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Batavia, NY: Michele Iannello (D-Kenmore), Democratic candidate for New York's 61st State Senate District, sat down with me at Main Street Coffee for over an hour today to talk openly about the issues.
We began our conversation with a brief family background:
TAP: Tell our readers a bit about your background.
MI: I am the oldest of three kids. I have two brothers and I grew up in a normal family. My father was a truck driver and he had a second job of doing house repairs and carpentry to give us the extras in life, like sending me to dancing school. I danced from age three until sixteen. My mom was a stay-at-home mom until we were older, when she became a bookkeeper. She is now retired from an auto parts store. I grew up in Buffalo until 8th grade and then Tonawanda. (She is married with one son.)
TAP: What is the number one issue for you?
MI: Decreasing taxes and reducing spending in Albany so that businesses want to come here and create jobs. I will propose the same five steps for change I did with two colleagues in the Legislature: transparency, accountability, best practices, term limits in the legislature and ethics reform.
TAP: Why should voters choose you over your primary opponent?
MI: Experience. I've been to over 120 districts and talked to over 1,700 voters. I have a rounded background of fighting for change. I will defend the middle class, that's who I am...being a single parent working two jobs, watching my father working and taking care of my mom, trying to find her a place to stay. My mom was stricken with encephalitis in 1996. I know what it means to go without health care. I've had to face that possibility after going through a divorce were it not for my parents. That's why I want to change the state policy on divorce and health care coverage, to allow ex-spouses to be on their exes' insurance policy for 2-3 years. (Iannello pointed out that this issue primarily faces women but that men would also be eligible.)
TAP: What is the status of the Steve Pigeon investigation?
MI: I'm still calling for the investigation. I want to make sure there's no funding of money through other areas, no laws broken.
TAP: Your thoughts on the Medicaid crisis?
MI: When I discuss decreasing costs of Medicaid I emphasize Medicaid fraud. We have $4.5 billion in Medicaid fraud. I also want to decrease the amount of money the state is borrowing. *Correction: New York is paying 6 billion in debt service (interest) this year on the money it has borrowed. I'd also add residency requirements for Medicaid.
TAP: How long?
MI: 3-6 months. In addition, I'd like to see health care for all on a sliding scale. Here in New York we need to take our own steps.
TAP: How would you answer Republican claims of becoming more of a 'nanny state'?
MI: I obviously don't see eye to eye on Republican ideologies except to be fiscally responsible. I've never voted for a tax increase. I'd rather see changes in the way we do business to make a difference rather than raise taxes.
I'm a community-driven legislator. I started in the 10th District. We have a focus group that meets monthly, which includes not-for-profits, community organizations, school boards, environmental groups. I have short-term and long-term goals on how to improve my district and I'd like to expand this to the 61st Senate District.
TAP: Why leave your current position?
MI: Eighty-eight percent of the county budget is mandated by the state. Albany is the real problem.
TAP: So you've always wanted to serve?
MI: I've always been a caring person. I babysat at a young age and I was very close to my grandmother. Her friends were close to me as well and so seniors have always been close in my life.
Iannello also pointed out that she has voted 'no' for every one of the patronage raises.
TAP: What about bipartisanship?
MI: I'm not afraid to reach over the aisle to get things done. I think cooperation is the best way to get things done and serve the public.
TAP: What about Tom Golisano's place in this race?
MI: I'm a real Democrat who has Democratic philosophies with a proven track record. What philosophy does a Republican billionaire have in common with my opponent?
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