

Unions are a mainstay in Western New York and if the unions back you, you know you have strong support in the district. Powers has received plenty of support from unions and that will help him, not only in the primary but in the general as well.

If You're Going To Lie On Your Resume, Don't Say You Were A State Trooper

by: robert.harding

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 12:40:11 PM EDT

He lied about working for the New York State Police - for 17 years.

The New York State Police in Albion arrested Richard M. Galante earlier today and charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a class E felony.  Mr. Galante, 48 years old of Dodge Road in Getzville is the Superintendent of the Medina School District in Orleans County.

Mr. Galante has been employed with the Medina School District since July 2000 and has been the Superintendent since August 2003.   Mr. Galante allegedly falsified his resume he submitted to the school district.  In the resume he included that he was employed as a New York State Trooper from 1981 until 1998.   Mr. Galante has never been employed by the New York State Police.

I know Galante enough from my time as an intern with the local newspaper. Actually, one of my responsibilities was to cover the Medina School District and I had to speak with Galante on multiple occasions.

I also graduated from Medina in 2004, so this is big news here.

So if you are wondering why I am not posting a lot today, it is because people are calling me in disbelief, updating me on what's going on or I'm doing just some rapid response so that outsiders don't trash our school district.  

Public Integrity Commission Charges Dopp, Felton, Baum and Howard, Not Spitzer

by: phillip anderson

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 12:21:04 PM EDT

The state Commission on Public Intergrity has just released its findings in the long-running Troopergate affair.

Their findings: Darren Dopp, Preston Felton, Richard Baum and William Howard violated the public officers law.

...

One surprise so far, COPI comes down very hard on Spitzer, noting that the "Executive Chamber's piecemeal document production and its spurious claims of privilege unnecessarily and improperly delayed the Commission's investigation and the promises of Governo Spitzer that the Administration was cooperating fully with the Commission's investigation."

COPI Executive Director Herb Teitelbaum has drawn a lot of criticism over the past few weeks for supposedly protecting the ex-governor, but they mince no words here,  - although Spitzer wasn't charged.

There are loads of docs to sort through here and I'm sure there will be more interesting bits to surface throughout the day.

Stay tuned...

SD-3: GOP Protestors Demand Trunzo Quit As Islip Boss

by: phillip anderson

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 10:55:03 AM EDT

Islip dissidents mass to call for Trunzo's ouster

About 65 unhappy Islip Republicans turned out in the sweltering heat Monday night in front of the party's Third Avenue headquarters in Bay Shore to ask Caesar Trunzo to step down as town GOP leader.

Frank Tratone, one of the leaders of the group which calls itself "21st Century Republicans," said Trunzo has "guided the party through one disaster after another," and has no plans for fundraising for anyone other than himself through Election Day.

Tratone said the new group is planning its own fundraiser, and will reach out to candidates and offer support. "It's not too later to save the this party," said Tratone, "Brookhaven Republicans changed leadership and recptured the majority on the town board. We will do it too."

Actually, it might indeed be too late to save that party and the fact that folks like Trunzo have kept their hands on the wheel so long isn't helping their cause.

Also, check out these choice comments to the article above:

It's time for Caesar Trunzo to pass the torch to the new young leaders of the Islip Republican Party and concentrate his efforts on getting re-elected to the NY State Senate. He should act as the elder statesman for the new leaders.

It appears as though what is holding things up is that Trunzo is insisting on being able to hand pick his successor. It also appears as though Trunzo's close circle of advisors are pushing their own personal agendas rather than looking out for the interests of the Republican Party.

Who is left without a hearing problem or without self interest to snuggle up to Caesar's butt? All of his advisors are wheeled into 3rd Avenue by their nurses and all dislike him as he sits there licking his fingers like one who is demented. They are all phoneys.

How many times do people have to tell Caesar its time to go? He is a stubborn old man who needs to relize (sic) his time is up.

Ouch.  

Does Skelos Even Know Where He Is?

by: phillip anderson

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 10:41:50 AM EDT

New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says Chemung County is only slightly different from his native Nassau County.

Um, what? Let's look at the numbers, shall we?

Chemung County      Nassau County

Population: 91070        1,334,544
Towns:   11                 3
Villages:   5               64
School Districts: 3          56
Largest Town by pop: Horseheads, 19,561   Hempstead, 755,924
Median HH Income: $36,415     $72,030
Unemployment rate: 5.4%       4.3%

I mean, I could go on. Chemung county government is largely controlled by republicans, including their county leg, County Exec, Treasurer, District Attorney while Nassau County is largely controlled by Democrats including their county leg, County Exec, District Attorney, etc.

It would appear, on paper at least, that Chemung County isn't exactly "only slightly different" than Nassau County.

I think Dean may need more than few more of these "listening tours" upstate. It's obvious he knows next to nothing about the region.

SD-53: Skelos Thinks Democracy Is For Other People

by: phillip anderson

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 09:25:03 AM EDT

Skelos: Winner should be unopposed

The state Senate's new majority leader thinks state Sen. George H. Winner Jr., R-Elmira, is doing such a good job that he shouldn't be opposed for re-election.

"George is one of the best senators, best elected officials, I've ever met. Quite honestly in my opinion, it's a democracy, but he should be running unopposed with what he's doing for his community, for his district," state Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, said when he brought his upstate tour to Elmira on Wednesday.

...

"Our life is not exactly the way we want it, but I'm absolutely confident that George will be re-elected overwhelmingly because he's earned it," Skelos said. "He's earned it, and he's deserved it with all his years of positive representation in Albany."

Unfortunately for Winner and Skelos, this is actually a democracy and Senator Winner does indeed have an opponent, Elmira Mayor John Tonello. Needless to say, he rather strongly disagrees with Skelos' contempt for the democratic process.

"It's outrageous for someone like that to come into town on the pretense of a listening tour for how to help New York and suggest that there shouldn't be a democratic election," Tonello said.

"This process is always an uphill battle for people challenging incumbents because the system has been corrupted for so long."

Indeed. It's rather galling to think that the new head of a party that has lorded over the economic devastation of the upstate economy would come to upstate to tell them that their guy, a guy who spent most of the last year not so much working to educate their children or lower their property taxes or help pull their economy out of the abyss, but mercilessly pursuing Eliot Spitzer, is so freakin' awesome that there shouldn't even be an election.

Wow.

On the web: John Tonello for State Senate.

NY-21: Interview with Tracey Brooks

by: Soundpolitic

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 20:55:35 PM EDT

...in a torrential downpour, that is.  For those who aren't film buffs, rain symbolizes change.  Which is the big word in all 2008 elections.  This includes the 21st Congressional District of New York where Tracey Brooks is one of five Democrats seeking to replace a Democratic veteran of two decades.

In the interview below the fold, Tracey goes deeper into her life's story and experience than ever before, and faces questions that may be the closest any candidate in the race gets to Hardball.  Campaigns themselves can be an obstacle course, as can an interview, but as she says in the interview below:

"Never have I faced anything with an obstacle perspective, but rather a can-do, will-do, must-do perspective...just like we have approached this race."

NY-21: Brooks Signs Divided We Fail Pledge; Endorsed By EQualityGiving.Org

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 18:52:30 PM EDT

Also, Brooks was endorsed today by EQualityGiving.org. EQualityGiving is an "online donor community for LGBT equality."

More on the EQualityGiving endorsement:

Democratic Congressional Candidate Tracey Brooks today announced another progressive organization endorsement in the race to replace retiring Congressman Michael McNulty in New York's 21st Congressional District.  Brooks has been endorsed by eQualityGiving.org, a nation-wide strategic online giving resource for the LGBT community.

Brooks is considered one of eQualityGiving.org's ten highest priority candidates nationally and the highest priority among all New York Congressional races.  The organization's website states that "these candidates are pro-equality...and are in a competitive race. They are considered the highest priority for funding."

Several local active members of the LGBT community recommended Brooks for consideration. In their support letter, Libby Post, Hawk Stone and Michael Manganiello wrote: "Supporting Tracey Brooks for Congress is just the right thing to do. By electing Tracey, New York's 21st Congressional District -- which includes the state capitol of Albany -- we will get a Congresswoman who is smart, politically savvy and a staunch ally of the LGBT community."

"The endorsement from eQualityGiving.org not only demonstrates my strong and vocal support of LGBT issues but also my determination to stand up to the Republicans in Washington and ensure equality for everyone, whether we're talking about gender-inclusive employment and housing non-discrimination, marriage equality, LGBT family adoption rights or protecting LGBT people from hate crimes," said Brooks. "The support from local community friends like Libby, Hawk and Michael, along with this endorsement, is yet another sign that our campaign continues to gain momentum as I speak directly to the voters on issues important to them like ensuring equal rights, providing affordable health care for all, standing up for a woman's right to choose, ending the war in Iraq, and addressing skyrocketing gas prices."

Brooks has shown a true commitment to the LGBT community and to health care issues. Her pledge to Divided We Fail is important as is her endorsement by EQualityGiving.  

SD-3: More On That 'Undemocratic' And 'Underhanded' Petition Challenge

by: phillip anderson

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 17:11:17 PM EDT

Filing "General Objections" isn't all that uncommon. It happens all the time. Jimmy's surrogates did so, but never filed the specifics, either because they couldn't find sufficient objections or because they knew they couldn't win.

None of this is terribly exotic, but it is somewhat disingenuous to put out a release damning your opponent for engaging in activity that your own camp started. If it is "undemocratic" and "underhanded" for your opponent to do it, not to mention a "clear sign of desperation", why is the Dahroug campaign engaging it as well? Is it still "shady" when Dahroug does it?

Just sayin'.

SD-56: Meet Rick Dollinger

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 16:36:41 PM EDT

Dollinger's roots are in the Rochester area. He grew up in the Rochester area where his family has spent the last century, including his mother's family that have been around Rochester for well over a century. A graduate of McQuaid High School, Dollinger attended Saint Michael's College at the University of Toronto before graduating from Albany Law School in 1980. Dollinger has been practicing law ever since.

In 1992, Dollinger overcame a Democratic primary and then won in the general election to became a state senator. In 1994, he beat a former Democrat in what was then the most expensive race in upstate history. Then in 2002, Dollinger decided not to run again to return to the private sector as a lawyer. But the political itch would return.

He lost a bid to come a judge, but then later won election to become town justice in Brighton. In early February, Dollinger resigned from his post to focus on his race against Sen. Joe Robach.

When asked why he decided to run for Senate again, Dollinger's reply was quick and simple.

"New York wasn't getting any better," he said. "The Senate GOP did nothing while I was there and haven't done anything since I left. I decided that this was my chance to bring about real change."

Dollinger again stressed the point that his mother's family has been around the Rochester area for 100 years, a point that shows his passion and deep personal connection to the area. He said that with his candidacy and eventual victory over Robach, he wants to put Western New York back on the map.

"I have been in Albany but now [I] determined it was something I had to do," he said. "I was happy as a judge and private practice lawyer, but this is something I had to do."

During my interview with Dollinger, I asked him a range of questions about issues impacting New York and the 56th Senate District. It was a great interview and hopefully you will see the same thing I saw in my time with Dollinger. He is a very passionate candidate with the intelligence and guts it takes to make real change in Albany, not just this pseudo-change that candidates like to toss around just to appeal to voters.

For the rest of my interview with Rick Dollinger, come over the fold.

ON THE WEB:

Rick Dollinger's ActBlue Page

SD-3: On Petitions, Grass/Netroots Candidates & How The Game Is Played

by: phillip anderson

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 15:20:28 PM EDT

That said, I have also advised Jimmy Dahroug off and on for quite some time, never for pay.

Today, Jimmy Dahroug released a statement denouncing the challenge to his nominating petitions and calling the challenge an "act of desperation" from the campaign of Brian Foley.

Democratic State Senate Candidate Jimmy Dahroug responded to objections to his petetions by backers of Brian Foley (as reported in Newsday). "This is clearly an act of desperation by Foley's campaign. He failed to secure our party's nomination at the convention. Now Brian and his backers are nervous about facing me in a primary. So his backers are using underhanded and shady tactics to run away from a fair fight."

"Dahroug issued a direct challenge to Brian Foley: "I'm publicly calling on Brian Foley to stop the undemocratic and underhanded actions of his campaign backers. Brian called for a positive, high-minded race. If he truly is committed to the standard he set, he'll back up his words with action."

Dahroug's campaign filed 1,408 signatures with the Suffolk County Board of Elections, a cushion of over 40% more than the required number. This is about the same number of signatures the Dahroug campaign filed for in its successful 2006 primary race. All signatures were gathered at the homes of registered Democrats by trained Democratic committee members and volunteers. Not a single signature gatherer was paid.

Where to start? Is the challenge to Jimmy's petitions "undemocratic" and "underhanded?" That's a bit of stretch. Is democracy served by such challenges? Doubtful, but it is how the game is played here in New York, for better or worse. Anyone who didn't see this coming after Jimmy submitted a rather anemic 1,408 signatures needs to wake up. Everyone knows the rules and everyone knows that when you need 1,000 signatures, 1,400 just doesn't cut it. Not in this state, anyway.

Compare this performance with that of Don Barber. Playing by the same rules, Barber submitted over 2,600 signatures. Dan Squadron, who is running in a primary against probably the finest election lawyer in the whole state, collected over 8,000 signatures. That's how it's done. That's how one plays this game. There's just no way to challenge numbers like that. Someone like Jimmy, who is on his third run and has essentially been running for five years non stop, knows the rules, yet he still only managed 1,400 sigs. That's pretty sad to say the least.

Foley, who has been in the race only since the night of the Suffolk County Dem convention submitted 3,200 sigs. Yeah, he did pay petition carriers. This isn't an uncommon occurrence. It's great if you can gather a respectable number with an all volunteer effort. It shows some organizational competence as well as real support for your campaign. But, given that those volunteers collected only 1,400 signatures, perhaps Jimmy should have paid petition carriers as well. Just sayin'.

More on the flip...

NY-26: Support Jon Powers On Democracy For America

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 13:48:29 PM EDT

They also are, thanks to all of your votes and support, responsible for paying my way in Austin. Thanks to the DFA/Netroots Nation scholarship, I was able to attend Netroots Nation with my registration and hotel paid for. Next year, I hope to assist DFA in their efforts to get more scholarship winners to Pittsburgh.

There is one more person we need DFA to support and that is NY-26 Democratic candidate Jon Powers.

Powers fits the mold of what DFA is all about. DFA touts itself as a "grassroots powerhouse," which is the most appropriate label for the organization. Powers has received strong grassroots support throughout. It wasn't the large counties that got behind Powers at first, but rather the grassroots progressive Democrats in the smaller, rural counties that endorsed Powers and have supported him since last summer. Powers has a strong grassroots presence in this district. While other candidates have to pay "volunteers" and pay people to go out and get signatures, Powers' grassroots base when out and got those signatures for him. They also have been phone banking for several months and have been going door to door in the warm summer months and even in the cold, wintry Western New York weather in January.

More importantly, Powers has been out there with them. He hasn't sat back in his campaign office while his volunteers put in hours of work. He went out there and joined them. Whether it is putting on his pair of combat boots - the same ones that hit the sand in Iraq when Powers was on the ground there serving our country - or whether it was putting on a pair of snow boots, Powers has lived up to the grassroots message by going door to door himself and talking to voters, listening to their concerns.

One thing Powers told me was that he is and will continue to walk door to door five nights a week. As June O'Neill, our state party chair, once told us in Orleans County, you need to put holes in the soles of your shoes. That is one of the biggest traits a grassroots candidate can have. Powers has lived up to that.

In order to get endorsed by DFA, Jon needs our help. So far, his endorsement page has 33 supporters. Let's try to double that number today. Once you support Jon, tell your DFA friends and spread the word about Jon. Jon has earned plenty of support in Western New York. Let's help get DFA behind Jon and recognize Jon for his true commitment to running a grassroots campaign in the 26th congressional district.

ON THE WEB:

Voice your support for Jon on DFA

NY-21: Brooks Backed By WAND

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 12:07:27 PM EDT

Previously, Brooks has been endorsed by the National Organization of Women PAC, the Women's Campaign Forum and EMILY's List.

"WAND PAC is pleased to endorse Tracey Brooks because her commitment to stand up to the Bush Administration policies, redirect our national priorities away from excessive Pentagon spending and toward investment in human and environmental needs is the kind of leadership the Congress needs to make this nation truly secure," said Karen Jacob, Chair, WAND Inc. Board. "WAND PAC wants to change the face of Congress and bring a progressive view to foreign policy, and we look forward to Tracey Brooks joining the ranks of the 41 women already in Congress who we have supported."

"WAND PAC's endorsement is another example of our campaign's growing momentum and affirmation that our progressive message of change and new priorities is clearly resonating," said Brooks. "I'm running for Congress to end the war in Iraq , bring our troops home, and invest that $12 billion a month back into our communities, to provide affordable health care for all, and protect a woman's right to choose."

...

Brooks has been endorsed by EMILY's List, the nation's largest political action committee and financial resource for women running for elected office; the National Organization for Women (NOW) PAC, the largest and most comprehensive feminist advocacy organization in the United States; Women Under Forty Political Action Committee (WUFPAC), a nonpartisan political action committee that supports women forty years of age and under running for federal public office; and the Women's Campaign Forum (WCF), non-partisan pro-choice, national membership organization dedicated to ensuring women become leaders in public life.

Brooks has received a lot of support for her campaign from women's organizations. Receiving the backing of EMILY's List and other groups is a great catalyst for her campaign.

SD-62: Grear Receives Authorization To Run On Democratic Line

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 11:26:35 AM EDT

Brian Grear received authorization from the Democratic committees in three counties to run as their candidate for state Senate, 62nd district.

Grear, a registered Republican, said Tuesday he'll be the Democratic candidate in Niagara, Orleans and Monroe counties and is thus guaranteed a ballot line past the Sept. 9 Republican primary election, in which he's challenging incumbent state Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, for the party line.

...

Grear said he appreciates the Democrats' backing.

"This endorsement of my campaign by local Democrats - who have reached across the aisle and endorsed me - shows that upstate New York is ready for strong, independent leadership," he said.

Grear, a Cambria resident, is an 18-year veteran of Niagara County Sheriff's Department and a small business owner. He ran for sheriff in 2006.

Maziarz will win this race, but it amazes me how much drama and shifting of the chairs there has been for this race.

As a resident of the district, I will not be voting for anyone in this race. I wish I had an option, even a minor party option. But there is nothing of the sort.

Brian Grear has the Democratic line. All because of his disdain for Maziarz over the sheriff debacle.