Jonathan Smith, Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate for Assembly in the 102nd District today received the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy is the son of the former New York Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy and is an environmental lawyer, a professor at Pace University and President of the environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance.
Kennedy said he is "enthusiastically" endorsing Smith, "because he is running a campaign that focuses on creating jobs and reducing New York's reliance on foreign oil through new green energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal." He added, "Jonathan is the type of leader we need in this state. [He] has real solutions to the serious problems facing our state."
Smith stated, "I am extremely grateful for Robert Kennedy's support. Robert has been an extraordinary leader on protecting the environment and his endorsement is an honor. I look forward to working with Robert to protect the Hudson River and promote clean and renewable sources of energy."
Smith also announced that he has been endorsed by Citizen Action of New York. Citizen Action is dedicated to reforming New York government, creating universal healthcare and ensuring every child receives quality education.
"Citizen Action has been crucial in fighting for clean elections and healthcare for all New Yorkers and I look forward to fighting along side them in Albany on these issues," Smith said.
"Citizen Action is proud to throw its support behind Jonathan Smith and join the growing number of organizations that are endorsing him for the 102nd Assembly seat," said Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero, Citizen Action of the Hudson Valley. "He is a strong fighter for working families. Whether the issue is health care, education funding or clean elections, Jonathan Smith is on the right side, the side of hard-working New Yorkers. We have 20,000 members in our grassroots organization, and they will rally behind Jonathan in this battle."
Those are two very impressive endorsements for Smith. Getting RFK Jr. to back you is a great accomplishment and also getting Citizen Action to back you means a lot. Citizen Action is a great advocate for progressive causes so an endorsement for Smith is significant.
The Smith for Assembly campaign also has created an ActBlue page for Smith. Give a few bucks to Jonathan if you can.
Here is the video from the Smith campaign announcing this plan:
I interviewed Smith to talk about his campaign and specifically his new energy plan. You can also read Smith's speech from today below the fold.
QUESTION: How is the campaign going thus far?
SMITH: Extremely well. We are out there everyday, meeting voters by phone or at their doors. We had a very strong fundraising month in July - we raised close to $9000 and I don't know if you heard but we were endorsed by the Communications Workers of America District One and Local 1120. I am so proud of the momentum and grassroots interest that our campaign has generated.
Q: How are we going to create jobs while promoting this new energy economy?
SMITH: We have a tremendous opportunity in New York to harness the potential that these new industries offer. Since 2000, over 200,000 manufacturing jobs have left our state. These quality jobs are being replaced by service sector jobs that offer no security and long term benefits. We need to revitalize our manufacturing base and the new energy economy is how we will do it. We will incentivize companies to come to our region and build factories for wind turbines, solar (PV) panels and geothermal components. Not only will these new industries create jobs in our region but will bring a new revenue stream to our local economies.
Q: How would the property tax issue affect this? Would we need property tax reform before going forward with this?
SMITH: Property tax reform is one of the most important issues facing our state right now and I am committed to the "circuit breaker" and "millionaire's tax." The new energy economy will ease property tax burdens by building the tax base. We can move forward with this opportunity immediately.
The rest of the interview plus Smith's speech from today can be read over the fold.
Joel Miller and Gary Levine scrambled in an effort to get Jonathan Smith off the ballot.
Surrogates of each campaign issued challenges to Jonathan Smith's petitions yesterday. Only 500 signatures were required and in a stunning show of strength, nearly 70 volunteers carried petitions and collected over 1300 signatures in support of the endorsed Democratic and Working Families Party candidate in the 102nd Assembly District. Miller is notorious for challenging the will of the voters and trying to silence critics or challengers.
Jonathan Smith stated, "Mr. Miller must be seriously worried that our campaign is going to ask why he has done nothing to ease the crushing burden of the broken property tax system in New York?"
"Why has he voted "no" on ensuring pay equity for women?"
"Why hasn't he put forward any plan to revitalize our local economy?"
"Why does he oppose providing healthcare to all New Yorkers?"
Smith continued, "We want to have a serious discussion about how to make our community better, while Joel Miller wants to hide from his record."
Campaign Manager Jonathan Wright added, "This is another example of Joel Miller's and Gary Levine's contempt for the democratic process. We have knocked on over 2500 doors and made more than 1000 phone calls to spread our positive message of providing universal healthcare, fixing the broken property tax system and creating jobs through the new energy economy. It is not surprising that Levine, who until last year was a lifelong Republican, would also stoop to these litigious tactics - neither Miller nor Levine are focused on the issues that are affecting our communities."
There are a few reasons why I despise the petition process. This is one of them. Just the challenge itself makes it seem like Smith has done something wrong. We shouldn't be treating candidates like criminals and investigate their signatures. Let the Board of Elections take care of that. The candidates shouldn't be allowed to make challenges based on partisan differences.
More petition news, this time out of the 102nd Assembly District. Democratic candidate Jonathan Smith had 70 volunteers get 1,340 signatures for him to appear on the ballot.
From the Smith campaign press release:
In an overwhelming show of strength, Jonathan Smith, Democratic candidate for Assembly in the 102nd District, today submitted over 1300 signatures to secure him a place on the ballot for the Democratic Primary. Only 500 signatures were required. As an indication of the growing grassroots support for the campaign, almost 70 supporters carried petitions for Smith.
Smith stated, "I am extremely grateful for the amazing work done by the supporters of this campaign. This sends a clear signal that the residents of the 102nd District want real solutions to the challenges of inadequate healthcare, the high price of gas, and the unfair property tax system." He continued, "With all of us working together we will accomplish great things for our community."
David Eberle, who carried petitions for Jonathan Smith said, "As I went collecting signatures for Jonathan, the response from residents was overwhelmingly positive. Most of the people I spoke agree that we need to change how our dysfunctional government operates in Albany."
The petitioning process began June 3rd and lasted until July 10th. Smith submitted petitions to be on the ballot for the Democratic primary which will be held on September 9th and as the nominee of the Working Families Party in the general election, which takes place on November 4th.
We should be hearing a lot more about petitions over the next couple of days.
Smith is a lifelong Democrat who will give Miller a tough challenge. In the year where we are looking to take back the New York State Senate, these close Assembly races can be overlooked. Smith gives us a reason not to ignore the race in AD-102.
I talked with Smith today and he is a very impressive, progressive candidate. I interviewed him and asked him questions on pressing issues like property tax reform, campaign finance reform and health care.
QUESTION: Why did you decide to run in the 102nd?
JONATHAN SMITH: Because this is my home and we are in great need of new representation in Albany. I do not feel that we are being well represented by the incumbent and we face very real challenges that need to be addressed.
Q: Who are you as a person and a candidate?
SMITH: I am a grassroots community organizer. I work to create change by bringing people together. I believe that what we cannot do alone, we can do together and that has become the central focus of my life. This campaign is about giving people the voice to facilitate real and meaningful change.
Q: How will your experiences as a grassroots community organizer help you as an assemblyman?
SMITH: Some of the most difficult problems we face are going to require a coalition of support in order to effect movement or shift policy. As an organizer, I know how to mobilize large groups of people to get involved in the issues that matter to them. This state has a wide range of issues and in order to get real policy proposals passed through the gridlock of Albany, it will require someone who can galvanize support.
(You can read the rest of the interview in the extended entry.)
Smith is a lifelong Democrat who will give Miller a tough challenge. In the year where we are looking to take back the New York State Senate, these close Assembly races can be overlooked. Smith gives us a reason not to ignore the race in AD-102.
