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This election guide was prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Syracuse Metropolitan area, which mailed a printed questionnaire to all the candidates, who were asked to keep their responses to 75 words or less. The league is a nonpartisan organization devoted to the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The league neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties.
The league is grateful to the Syracuse New Times for publication of this guide. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To vote, you must be registered with the Onondaga County Board of Elections. For more information on polling locations, call the Board of Elections at 435-3312 or the League of Women Voters at 422-9797.
The following candidates and proposals appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Ballot Proposal
One ballot proposal will appear on the 2008 election ballot.
Amendment to Article 5, Section 6, of the Constitution of the United States, in relation to additional civil service credit for members of the armed forces of the United States.
The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement that veterans who were disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war be receiving disability payments from the U.S. Veterans Administration in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination for appointment or promotion. Under the proposed amendment, the disability must only be certified to exist by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The proposed amendment would also update the reference to the “United States Veterans Administration” to instead refer to the “United States Department of Veterans Affairs” to reflect current federal government structure. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
Pro: There is a long history (indeed since the Civil War) of veterans, particularly disabled veterans, being afforded preferential treatment in qualifying for and being retrained for positions in the civilian world. Preferential treatment is a recognition of veterans’ sacrifice and service to our country and also serves to make military service more attractive. Voting against this amendment will continue the status quo, which makes it harder for disabled veterans to qualify for additional points on civil service examinations. This in turn makes it harder for them to be appointed or promoted to positions in the civil service.
Con: The League can identify no arguments against this proposal.
President of the United States
Barack Obama
Democratic, Working Families
Vice Presidential Nominee: Joseph Biden (U.S. senator from Delaware)
Occupation: U.S. senator from Illinois; Illinois state senator; constitutional law professor; civil rights lawyer
Education: Columbia University; Harvard University Law School
Health care stance: Obama will sign universal health legislation by the end of his first term, ensuring all Americans have high-quality, affordable coverage. His plan will save a typical American family up to $2,500 annually; modernize our health care system to contain costs and improve quality; and promote prevention and public health.
Iraq and the Middle East stance: Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. He will end it by withdrawing our combat troops over 16 months, calling a new constitutional convention and urging Iraq’s neighbors to work toward stability. Obama seeks a two-state solution: Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.
John McCain
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Vice Presidential Nominee: Sarah Palin (governor of Alaska)
Occupation: U.S. senator from Arizona; U.S. representative from Arizona; Naval liaison to U.S. Senate; Naval aviator
Education: U.S. Naval Academy
Health care stance: The problem with American health care is not one of quality, but one of cost. I have proposed a health care plan that addresses the escalating cost of health care to ensure more American families can afford access to the finest health care system in the world.
Iraq and the Middle East stance: Two generations of Americans have fought wars in Iraq; we cannot condemn a third to the same fate by letting that country become a failed state in which we must again intervene. Anchoring Iraq in a stable, prosperous region must be the purpose of American strategy in the Middle East.
Roger Calero
Socialist Workers
Vice Presidential Nominee: Alyson Kennedy (garment worker)
Occupation: Writer and activist; former meat packer
Health care stance: The federal government must guarantee lifetime medical care and retirement pensions for all. No cuts in Social Security, Medicare or workers compensation payments.
Iraq and the Middle East stance: In a bipartisan effort, the war makers in Washington are using the military and political gains they have registered in Iraq since mid-2007 to extend the deployment of U.S. troops there and expand and deepen their aggression in Afghanistan. In contrast to both Democrats and Republicans, the Socialist Workers’ campaign demands immediate, unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. and coalition troops from both countries, and everywhere else U.S. forces are stationed.
Gloria LaRiva
Socialism and Liberation
Vice Presidential Nominee: Eugene Puryear (anti-war and social justice organizer)
Occupation: Worker/human rights activist; union organizer
Education: Attended Brandeis University
Health care stance: The La Riva/Puryear campaign believes that quality health care must be free and available to all people. Capitalist insurance companies and providers must be dismantled and replaced with publicly owned entities that provide health care for all.
Iraq and Middle East stance: We stand for the immediate removal of all U.S. and foreign forces from Iraq. All U.S. bases and the gigantic U.S. embassy in Baghdad should be shut down immediately. Reparations should be paid to the Iraqi people for the vast destruction inflicted on their land by the launching of an unprovoked war of aggression.
Cynthia McKinney
Green
Vice Presidential Nominee: Rosa Clemente (journalist and activist)
Occupation: U.S. representative from Georgia; Georgia House of Representatives; Atlanta HIV Heath Services Council; college professor
Education: University of Southern California; MA, Tufts University
Health care stance: The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world without a national health care system. The current system’s high costs and widely recognized failures demand that bold steps be taken. The Green Party supports a universal, comprehensive, national single-payer health insurance program as the only solution to the current disastrous for-profit system.
Iraq and Middle East stance: Our government does not have the right to justify pre-emptive invasion of another country on the grounds that the other country harbors, trains, equips and funds a terrorist cell. Our commitments compel us to oppose U.S. government support for “friendly” regimes, both in Israel and in the Arab world, whenever those regimes violate human rights, international law and existing treaties. Those same values compel us to support popular movements for peace and demilitarization.
Bob Barr
Libertarian
Vice Presidential Nominee: Wayne Root (businessman, television producer and host)
Occupation: Attorney and consultant; U.S. representative from Georgia; federal prosecutor; CIA employee
Education: University of Southern California; MA, George Washington University; JD, Georgetown University Law School.
Health care stance: Regulations which mandate insurance coverage and inflate premiums should be eliminated. Controls which unduly restrict competition within the health care industry, and that limit access to insurance across state lines, should be ended. Moreover, current tax policy, which is biased toward employer-provided, comprehensive health insurance, should be reformed, encouraging individual purchase of less costly catastrophic policies.
Iraq and Middle East stance: I would put in place plans for withdrawal without delay. While I support an exit from Iraq as quickly as possible, I would not publicly announce a timetable to our adversaries. However, as president, I would begin to immediately and significantly reduce both the military and the economic security blanket we are providing the government.
Ralph Nader
Populist
Vice Presidential Nominee: Matt Gonzalez (attorney and San Francisco public official)
Occupation: Consumer advocate and political activist; attorney; writer; college professor
Education: Princeton University; Harvard Law School
Health care stance: The state of health care in the United States is a disgrace. For millions of Americans it is a struggle between life, health and money. The Nader campaign supports a single-payer health care plan that replaces for-profit, investor-owned health care and removes the private health insurance industry (full Medicare for all).
Iraq and Middle East stance: The current political strategy of pre-emptive war in the Middle East is a disaster for both the American people and the people of the Middle East. Nader/Gonzalez proposes a rapid withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Nader favors a two-state solution and believes that the United States needs to highlight the broad and deep peace movement in Israel and its counterparts among Palestinians and among Americans of the Jewish faith.
U.S. Congress
1. What policies would you support that would help the United States become less dependent on foreign oil?
2. What should the federal government do to improve the quality of education for all American children?
25th District
Howie Hawkins
Green, Populist, Socialist Party of CNY
303 Warner Ave.,
Syracuse 13205
425-1019; 474-7055
hhawkins@igc.org; www.howiehawkins.org
Occupation: Teamster truck unloader
Education: Attended Dartmouth College
Other elected offices held: None
1. The goal should be freedom from oil—period—not just foreign oil, in order to address global warming, peak oil and economic decline exacerbated by oil trade deficits. Instead of the wars for oil funded by both ruling parties in Congress, I support transferring at least $300 billion a year from military spending to public investment in a sustainable green infrastructure: energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building retrofits and solar-powered railways instead of fossil-fueled roadways.
2. Repeal No Child Left Behind and its standardized testing mandates. Increase federal funding of public education (instead of local property taxes) sufficient to reduce student/teacher ratios to 15-to-1 in all public schools, provide Head Start to all pre-K children starting at age 3, and provide free public university and technical education for everyone who wants it. Fund this educational program by military spending cuts and progressive tax reform.
Dan Maffei
Democratic, Working Families, Independence
628 S. Main St., North Syracuse 13212
214-0022
Occupation: Financial adviser
Education: Brown University; graduate school at Harvard University and Columbia University
Other elected offices held: None
1. There are a number of things we can do to lower American dependence on foreign oil. We need strong, immediate investment in alternative fuel research, development and production. I believe that our region could be a hub of new jobs, biofuel and wind energy, which will benefit our environment and economy. Also we need to lower barriers for companies that want to invest in alternative energy, by renewing the Production Tax Credit in Congress
2. I believe the federal government has placed too many unfunded mandates on public schools and is not meeting financial obligations to our students. The next Congress will have many budgetary obligations, but increasing federal funding for public schools is critical.
Dale Sweetland
Republican,
Conservative
P.O. Box 155,
Syracuse 13201
218-6883
Dale@Sweetland08.com; www.Sweetland08.com
Occupation: Self-employed dairy farmer; regional sales manager for Fireman’s Fund Agencies Crop Insurance
Education: High school graduate
Other elected offices held: Supervisor, town of Fabius; county legislator; chairman of Onondaga County Legislature
1. Energy self-sufficiency is a necessary goal for the United States if we are to maintain our lifestyle and economy. This can only be achieved through a balanced approach that includes increased drilling for domestic oil sources, continued investment into alternative energy sources and energy conservation. The federal government can be an example by implementing programs that would replace postal delivery vehicles with plug-in hybrids similar to the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, and make use of other cutting-edge technologies.
2. Education is best left to the state and local governments. For example, the needs of neighboring school districts are drastically different, let alone the different needs of New York vs. Alabama. Federal education spending uses limited tax dollars to fund bureaucrats in Washington rather than teachers at Henninger High School and other local schools. Upstate New Yorkers should not have to invest in failing schools in other states when those states fail to make education a priority.
Onondaga County Clerk
As the county’s record keeper, what people skills and experience do you possess to manage the approximately 40 people employed in the County Clerk’s Office?
Linda Hall
Democratic
8037 Ginger Road, Liverpool 13090
622-0822
lindabetty@aol.com
Education: SUNY New Paltz; MA, SUNY Albany
Other elected offices held: None
For 15 years, I led the County Commis-
sion on Human Rights, supervising 11 staff members, three interns and 10 trainers. It was also my responsibility to supervise six New York State National Coalition Building Institute Directors and to lead workshops with 35 to 50 participants. I supervised the record keeping for certified payroll account for construction completed as part of Onondaga County’s program to increase participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in major construction and purchasing projects. I set high standards for the workers and encouraged staff through self-evaluation and goal-setting to create a quality workplace where employees took pride in producing quality work in a timely fashion and where customers are treated with kindness and respect.
M. Ann Ciarpelli
Republican, Conservative, Independence and Veterans parties
4708 Northeast Townline Road, Marcellus 13108
673-4774; 673-4774
Ynotann@aol.com
Serving as your county clerk for the past 12 years as “keeper of the records” for Onondaga County along with 25-plus years of county government service educated and prepared me for my position, allowing me to acquire the experience and management skills necessary to supervise my staff. Working together as a team brings a development of policy and procedures that provides good service, and timely processing of transactions. We work as responsible records managers in a customer friendly fiscally responsible manner.
Onondaga County Surrogate’s Court Judge
What are the duties of a Surrogate Judge and how are you prepared to fulfill them?
Steven A. Paquette
Democratic, Working Families
4887 Limehill Drive, Syracuse 13215
488-4870; 422-1391
spaquette@gslaw.com;
www.stevepaquette.com
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; SU College of Law, 1979
Other elected offices held: None
The role of Surrogate’s Court Judge is to preside over matters involving wills, estates and guardianship proceedings. Additionally, the judge is called upon to handle other matters including civil cases, matrimonial matters and other general trial court matters at the behest of the Administrative Judge. I have 28 years of experience serving clients, preparing motions, using the rules of evidence, and conducting hearings and trials. I pledge to bring compassion, fairness, humility and real-life experience to the courtroom.
Ava Shapero Raphael
Republican, Conservative, Independence
7301 Dartmoor Crossing, Fayetteville 13066
637-5716; 515-1162
Ava.in.2008@gmail.com; www.AvaRaphael.com
Occupation: Attorney and chief clerk of
the Surrogate’s Court
Education: BS, MS and JD, Syracuse
University
Other elected offices held: None
The Surrogate’s Court Judge oversees the administration of trusts and estates and guardianships. When someone dies with or without a will, or if an estate is contested by surviving heirs, the Surrogate’s Court is where citizens go for help and justice. Surrogate literally means to “stand in the place of.” Having more than 15 years of Surrogate’s Court experience, I will be able to speak with compassion and understanding for those who cannot speak for themselves.
New York State
Supreme Court Justice
What are the duties of a Supreme Court judge and how are you prepared to fulfill them?
Thomas J. Cerio
Republican,
Conservative,
Independent
6912 Shalimar Way,
Fayetteville 13066
446-3159; 422-8769
Occupation: Attorney
Education: BA, SUNY Buffalo; JD, Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, Lansing, Mich.
Other elected offices held: None.
In this seat my duties would entail presiding over cases that come before the Supreme Court in the 5th Judicial District. Hearing and ruling on legal issues is only part of the job. An essential function of any judge entails meeting with attorneys and trying to get the parties to reach an agreement. It takes both knowledge of the law and an ability to work with people. I believe that I have both.
David Murad
Did not respond.
New York State Senate
1. How would you suggest we deal with the high property taxes that distress many New Yorkers?
2. In spite of the budget cuts passed in recent weeks, Gov. Paterson states there is much to be done to reduce the state budget deficit. What further measures would you take to decrease this deficit?
49th District
James G. DiStefano
Republican, Conservative, Independence, Veterans
109 S. Warren St., Suite 310, Syracuse 13202
446-2104; 471-3323
jdistefanoatty@yahoo.com;
www.distefanoforsenate.com
Occupation: Attorney
Education: BS, Fordham University; JD, Syracuse University College of Law
Other elected offices held: Supervisor, town of DeWitt, 2000-2008
1. Responsibly cut the cost of state government. High property taxes are a result of unfunded mandates by the state government (Education Department in particular), overlapping school districts, high administrative costs and costs associated with New York City that have been put on the state payroll. The school property tax is choking us all and businesspeople are voting with their feet and leaving New York state. We have a global economy and we have to recognize this and make dramatic changes and reduce the cost of government on all levels—federal, state and local.
2. With a deficit of more than $5 billion, significant and dramatic cuts in state
government have to be made. Previous deficit budgets have the state at $49.2 billion to be increased by the imbalance in the current state budget. With the state comptroller advising the anticipated revenues for the first part of 2008 below estimate, the $5.1 billion deficit will swell. So far, only $1.1 billion of the deficit has been cut with another $4 billion-plus to go. All state agencies have to work with the governor’s budget and try to cut for budget balance or just mortgage our children’s future with more budget deficits, as has been the case in the past. The economy in Central New York is not that good. If the businesses and jobs are not there because of property taxes that are too high, where are our brightest college graduates to go except out of state?
David J. Valesky
Democratic, Working Families
108 Hunt Valley Road, Oneida 13421
478-8745
dave@davevalesky.com; www.davevalesky.com
Occupation: State senator
Education: BA, SUNY Postdam; MA,
University of Connecticut
Other elected offices held: None
1. I supported an amendment that would have created a “circuit breaker” tax system. This system could immediately reduce property taxes for middle-income New Yorkers and not just curtail future tax growth. I also supported a bill approved by the Senate that would cap local school tax levies at 4 percent and a measure which would approve mandate relief to our schools and efficiency incentive for districts. Combined, these measures would help bring about the meaningful property tax relief that all New York residents need and deserve.
2. In light of the current economic environment it is essential to examine every area of spending in the budget so we can make sure that any cuts that are made do not have an adverse effect on essential programs and institutions across the state. With that being said, however, I believe it is important that we consolidate redundant programs and state agencies. I think consolidating many services throughout our state is one way to save money and rein in out-of-control spending habits. Other areas that need to be addressed include Medicaid reform and continuing to realize the potential for the green energy industry. For example, we passed legislation this year that will encourage on-site generation of both wind and solar power, which will reduce demand on the electric grid, improve our environment and help lower energy costs throughout the state.
50th District
John DeFrancisco
Republican, Conservative, Independence
401 Sedgwick Drive, Syracuse 13203
479-9000
JAD@centralny.twcbc.com; www.defran4senate.org
Occupation: Attorney; state senator
Education: Syracuse University; Duke Law School
Other elected offices held: Syracuse School Board (member and president), Syracuse Common Council (member and president).
1. Property taxes can only be controlled through reducing spending. A property tax cap, like the bipartisan cap supported by the Senate majority and Gov. Paterson, would also help. The property tax cap bill was passed by the Senate a few weeks ago but the Assembly leadership blocked it from even being considered. New York’s hardworking taxpayers need relief and we can provide that relief by reducing spending and by the Assembly passing a property tax cap.
2. To further trim the state budget I would support additional efforts to eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s Medicaid system, which is the costliest Medicaid system per capita of any state in the nation. In addition, I have supported a constitutional amendment to impose a limitation on the growth of state spending. I believe these fiscally responsible measures provide a reasonable and fair solution to New York’s financial problems.
Carol Mulcahy
Did not respond.
New York State Assembly
119th District
Joan K. Christensen
Democratic, Working Families, Independence, Veterans
305 Standish Drive, Syracuse 13224
446-6517; 451-4614
mmontani@aol.com; www.joanchristensen.com
Occupation: Member, state Assembly
Education: Business college
Other elected offices held: 5th District councilor, Syracuse Common Council
1. I support the property tax cap. Property taxes are directly related to the cost of government. Reducing the cost of government by eliminating outdated programs, using technology to increase overall efficiency and logical consolidation of services are good first steps. I will consider any proposal that reduces property taxes on all taxpayers. The issue revolves around sustainability; property taxes and home assessments are simply too high for everyone and are outpacing average incomes.
2. Enact a pay-as-you-go budget. Spend less as outlined above. Financial stability requires partnering with the business community to unshackle impediments thus stimulating economic growth. The Office of Attorney General and Office of State Comptroller need to respectively continue their proactive stances investigating fraud and conducting audits of programs, agencies and departments. These actions benefit the state and taxpayers, increasing credibility and revenues. Fiscal reform is an investment in a sustainable future.
Christina M. Fitch
Republican, Conservative
P.O. Box 161, Liverpool 13088
457-5362; 552-8465
chris@fitchforassembly.com
Occupation: Nonprofit executive,
program supervisor
Education: BM, Eastman School of Music; course work for Ph.D. in social psychology, Indiana University; Roberts Wesleyan College; SUNY Brockport; Syracuse
University.
Other elected offices held: None
1. Property taxes are out of control and have already forced some out of their homes, others on the brink. To pay an average 2.5 percent to 2.9 percent on the value of a home each year in taxes is regressive and has hurt property values. I unconditionally support the cap on property tax growth awaiting action in the Assembly and urge its immediate passage. There has been more than adequate study by a bipartisan commission, there is broad public support and by the governor, and homeowners need this very reasonable line of control over rising taxes now. I also support an end to unfunded mandates pushed down on the local level, and government modernization (i.e. consolidation of services).
2. At last month’s special session to address the state’s massive deficit, little was accomplished compared to the size of the problem. The state is in fiscal crisis and steps must be taken immediately to get the budget under control. The budget process needs to come out from behind the secrecy of closed doors. The more than $4 billion in waste and fraud each year in Medicaid alone must be aggressively rooted out. There also needs to be a spending freeze, i.e. zero growth in agency budgets, and “member items” as we know them should be abolished. Redundant layers of government need to be consolidated and nonessential programs should be cut or frozen until the economy recovers. There should be no tax increases. New York is already the most taxed state in the nation. Taxes need to be cut and the state budget balanced to help the economy recover and reverse the downward spiral created by over-taxation.
120th District
William B. Magnarelli
Democratic, Working Families, Independence, Veterans
259 Brattle Road,
Syracuse 13203
479-7714; 447-5400
sjmcsweeney@hotmail.com;
www.magnarelli.com
Occupation: Attorney; member,
state Assembly
Education: BA/JD, Syracuse University
Other elected offices held: Syracuse
Common Councilor
1. The Commission on Property Tax Relief extensively studied this issue and released its preliminary report last June, which had three major recommendations: a cap on local property tax growth, a reduction in local mandates from the state, and a restructuring of the STAR rebate program into a circuit breaker. I agree with the report. We must address this issue comprehensively by enacting all of the report’s recommendations to see real property tax reductions.
2. There are three areas of the state’s budget I believe should be specifically targeted for reductions. We should increase state government efficiency by reducing the number of overlapping agencies and programs. We should enact public authorities’ reform to rein in authorities that seem to be out of control. We should also review the state’s borrowing practices to find savings by reducing the amount the state borrows each fiscal year.
Kristen G. Rounds
Republican, Conservative
122 Warham St., Syracuse 13208
476-8549
Krounds4assembly@peoplepc.com
Occupation: Senior collections analyst
Education: AA, Onondaga Community College
Other elected offices held: None
1. We need to review the tax structure, work together to justify taxes and ascertain tax increases—and why. We need to cut waste, and look at the possibility of combining departments between cities and towns.
2. We need to identify costs involved—
and utilize competitive bidding—within our great state. We are not able to keep businesses here and lure new businesses to New York if we do not support them. Recycle and reduce to help protect our environment.
121st District
David H. Knapp
Republican, Conservative, Independence, Veterans
P.O. Box 467, LaFayette 13084
677-3498; 552-4446
campaign@daveknappforassembly.com; www.daveknappforassembly.com
Occupation: Medical sales
Education: BA, U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Other elected offices held: Councilor, town of LaFayette
1. I fully support ending unfunded mandates while instituting a property tax cap with a voter override provision, to ensure our local schools aren’t left strapped for cash. Our state is in this crisis because our Legislature spends too much and a tax cap will stop government from shifting costs to localities and to make it spend within its means like so many middle-class families have to do every day.
2. There are many ways this state can reduce spending and improve efficiency. I realize blind cuts to programs could be harmful, so I would call on state agency heads—experts of state government—and work with them to find ways to cut costs and find ways this state can save money. One specific example of where we can save money is by eliminating the Thruway Authority and rolling its operations into the Department of Transportation.
Albert A. Stirpe Jr.
Democratic, Working Families Party
P.O. Box 2275,
Syracuse 13220
452-0108; 218-7524
candidate@alstirpe.org; www.alstirpe.org
Occupation: Member, state Assembly
Education: BA, University of Notre Dame
Other elected offices held: None
1. We must provide homeowners with immediate relief and stop the burden from skyrocketing further. I supported a plan to cap homeowners’ taxes based on ability to pay, a plan that provides immediate relief and protects our children’s education while asking millionaires to pitch in a little more than families earning just $40,000 a year. The state must relieve schools of expensive mandates and commit to increasing its investment to lower the tax burden on homeowners.
2. Despite the steps we took to cut spending, the slumping economy continues to wreak havoc on family budgets and state finances. Closing the gap will require tough choices, but it would be wrong to nickel and dime working families or cut essential services. We should first look at ways to close the gap such as right-sizing government entities, eliminating fraud and collecting taxes on sales of cigarettes and gasoline to non-Indians at Indian-owned businesses.
124th District
William A. Barclay
Republican, Independence, Conservative, Veterans
4312 Route 13, Pulaski 13142
298-6047
Barclay@assembly.state.ny.us
Occupation: Member, state Assembly
Education: BA, St. Lawrence University; JD Syracuse University College of Law
Other elected offices held: None
1. Property taxes are the No. 1 concern that I hear about from the constituents of my Assembly district. The largest portion of our property taxes go toward funding our schools. While I support many of the property tax relief programs being proposed in Albany (e.g. the STAR Program, Circuit Breaker and the Property Tax Cap proposal), I strongly believe that the state Legislature must also look at long-term solutions. One long-term solution that I support is amending the state school aid formula so that it is more equitable and transparent. Currently, the appropriate amount of state school aid is not going to the districts most in need.
2. The state is facing a fiscal crisis. Twenty percent of state revenue comes from Wall Street and therefore Wall Street’s woes are greatly impacting our state’s revenue. As the situation progresses, if necessary, I would support additional state spending cuts. All state programs need to be on the table. Because New Yorkers are already the highest taxed citizens in the United States, I would not be supportive of tax increases as a way to close the state’s budget deficit.
Jerome Burns
Did not respond.
129th District
Brian Kolb
Republican, Independence, Conservative
P.O. Box 835, Canandaigua 14424
(585) 393-0311; 548-5652
briankolb@briankolb.com; www.briankolb.com
Occupation: Member, state Assembly
Education: AA, BS, MS
Other elected offices held: Town supervisor, county supervisor, school board
1. It is clear to everyone that something must be done to provide relief from outrageously high property taxes. That’s why I proposed the “Working Families Property Tax Relief Act.” This bill will cap property taxes at 6 percent of the income for all households that make less than $100,000. Unlike other proposals, this is based on family’s ability to pay and will provide predictability so families can plan appropriately.
2. We are facing trying financial times and we must cut back on spending. Some steps include eliminating funding to the Capital Defenders office (since New York does not have the death penalty) and the Lieutenant Governor’s office (which will be vacant for two more years). Also, I support Gov. Paterson’s hiring freeze and call for agencies to cut spending. Lastly, we must enhance our efforts to reduce the estimated $4.5 billion in Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse in New York state.
Noah P. Sargent
Democratic, Working Families
2420 Route 488, Clifton Springs 14432
462-3051; 548-7425
noah@noah4u.com; www.noah4u.com
Occupation: Radiology technologist
Education: Mohawk Valley Community College, U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences
Other elected offices held: Councilor, town of Fayette
1. First, every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserves a good education. To that end, I support increased investment in our public school system: a qualified teacher in every classroom, smaller class sizes, pre-K, increased funding for after-school programs, and safe and sound buildings. New York needs a circuit breaker for property taxes and New York needs to revamp the tax breaks that are given through Industrial Development Agencies that do not follow through with jobs with high-paying wages. When this happens the lost tax base is passed on to the local property taxpayer. I also support turning around New York’s regressive tax system.
2. The costs are adding up. This year, tax cuts will leave us with $16 billion less to invest in critical public infrastructure, from schools to hospitals and public transportation. We can repeal the tax breaks for the richest New Yorkers, those making $1 million or more a year. We can use the money to provide property tax relief and make critical investments we need in health care, mass transit and public schools. New York needs a budget that invests in our future and a tax system that shifts the burden from the middle class back to those who can most afford to pay.
