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Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 23:13:24 PM EDT
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Democratic and Republican Candidates for Congress Face-Off In Public Forum
On Columbus Day, Democrat Paul Tonko and Republican Jim Buhrmaster met at the Dean Alexander Moot Court Room at Albany Law School for one of their only debates open to the public. The seats in the lecture hall were about half full, and the Albany Law Schools College Democrats and College Republicans both sponsored the debate.
Local radio personality Al Roney of 810WGY moderated the debate for an hour's worth of questions he posed to the candidates after Tonko and Buhrmaster were allowed to make opening statements. Following this, representatives from the College Democrats and College Republicans asked the candidates questions posed from the audience, which is where the fireworks have always come in the debates to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) since this campaign was in Primary mode.
Now that the 21st and the entire nation is in full General Election mode, jump below the fold to see what each candidates' answer to each question was...in detail that is nowhere to be found in the local media.
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Mon Sep 22, 2008 at 16:28:00 PM EDT
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On a chilly and blustery afternoon nearly two weeks out from a historic primary to replace retiring Congressman Mike McNulty (D-Green Island), Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings welcomed an array of elected officials, campaign staffers, union members, and regular Democrats like myself to a Unity Rally to support Paul Tonko, Democratic nominee for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District.
It was the closing moment of a long, hard-fought primary in which five Democrats, including Tracey Brooks, Phil Steck, Darius Shahinfar, and Joe Sullivan (who did not attend) emerged with fewer votes than Paul Tonko, a 23-year veteran of the New York State Assembly and former President and CEO of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority. Tonko won the primary on Tuesday, Sept 9, with 39% of the vote, a full nine points ahead of his nearest rival.
Cameras were there, alright, but noon-time news reports gave only a few seconds of coverage to the rally. My tape recorder was running the entire time, and below the fold is full coverage of the unity rally for any Democrat who was unable to attend.
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Wed Aug 20, 2008 at 22:36:23 PM EDT
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I first met Paul Tonko outside the first candidate's forum in late March, shortly before he announced his candidacy for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District. I was hanging out after the debate had ended, determined to not only get back on the blogs to cover the event unlike any mainstream media outlet, but also because I'd had a crazy idea: why not set up some extensive interviews with the candidates as well?
For a college student wearing long hair, a scruffy beard, and a Bob Marley tee-shirt, I can see where the candidates might have seen me as going out on a limb. After I asked Paul Tonko, a 20-plus-year veteran of the Assembly who's name is synonymous with the politics of the Capital Region, I wondered myself just what I'd gotten myself into.
Three months later, I was on the lookout for Paul again, and were it not for his distinctive baldness in the August sun, I wouldn't have seen him sitting at the sidewalk café at the Muddy Cup in Albany. As this series progress and the primary campaign in the 21st has developed, I find it's really the candidates going on a limb, taking time out of a very busy, competitive schedule to meet with a lowly blogger.
Paul Tonko was no exception. Even though I am also a volunteer for one of his opponents, he still sat down with me to go into depth about his experience, his early life, and address some tougher questions below the fold. What Paul Tonko is doing right now is running for Congress, and I'm publishing a blog about it. His advice for what you are doing (reading it) is:
"Whatever you do, whether it's fixing a sink or performing surgery, or as a volunteer or in a career endeavor, do it with passion."
--Paul Tonko, Democratic Candidate for Congress, NY-21
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Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 20:55:35 PM EDT
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(Great interview. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Columbia Street in Albany is one of those modern marvels of urban transportation. It's one of those streets that becomes a one way street in one direction and then in a different one. And a different one. I was wondering how I was to find Congressional candidate Tracey Brooks's campaign headquarters...
...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."
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Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 21:43:20 PM EDT
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( - promoted by phillip anderson)
Democrats Tracey Brooks, Darius Shahinfar, Phil Steck, Joseph Sullivan, and Paul Tonko joined by Republicans Jim Buhrmaster and Steven Vasquez at Albany Forum
Yesterday night, the Albany Jewish Community Center and NORC hosted a forum featuring all seven candidates vying for both major party lines in an open Congressional race to fill the vacancy that will be left when Rep. Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) retires. It was the first debate held after the filing of nominating petitions, so all seven candidates will be appearing on the ballot for the September 9th primary.
"I am not the League of Women Voters!" the hostess pointed out at the beginning of the forum, before asking the first question of all the candidates: would they all sign a civility pledge as drawn up by the League? The response was unanimous in the affirmative, and the candidates kept to that pledge for the entirety of the debate.
Below the fold, you get the candidates opening and closing statements and their answers to six questions submitted from the audience.
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Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 21:01:03 PM EDT
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The Albany Times Union yesterday debuted the first article in a series chronicling the growth of the Capital Region's suburbs in the last half century and the effect it is having on the present day. Yesterday's cover story gives the editorial introduction, and today's page prints comments from the TU's blog.
Now, with the price of gas above $4 a gallon, some wonder if the Capital Region, and the rest of the country, is at a crossroads. Can the growth of suburbia continue? Can the region maintain its high quality of life if existing trends continue? Will fuel become so pricey people can no longer afford commutes from the outlying suburbs?
As I read the article and the comments, I couldn't help but notice that these questions have great relevance to the Democratic primary for Congress in the 21st district. Indeed, some are exactly the same questions being asked of the four Democrats running for the seat.
Complete analysis below the fold...
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Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 21:05:00 PM EDT
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(Very, very cool. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Back when I met Darius Shahinfar, candidate for Congress in New York's 21st District, he was in the thick of the quest for petitions to get his name on the ballot with as many as eight other Democrats. Just this week, he became the first candidate to file enough petitions to make sure his name will be there...and spelled right.
When I met him at the Tea & Tap Room in Albany, he greeted me with an anecdote about this story, which joked that, if elected, his name would mess up all the Congressional spell-checkers. The unusual name is of Iranian origin, as Darius is a first-generation Iranian-American, named after one of the great emperors of ancient Persia.
But while he recalled this story with a sense of humor over introductions, he introduced his campaign to with a sense of confidence over coffee. The race in the 21st shrank with the turning in of petitions, and he now has only three opponents. Something he said during the course of the interview, however, indicated that he didn't see things quite that way:
"I'm not running against Paul Tonko, I'm not running against Phil, I'm not running against Tracey...I'm running for Congress." Shahinfar said as part of the interview below the fold...
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Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 23:14:59 PM EDT
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Now that the big Democratic primary for President is over with Hillary Clinton suspending her campaign this weekend, it's time to turn our primary-attention to races for Congress and state houses. First question on the list: how does Hillary's exit and Barack Obama's triumph affect the many Democratic primaries that are still ongoing?
In New York's 21st Congressional District, the question has greater weight: candidate Tracey Brooks, the only woman in a field of eight other men seeking retiring Representative Mike McNulty's seat, has made the fact that she served as an aide to Senator Clinton a centerpiece of her campaign.
It remains unclear how much help Clinton can provide Brooks in a primary, though. Some observers wonder whether the former first lady will be spending the next several months in New York helping local candidates, or in battleground states she won in the primary, such as Pennsylvania or Ohio, supporting Obama.
So does Hillary's exit help or hurt the Congressional hopeful from Albany? The Times Union considered this question just before Clinton's exit: Feel free to join the discussion below the fold.
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Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 08:11:30 AM EDT
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You know those strobe lights that go off during fire alarms? They help to alert the deaf to the emergency. One of the of the New York State laws that required this new safety measure. Craig Burridge, now a candidate for Congress in the crowded field to fill a Democratic vacancy after Mike McNulty retires, has a framed copy of the signed law he worked on in the New York State Senate on the wall of his office.
His office right now is Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, and he is now making his first run for elected office in a race against seven other Democrats. In the first of a series, I interviewed Mr. Burridge last week to get a better idea of who the candidate is.
Most of the attention on the 21st, in the mainstream and on the netroots, has been on "front-runners" Tracey Brooks, Phil Steck, and Paul Tonko. Yet put eight Democrats together, and you're bound for a wealth of talent. And as far as discounting any of them as "low-tier", goes Mr. Burridge himself had some choice words to answer:
"Discount me at your own risk." said Craig Burridge in the interview below the fold.
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Thu May 29, 2008 at 23:33:29 PM EDT
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The recent endorsement of Congressional candidate Phil Steck by the Albany County Democratic Committee has recieved much coverage in the local mainstream press as a "controversy" for about a week now. Here on the netroots, there was much debate about the impact of the county's endorsement; the county is home to 55% of the voters in Congressman McNulty's district, and the endorsement was made from amongst a field of eight Democrats seeking to replace him after his retirement.
After a week, Metroland, the district's independent newsaper finally hit the nail on the head and interviewed the endorsed candidate himself extensively:
The Powers That Were
Phil Steck thwarts old guard and secures the Albany County Democratic Committee endorsement for U.S. representative in the 21st District
All it took was a cue from Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, said Albany County Legislator Phil Steck, and the room began to clear out-a remaining vestige of the power the mayor once exerted over the Albany County Democratic Committee. Except this time, the mayor's sway wouldn't prove strong enough.
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Wed May 28, 2008 at 13:43:18 PM EDT
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( - promoted by phillip anderson)
Twenty-five years ago today, the longest-tenured Mayor in American history, Erastus Corning 2nd, died. First elected in 1941 and one half of the last political machine in the country (the Corning-O'Connel machine outlasted even the Daley family's organization in Chicago), Erastus Corning's footprint on Albany county politics continues to quitely influence recent developments in a packed and heated primary in New York's 21st Congressional District.
How the past relates to the present below the fold...
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Mon May 26, 2008 at 14:45:13 PM EDT
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Today, we all take a moment to remember those who died keeping America free. Time spent at a small town parade with friends and family is the best way to commemorate the brave who sacrificed everything so we could enjoy this sunny afternoon.
And in Congressional campaigns across the country, candidates are releasing statements that both honor the fallen and remind any voters within earshot that they are running. Eight Democrats are vying to win a primary in New York's 21st Congressional District. Two candidates, Phil Steck and Paul Tonko, have released statements with regards to remembering Memorial Day.
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Fri May 23, 2008 at 16:28:04 PM EDT
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The past couple of days have rocketed the packed Democratic Primary for Congress in NY-21 into the limeight. Yesterday saw a flurry of campaign movement over the Albany County Democratic Committee's endorsement of Phil Steck over Tracey Brooks and Paul Tonko after hundreds of commitee members walked out.
As the Times Union reports today, this is still making headlines in a race that has now heated up to become one of the most hotly contested Democratic races in the country. Just days after the announcement of local superstar Paul Tonko and months into a media bias towards establishment-backed Tracey Brooks, Phil Steck has successfully swung the momentum of the race in his favor with a decisive victory.
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Thu May 22, 2008 at 11:09:39 AM EDT
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(Lots of good info from the district here. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Steck's Response to Tonko's Announcement Questions Ability To Bring Change
Albany County Democratic Committee Endorses Phil Steck over Tonko, Brooks
Tonko Supported By A Wealth of Local Officials, Formerly Rumored Candidates
It was only two days ago that former Assemblyman and NYSERDA President Paul Tonko made his campaign for Congress official after months of speculation. It was a few weeks ago that seven of eight Democratic candidates were screened by the Albany County Democratic Committee for their endorsement.
At these two events, and at last week's eight-way debate, Paul Tonko made his argument that he could "hit the ground running" in Congress and on the campaign trail. Yet Phil Steck's strongly-worded resopnse to Tonko's announcement made it clear the primary will be a marathon. The Steck campaign appears to confirm this today by winning the endorsement of the Albany County Democratic Committee.
This all gives the impression of a crowded field slowly evolving into a two-man race between a candidate of inevitablity and an upstart progressive's grassroots efforts catching up to them. Yet Paul Tonko will be offering Phil Steck a strong challenge and brings the early stage of the campaign full circle with his overwhelming support from officials who themselves faced heavy rumors that they would seek retiring Representative Mike McNulty's seat.
The full story below the fold...
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Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:39:46 AM EDT
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(This primary is going to be an interesting one. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Longtime Former Assemblyman, Recently Resigned Spitzer Appointee Finally Makes Things Official, Also Scores Early Endorsement
Cross-posted on DailyKos.
When Mike McNulty (D, NY-21) annouced his intentions to retire from Congress after 20 years of service, Paul Tonko's name was instantly tossed about in print and on airwaves as a possible successor. Several other Capital Region career-politicians had similar rumours circulating this winter, yet Paul Tonko was the only one who neither confirmed nor denied the halo surrounding the possibility of his candidacy.
Today, Paul Tonko will officially annouce that, yes, he is running for Congress. He will do so tonight at the Albany Labor Temple at 5:30. In doing so, he joins seven other Democrats who have already officially annouced their candidacy, and with whom he debated with a week ago while still an unofficial candidate.
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Thu May 15, 2008 at 22:18:29 PM EDT
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Last night, eight candidates to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) met at the SEIU 1199 headquarters in downtown Albany, hosted by Democracy fro the Hudson Mowhawk Region and the RFK Democrats. According to the Times Union about 150 people were in attendance, packing the house to hear John Aretakis, Tracey Brooks, Craig Burridge, Lester Freeman, Darius Shahinfar, Phil Steck, Paul Tonko, and Arthur Welser make their way through introductions, general questions, a "lightning round", and closing arguments.
I was lucky to be one of those 150 people in the audience, and was taking notes. Below the fold is the summary of all the questions from all the candidates that you won't find anywhere else...
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Thu May 15, 2008 at 14:46:21 PM EDT
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The same farm bill that Governor David Paterson and Senator Chuck Schumer held a town hall meeting on earlier this week has passed Congress and will be sent to the president with a veto-proof majority.
The House vote was 318 to 106 and the Senate vote was 81 to 15 to pass what many have called the best farm bill in years.
Reuters has highlights of the bill and what this will mean for farmers in the U.S. Here are some of the key points I picked out of the $289 billion bill.
Increases public nutrition programs by $10.3 billion over 10 years, including $7.9 billion for food stamps, $1.25 billion for donations to food banks through The Emergency Food Assistance Program and $1.05 billion for a fresh fruit and vegetable school-snack program.
Denies all supports to people with more than $500,000 adjusted gross income and denies "direct" payments to people with more than $750,000 in farm income. People with more than $1 million AGI not eligible for land stewardship payments unless two-thirds of income is from farming; waivers allowed.
Creates standby $3.8 billion disaster relief fund for farmers and ranchers.
Provides additional $2.4 billion for Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which shares the cost of controlling runoff from fields and feedlots.
Cuts the tax credit for corn-based ethanol by 6 cents to 45 cents a gallon beginning in 2009; creates $1.01 a gallon credit for cellulosic ethanol through 2012; and extends the 54-cent import tariff on ethanol through 2010.
Provides $320 million in loan guarantees for construction of commercial-size plants producing advanced biofuels, such as ethanol, from cellulose.
Provides $300 million in mandatory funding for payments to support production of advanced biofuels including cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel.
Expands Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by $466 million over 10 years to aid promotion, research, marketing and exports of fruits, vegetables, nuts and nursery crops.
This is an important farm bill and I'm happy to see that if President Bush vetoes this, the House AND Senate have enough votes to override that veto. This is a key piece of legislation and will improve agriculture throughout the country and especially here in New York.
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Wed May 14, 2008 at 15:19:59 PM EDT
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(Great stuff here. I hope we'll get some reports from the debate itself. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Dems Prepare for First Big Debate
Steck Campaign Reports Movement Leading Up To Debate
Tonko Liabilities Begin to Emerge Even Before Official Announcement
Brooks-Hillary Similarities Add Up At Gas Pump
A whopping eight Democrats will make their case tonight that they are the most qualified to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty at the first official primary debate of the season.
It is sure to be closely watched and dominate the news on the campaign from this point forward. But what's been happening in the lead-up to this event should not be missed.
There's more below the flip...
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Wed May 14, 2008 at 09:48:07 AM EDT
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The House of Representatives, like their Senate counterparts yesterday, voted to suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until oil drops below $75 a barrel.
Only 25 Republicans voted against the measure (all of New York's Republicans voted in favor of the bill) and it passed the House with a veto-proof majority.
H.R. 6022 is also known as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008. The text of the legislation reads as follows:
(a) In General- Except as provided in subsection (b) and notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2008--
(1) the Secretary of the Interior shall suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through the royalty-in-kind program; and
(2) the Secretary of Energy shall suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through any acquisition method.
(b) Resumption in Calendar Year 2008- During the period specified in subsection (a) but not earlier than 30 days after the date on which the President notifies Congress that the President has determined that the weighted average price of petroleum in the United States for the most recent 90-day period is $75 or less per barrel--
(1) the Secretary of the Interior may resume acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through the royalty-in-kind program; and
(2) the Secretary of Energy may resume acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through any acquisition method.
(c) Existing Contracts-
(1) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CONTRACTS- In the case of any royalty-in-kind oil scheduled to be delivered to the Department of Energy for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve pursuant to a contract entered into by the Secretary of Interior prior to, and in effect on, the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall accept delivery of such oil.
(2) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CONTRACTS- In the case of any oil scheduled to be delivered to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve pursuant to a contract entered into by the Secretary of Energy prior to, and in effect on, the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, negotiate a deferral of the delivery of the oil in accordance with procedures of the Department of Energy in effect on the date of enactment of this Act for deferrals of oil.
The SPR is almost full to capacity, so we can afford to do this. The overwhelming support for it is what surprised me. In the Senate, only one senator voted against this and in the House, only 25 representatives voted against it. Of course, all were Republicans.
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Sat May 03, 2008 at 13:19:58 PM EDT
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(More from the 21st. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Democratic candidate for Congress Phil Steck, running amongst six other announced candidates to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty (D, NY-21) opened his campaign headquarters Thursday.
Yet you wouldn't know this if you relied on the local mainstream media of New York's Capital Region. No news cameras were at the press conference called by the Democratic candidate who has raised the most money and recieved by far the most endorsements for his campaign for change.
But they did cover a phone call they made themselves to a longtime rumored candidate who still has yet to announce. Only local public radio had the good judgment to show up and cover the event.
There's more to the full story.
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