A supplement to Eagle NewspapersNovember 2012

He said, she said

Negative campaign ads and the 2012 election

By Sarah HallYou’ve all seen the commercials: Dan Maffei’s campaign accusing

Ann Marie Buerkle of colluding with Todd Akin to redefine rape. Buerkle’s ad lambasting Maffei for giving bonuses to his staff with taxpayer money. The commercial referring to Maffei as “D.C. Dan.” The one that makes Buerkle look like a hag.

Negative campaign ads have come to dominate the election cycle, to the point where many dread turning on the television. Why do so many politicians undertake this campaign strategy? And more importantly, is it effective?

“When it is based on true actions, it is fine and even necessary,” said Donna Marsh O’Connor of Liverpool. “When it is based on lies and involves name-calling, it degrades our civil society. We cannot always simply promote the positive qualities of a candidate. Sometimes it really is about the problems with a candidate. It is essential to represent those problems without creating larger ones in the process.”

But Stephanie Piston of North Syracuse said they left her annoyed.

“How do we teach respect to our children when the politicians don’t treat each other with respect?” Piston said. “And it is plastered all over on the television and radio? My kids are asking questions and sometimes I am at a loss to answer them when it comes to these ads.”

Her comments were echoed by Joelle Litz of Liverpool.“I feel like the negative ads turn people off from voting,” Litz

said. “Who wants to vote for a person that tries to make himself look better by trash talking his opponent?”Effective in moderation

A new study by Juliana Fernandes, assistant professor of strategic communication at the University of Miami School of Communica-tion, shows that these kinds of ads can be effective if they’re shown in moderation; massive exposure to a negative ad has a backlash effect on the people’s perceptions of the sponsoring candidate.

“People will be more likely to appreciate and vote for the can-didate who is sponsoring the negative advertisement if the ad is presented in a spaced-out manner, over time,” Fernandes said. “A candidate who doesn’t have a large budget for political advertising can use the same advertising over and over again, but in a way that is more strategic.”

In the study, university students participated in two separate tests. First, 150 participants watched the repetition of a 30-second negative political ad of candidates the participants didn’t know (one, three, or five exposures). The ads were presented sequentially, char-acterizing the presentation as “massive.” According to the results, the participants were most likely to vote for the candidate when

they saw the ad three times, and least likely to vote for them when they saw it five times.

In the second test, 306 university students watched advertise-ments for unknown candidates within a 30-minute television program, with varying time intervals between ad repetitions. Afterwards, participants filled out questionnaires to evaluate the sponsor and the attacked candidates as well as the likelihood of voting for them.

According to the results, when there is a larger time intervals be-tween ad repetitions, viewers were more likely to favor the candidate sponsoring the ad and more likely to dislike the candidate the ad chastised. This was true even with increased repetition, suggesting that the sponsor candidate can avoid the backlash effect by allowing larger time intervals between ad exposures.

“In my study, I show that negative political ads do work under certain conditions,” Fernandes said. “I think they can help the political process because people can look at some facts, process the information more carefully, and later on — when people cast their votes — they can make an informed decision.”

Fernandes said she plans further investigations in the future, in-cluding what happens when there are repeated negative and positive political ads and when there are negative ads sponsored by opposing candidates. She would also like to analyze the possible effects of individual variables, such as gender and party affiliation.Voter suppression by character assassination

Even when ads are not shown in moderation — and it certainly seems they aren’t here — political experts say they can have an impact on a campaign.

Dr. Grant Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, said negative campaign ads follow two paths.

“There are contrast ads, where you talk about a position that you have taken, or part of, if you’re the incumbent, your record, and you contrast that with the position that the other person has taken, or you contrast your position with the other person’s voting record, de-pending on who’s the challenger and who’s the incumbent,” Reeher said. “And the idea there is that you’re hoping and you’re assuming that more people are going to agree with your position than theirs, and you’re pointing that out.”

The more controversial ads can be characterized as attack ads, Reeher said.

“Sometimes those can be framed in terms of a vote that someone took or a position that they took, but you have to sort of say, ‘What is the message of this ad? What is the ad trying to tell me? What are the visuals, the tone of the music, and also the tone of the information that’s provided?’” he said. “Basically, what the ad is trying to say is, ‘This person is not a good person in some way,’ on the grounds of some kind of value that is either stated or implied. There’s a certain type of negative ad where one person is saying about the other, ‘This person’s got some kind of character problem.’”

SEE NEgatiVE, NExt pagE

What is most important to you in the 2012 Presidential race?The growing national debt, the deficit, the employment situa-

tion and expensive government programs like Obamacare are all interrelated and of great concern to me.

HUGH KIMBALL, LYSANDER

Women’s rights! I don’t need to be just another woman in a binder to my president!

JILL SCARSON, BREWERTON

The most important issue is that we continue to move forward with our progress and not backward. We can’t sacrifice women’s health and their right to choose. We can’t sacrifice Medicare and turn it into a voucher system. We can’t look at our country like it’s a business where the bottom employees are expendable and the top receive tax cuts and loopholes. We have to look at ourselves like neighbors and realize that those who are comfortable wearing white ties are not those who should be in charge of making policy decisions for the people who struggle to make $50 in groceries last two weeks or more.

MARY MANNING, AUBURN

We need to get some control over our federal budget before it sinks us. They’re spending 40 cents more than they’ve got every year. We’ve doubled our debt in just four years; that cannot con-tinue to go on without putting someone in bankruptcy.

GEORGE PUzEY, CAzENOvIA

Health care and diplomacy/foreign policy are equally important to me.

KATIE HIGGINS, SYRACUSE

Without question, the economy. We must eliminate the crushing debt and restore the ability of the free market to grow and create jobs.

DON LAxTON, CAMILLUS

Education, foreign policy. How much longer should we stay in Afghanistan?

THOMAS HALLECK, WEST GENESEE CLASS OF 2005 (NOW LIvES IN LONG BEACH, NY)

Jobs and health care.SUzANNE STENE, FAYETTEvILLE

Women’s issues and prevent any loss of rights or erosion of ground gained over the last several decades. Equal pay, right to choose pregnancy, contraception, termination, equal medical treatment, freedom from violence (sexual, domestic or otherwise), the right to be heard and believed.

DOROTHY ABRAMS, CLYDE (BORN AND RAISED IN SKANEATELES)

Immigration and education. We need to pass the DREAM Act. If people wouldn’t have a predetermined mindset about what Latino immigrants do for this country then it will happen. And education because it’s the future of not only this country but of the planet.

ARNIM AMADOR, SYRACUSE

Current lack of foreign policy. Apologetic president — USA outspends every other nation in foreign aid, military protection, and humanitarian assistance. We have nothing to apologize for. Misinformation (read: lies) on the Benghazi terror attack. The ad-ministration’s inability to deal with our allies and foes internation-ally in a proactive and intelligent way.

BARB LUKOWSKI, AUBURN

Good, sound decision-making — not driven by obscure, well-funded special interests, but by common sense and what is right for the country as a whole. A guy can dream, can’t he?

TOBY MILLMAN, SKLANEATELES

I think for me, it’s healthcare and job creation. Healthcare needs to be made more affordable and people need access to quality healthcare. We need to keep moving in that direction. Of course, job creation is self-explanatory.

BARBARA CLARKE, CAzENOvIA

Reeher compared it to a game of chicken.

“No one has a real incen-tive to grab the steering wheel and pull the car away from the collision,” he said. “Once you get into one of these things, you’re betting that you’re going to come out less damaged, so you keep damaging. They tend to escalate. “

So why would candidates undertake such a risk?

“These ads are not about changing people’s opinions,” Reeher said. “What they’re try-ing to do is make people who are considering voting for that candidate or are perhaps unde-cided or maybe in favor of the candidate, but no strongly in favor of the candidate lower their enthusiasm for that person and make them more turned off. The idea is not that you’re bringing somebody new into the polling booth to vote for you, or chang-ing somebody’s mind from vot-ing for your opponent to voting for you. You’re just trying to get people not to vote for the oppo-nent... The more extreme way to make that point would be to say you’re kind of tearing something down, and you recognize that your opponent is going to do the same thing to you. You’re

both tearing things down, and at the end of the day, you’re go-ing to walk out of that fire being less burnt.”

Many candidates, however, feel that it’s worth the risk.

“Obviously, the campaign and the candidate think that it can help them,” he said. “Other-wise, they wouldn’t do it.”

Even candidates who set out to run a clean campaign can’t always do so. If they’re the subject of an attack ad, their poll numbers may suffer if they fail to respond.

“There’s not a clear path out of this once you get on the path,” Reeher said. “It doesn’t mean that you need to respond with equally negative things. But you need to respond. You need to address what’s been said about you. That doesn’t mean that you have to come back with your own character assassination ads, but you can’t just let it go.”

As for the contention that negative campaigning turns away voters, Reeher said that’s the point.

“It is a voter suppression strategy,” he said. “When you run one of these, you’re not thinking, ‘I’m going to convince that person to vote for me now. They were thinking they were

going to vote for them, but now they’re going to vote for me.’ You’re not thinking, ‘I’m going to get people so much more enthusiastic for me that I’m going to bring more people out to vote for me than would have voted for me before.’ That’s not what you’re doing. You’re trying to suppress the enthusiasm and depress the level of enthusiasm for your opponent.”

the dollar amountIn addition to the risk to the

campaign, advertising, negative or otherwise, comes at a great financial cost. Advertising dol-lars make up the bulk of most campaign expenses. Promoting a candidate’s campaign includes not only television and print advertising, but also mailings, lawn signs, campaign events, sponsorships of community events, palm cards, parade and community appearances and more. Those expenses add up.

According to the most re-cent Federal Election Com-mission (FEC) filings, Buerkle’s campaign spent $475,633.58 in the third quarter, $298,920.10 of it on advertising, signs, mail-ings and palm cards. Maffei, meanwhile, spent $616,663.03 in the same period; of that, he

spent $447,827.24 promoting his candidacy.

And it’s not just the candi-dates’ money being spent. Out-side groups have a vested interest in the 24th District race; Buerkle has been called one of the most vulnerable Republicans, so the National Republican Congres-sional Committee has poured money into advertising on her behest to boost her position, as have conservative groups like the anti-Obamacare American Action Network, the Center for Individual Freedom, Freedom-works for America, Heritage Action for America, the Na-tional Rifle Association Insti-tute for Legislative Action, the National Right to Life Political Action Committee, the Susan B. Anthony List Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. To-gether, those groups spent more than $1.7 million on advertising that either promoted Buerkle or criticized Maffei. On the other side, the Democratic Congres-sional Campaign Committee has come out attacking Buerkle, spending more than $916,000 to that end.

What makes an ugly cam-paign?

One of the reasons national

political organizations are pour-ing so much money into this race is because it’s such a close one. In face, Buerkle has been identified by Roll Call, a na-tional publication, as one of the 10 most vulnerable members of Congress; in 2010, she beat Maffei by just 648 votes.

“You don’t tend to see a lot of this stuff in elections that aren’t expected to be that close,” Reeher said. “There’s always a risk involved in this, and so if I’m 20 points ahead, why would I want to do something like that? Why would I want to invite the counterattack?”

The fact that the candidates have sparred before also con-tributes to the ugliness of the ads. That contributes many times to a negative campaign, Reeher said.

“Last time it was a pretty tough race, and it was extremely close,” Reeher said. “So the conclusion that a candidate might draw the next time in a race like that is, ‘Well, I’ve got to ratchet the volume level of this up one notch.’ And then, also, of course, the experience that each candidate has of each other from the two years’ prior. I don’t think it’s a great stretch to say these two candidates do not

seem to be particularly fond of each other.”

So what’s a voter to do in the face of all of this vitriol? The simplest solution is to just turn off the Tv.

“I look at who represents each party, then I go to their website to look for specifics on how they are going to affect the issues I care about,” said Laura Johnson, a former Liv-erpool resident who now lives in Rochester. “If I can’t get the informational specifics beyond ‘I will cut taxes/increase jobs’ then I move on to the next can-didate. Sometimes you have to call to get the information, but for the most part, you can get it if you look.”

You can also go to a trusted source like the League of Wom-en voters, a nonpartisan group that provides information like voting records, biographies and position statements on each of the candidates.

The bottom line? Negative campaign ads do serve a pur-pose, but they shouldn’t be the deciding factor in terms of who gets your vote.

Sarah Hall is the editor of the Eagle Star-Review. She can be reached at editor@eaglestarreview.com.

from previous pageNegative

24th Congressional DistrictAnn Marie Buerkle

A native of Auburn, Ann Marie Buerkle is a nurse, health-care attorney, mother of six and grandmother of thirteen. After graduating as an R.N. from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nurs-ing, Buerkle worked at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. For many years while raising her family, she was a substitute school nurse. In 1994, she obtained a J.D. from Syracuse University School of Law.

Buerkle served as an assistant attorney general for New York state from 1997 until deciding to run for Congress in 2009. She is a former member of the Syracuse Common Council, a former volunteer legal council for abused persons at the vera House crisis shelter, and former volunteer legal council for Syracuse families through the On-ondaga County Bar Association’s Pro Bono program.

Buerkle defeated Dan Maffei for the 24th district seat in 2010.

What have you accomplished during your first term? How will you carry those accom-plishments forward? What do you hope to accomplish with a second term?

As your member of Congress, I am proud of the record that I have built in my two years in Washington. I have worked tire-lessly to advance the ideals of the people of this district who elected me as their representative. Issues such as the economy, job creation, and the preservation of Medicare and Social Security have taken center stage in the district and will no longer be avoided for political expediency. I have also passed legislation highlighting the needs of our returning veterans and honoring their commitments to

our nation. And I have sponsored several symposiums and listening tours around the district to be sure that I am always connecting everything that I do in Washing-ton to the voices and concerns around the district. Perhaps what I am most proud of is the level of dedication I have put toward constituent service. The ability to help constituents struggling to receive benefits or to navigate the maze of federal agencies is an honor for me.

What are the major issues facing the 24th district?

New York’s 24th Congres-sional District is a unique blend of rural, suburban and urban needs spread throughout a picturesque landscape. It is home to several lakes — both small and large — farms, nuclear energy facilities, heritage sites, factories, hospitals, universities, and the perhaps the largest intersection of highways connecting countries, cities, and communities. The needs of this district are plenty. However, to a man, the most pressing issue facing the 24th district is jobs and the economy. It is the basis upon which the rest of the issues are built. Our businesses need a strong economy to gain the confidence to expand, to invest and reinvest, and most importantly to create jobs. As the representative to New York’s 24th Congressional District, I would work daily to ensure that the economy in Central New York is strengthened so that we may put people back to work.

How will you create jobs?Our 7.8 percent unemploy-

ment rate — the best we have seen in four years — is unacceptable. We must begin to adopt policies that will encourage growth. In my

first two years of Congress, I was a member of the majority which took important steps in creating jobs. The majority authored and passed 53 pieces of legislation which will empower small busi-

Ann Marie Buerkle

Ursula RozumUrsula Rozum is a Syracuse

native, the daughter of Polish immi-grants who were exiled due to their work with the anti-Communist Solidarity trade union. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Political Science and Latin American Literature from McGill University. In recent years, she has worked with Citizen Action of NY, the Working Families Party and the Green Party. Current-ly, she works on staff at the Syracuse Peace Council. She has been active locally working on issues of peace, immigrant rights, Latin America Solidarity and in the movement to ban hydrofracking in New York.

What are the major issues facing the 24th district?

Unemployment, Poverty, Eco-nomic Stagnation: We need a pub-lic jobs program that guarantees the right to a living-wage job and

restores economic prosperity by restoring consumer demand.

Climate Emergency: We need an Apollo-style Climate Action Plan to put people to work build-ing clean energy systems.

Fracking: We need a federal ban on fracking like France and Bulgaria have enacted.

Fiscal Crisis: We need to cut military spending and restore Eisenhower-era progressive tax rates on the top 10% income brackets so that the federal gov-ernment can meet its obligations, including no cuts to Social Secu-rity, Medicare, and Medicaid and revenue sharing with states and cities in fiscal distress.

Public Education Crisis: We need to replace high-stakes testing used to financially punish poorly-funded, poorly-testing schools with a return to need-based federal education funding to help proper-ty-poor, poorly-testing schools to improve. We need to forgive stu-dent debt and make public higher education tuition-free.

How will you create jobs?I will support a permanent

public jobs program for the un-employed, specifically HR 870, “The 21st Century Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Training Act” introduced by Rep. John Conyers of Detroit. Private jobs are good, but public jobs are necessary for full employment. We need federally-funded, locally-planned projects in public works and public services like the New Deal’s Works Progress Adminis-tration (WPA) did to put 12 mil-lion unemployed people to work during the Great Depression. Now we are dragging though the Great Recession and need a Green New Deal to put over 25 million un- and under-employed people back

to work in a Climate Action Plan building clean energy, mass transit, and green building retrofits, as well as revitalizing public services, from schools and community health clinics to child care, parks, arts, recreation, and youth and senior programs.

Public jobs will put money in unemployed workers’ pockets to spend. With more customers, business will expand and hire. The economic slump persists because of insufficient demand, not an insufficient supply of capital. The big banks and corporations are sitting on about $5 trillion in bank reserves and corporate cash. They won’t invest until they see more customers. So government has to fill the demand gap. The most cost-effective way to do that is for government to directly employ people meeting unmet commu-nity needs. The indirect, trickle-down approach of the Democrats and Republicans through tax cuts to increase demand doesn’t work well because businesses won’t invest until the customers are back and American consumers are still at record levels debt after decades of wage stagnation.

SEE BuErklE, NExt pagE

SEE rozum, NExt pagE

Ursula Rozum

Dan Maffei, who served the 25th Congressional District from 2009-2011, is the Democratic candidate for the 24th district seat. He did not respond to repeated requests for candidate information.

Dan Maffei

ness owners, fix the tax code to help job creators, increase competitiveness for U.S. manufacturers, encourage entrepreneurship and growth, maxi-mize domestic energy production, and pay down America’s unsustainable debt burden. These are the building blocks for a strong economy that will instill confidence for America’s businesses and create jobs.

You stand at odds with a good portion of your district. How will you appease those voters?

I disagree with the premise that I stand at odds with the district. I was elected because I promised to take a stand for the issues that mattered to the voters in this district rather than avoid the tough choices and to be accessible and accountable to all constituents. My record is clear and demonstrates a willingness to address the most pressing issues that the people of the 25th district face daily. As your representative for New York’s 24th Congres-sional District, voters can expect the same com-mitment from me: I will fight for policies that put Central New Yorkers back to work; I will not shy away from the difficult decisions; I will continue to advocate for plans which take an honest look at the future of our social safety nets; and I will continue to do all of this while working with any Republican, Democrat or independent who is committed to a better tomorrow.

Bipartisanship is practically nonexistent in Congress nowadays. are you capable of reaching across the aisle?

As previously mentioned, I have a record of working across the aisle. Here in the district, I have sponsored several veteran efforts with support from the Democratic co-chair of my House veterans subcommittee, Mike Michaud. I also received the Paul E. Tsongas Patriot Award from the uniquely bipartisan Concord Coalition for being one of the “Brave 38” Members who supported the Simpson-Bowles budget plan for America. I drafted autoimmune legislation along with fellow New Yorker Carolyn Maloney with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats supporting this bill which would boost women’s health efforts. Similarly, I have lead and effort with Mrs. Maloney to co-chair an anti-trafficking task force. I was also elected by President Obama to serve as a Congressional Representative to the United Nations. I am proud of my distinguished record in working in 112th Congress in bipartisan fashion and voters can expect the same in the 113th Congress.

the recession hit on a national level in 2008-09, but Syracuse and the surrounding area have been struggling for much longer. How will you address the economic situa-tion here? What have you done so far?

The most important function for any member of Congress from Central New York is to under-stand how the performance of his duties impacts the region. To be sure, the recent recession was a national phenomenon. However, certain federal policies have the propensity to impact our region disproportionately. Every vote taken and hearing attended relates to Central New York in some manner. Specifically, I have supported several legislative initiatives in Washington which will have tremendous bearing on businesses in our district. The Medical Device Tax, a provision en-acted under the Affordable Care Act, has already damaged at least one local business. One of my first acts of Congress was to lend my support to efforts to repeal that tax. I also lead a listening tour in On-ondaga, Cayuga and Wayne countries with several prominent members of Congress to understand how the federal government can better respond to the needs of Central New York’s job creators. A member of Congress is most valuable to the district when listening to his constituents’ needs and I have done that as your Congresswoman for the last two years.

You’ve been lauded as a supporter of small businesses. What have you done to support small businesses?

Indeed, my record as a defender of small businesses is clear. I am proud of the recognition that I have gained both nationally and locally. Our Central New York businesses reached out to major national organizations to share their support for me. As a result, I have been endorsed by the United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Business. I have consistently ad-vocated for lower taxes on our small businesses. My opponents both have suggested raising taxes on our small businesses — a move which will cripple their ability to pull through the reces-

sion and begin hiring. I also have led a charge in Washington to peel back layers of administrative burden by federal bureaucracies. Over and over I am told by local businesses that too much of their time, energy, and resources are spent responding to arbitrary compliances and requirements from the federal government. As your Congressional representative for the 24th district, I will continue to stand behind our small businesses rather than in front of them.

You’ve made it your mission to repeal obamacare. What do you propose should replace it?

The Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, has already proven to be a nightmare for Central New York. With its passage, we were promised lower health care premiums — they have gone up. We were promised also that access to care would improve — our hospitals and physicians are facing reimbursement cuts. In fact, Crouse Hospital just announced a layoff of at least 25 employees related to the health care law. We were similarly told to expect better quality of care — our American medical device manufactur-ers are now subject to a costly excise tax increasing the prices for necessary medical instruments in our hospitals. On the whole, Obamacare was an ill-conceived prescription for true health care reform in America. Of course, there were pieces that will be important to keep in any replacement: fixing the “donut hole,” allowing children under the age of 26 to stay on their parents’ insurance plans, ensuring coverage for Americans with pre-existing condi-tions. However, proper reform should also include medical malpractice liability reform, portability of insurance plans, and the promotion of health savings accounts. Most importantly, health care reform in this country needs to include the input of all stakeholders, all parties, and all Americans.

What changes, if any, would you make to the nation’s tax policies? How do you think that would help the economy?

Tax uncertainty continues to be the biggest impediment to job creation according to the busi-nesses that I have visited with in Central New York. America is fast approaching the nation’s largest-ever tax increase. As a result, our businesses are bracing themselves for the worst. Congress should be encouraging pro-growth policies that promote business expansion and job creation. Businesses need certainty in the tax structure and regulatory environments in order to operate freely. In my first two years in Congress, I consistently voted to keep taxes low on Americans to allow them to make the choices which best fit their own needs. Washington should not be in charge of deciding what is best for you and me by redistributing our hard-earned dollars.

Can you explain your positions on medi-care and Social Security?

Medicare and Social Security were prom-ises made to our greatest generation. They were promised guaranteed medical coverage and social insurance. These programs were also a promise to our younger generations that there was a plan in place as they moved toward retirement. Everyone is well aware of the population shift that our nation is facing which has placed an enormous burden on the Medicare and Social Security trust funds. And the recession has only complicated the mat-ter. Unlike my opponent, my solution is not to examine potential benefits reduction. Decades of inaction by Washington shall not necessitate a disruption in these benefits offered to those who have earned them. While in Congress, I have not shied from these complications. Faced with pros-pects of Medicare and Social Security insolvency in the next 10 to 20 years, I have supported, and will continue to support, proposals by any member of Congress which strengthen these programs for the future.

Why are you the best candidate?Out of all the candidates running for this office,

I am the only candidate who has offered a plan to grow this economy which will put our middle class back to work. I am the only candidate that will not raise taxes on the working class. I am the only candidate who has a record of attempting to balance our nation’s out of control deficit and debt. I am the only candidate who has kept the promises made to the voters: in 2010, I promised to be open and accessible to the voters, and I have been. I have held more than 40 town halls and a number of listening tours to hear the ideas and concerns of the people and businesses here in Central New York and I have taken those ideas to Washington. As we all know, the best ideas come from home.

from previous pageBuerkleDo you think you’re a viable candidate?

Yes. Public opinion polls consistently show majority support for progressive policies I advocate: climate action, public jobs, Medicare for All, military spending cuts, higher taxes on the rich. The tragedy of American politics is that progressive public values are not translating into progressive public policies. That’s why I am running as the Green Party candidate to drive progressive policies into the debate. The Democrats can no longer take progres-sive votes for granted. Progressive voters have the Green alternative to vote for.

as a third-party candidate, do you think you can be heard in Congress?

Third party representatives are heard more than your typical Democratic or Republican back bencher. Both Maffei and Buerkle voted with their party over 90 percent of the time. They did not stand out. I will have one vote, the same as every other Representative. The other Representatives will have to give me something I want in order to get my vote for something they want in close votes. But as the first Green in Congress, my voice will be amplified. The public, the press, and the other members of Congress will want to know what policies I advocate that got me elected as an outspent, outside the two-party system candidate. It will give me a public platform for my progressive policies, like it did for Paul Wellstone after his underdog election to the U.S. Senate enabled him to put his signature campaign issue, single-payer Medicare for All, into play in the early 1990s. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent socialist from vermont, was heard when he was in the Congress and is heard now in the U.S. Sen-ate. Senator Sanders needs independent progressive allies in the Congress with him.

people have accused you of being too idealistic and not attuned to the realities of political office. How do you respond to that criticism?

My campaign slogan is “Real Solutions Can’t Wait.” The reality is that the Democrats and Republicans have not and cannot solve the serious problems we face. They spend most of their time dialing for dollars for the next campaign. With the time they have left, they whine about how the other party stinks. Meanwhile, our problems are not getting addressed: the fiscal cliff, the climate emergency, the economic slump in which tens of mil-lions of people are losing their job security, homes, and college opportunities – losing their shot at the American Dream and getting stuck among the swelling numbers of working poor. We need Greens in Congress to breakup the two-party logjam. That’s not naïve idealism. That’s cold realism.

are you concerned that the candidacies of greens will draw votes from the Democrats, to whom greens are closer politicallygiving the election to the republicans?

Did you ask the same question of Dan Maffei, who as the incumbent lost his seat to Buerkle all by himself without a Green in the race? The moderately conservative Democrats have more in common with the extremely conservative Republicans than they do with the progres-sive Greens. The differences between the Democrats and Republicans are of degree, not direction. Today’s Demo-crats are the corporate New Democrats, not yesterday’s New Deal Democrats. The New Democrats specialize in “triangulation:” adopting Republican ideas as their own and taking their progressive voters for granted. Dan Maffei joined the New Democrat Coalition in Congress, not the Progressive Caucus. His answer to Buerkle’s op-position to Obama’s proposal for higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 is to say he’ll meet her in the middle and call for higher taxes only on incomes over $1 million. Progressives are sick of such pandering to the Right by Democrats. I’m running so progressives will no longer be taken for granted. My campaign is bringing back pro-gressive voters who won’t vote for the two conservative corporate parties. For those dismayed, as I am, that the winner-take-all plurality system of elections could result in the least preferred candidate in the district, Ann Marie Buerkle, winning the seat, I have solutions: legislation to enable instant runoff voting or, better, proportional rep-resentation in our Congress, like most other democracies around the world have. The question that should be asked is not whether I might spoil the election, but why am I the only candidate advocating electoral reforms that will end the possibility of spoiled elections once and for all?

What issues do you think you’re raising as a third party candidate that the major candidates aren’t discussing?

An Apollo-style emergency Climate Action Plan for jobs in clean energy.

A federal ban of unconventional fossil fuels: fracking for oil and gas, mountaintop removal coal, tar sands oil, and deep water and Arctic drilling. Use conventional fossil fuel reserves during the transition to clean renew-ables.

The right to a useful job guaranteed by permanent backup public jobs program.

The right to quality health care through single-payer

Medicare for All.The right to free

public education from pre-school through graduate school.

Secure Social Security indefinitely without cuts by ending the exemption on Social Security taxes for income over $110,100.

Forgive $1 trillion student debt: the Fed should bailout students by buying up and canceling their loans instead of more overpaying for mortgage-backed securi-ties to bailout the banks again with QE3.

End “No Child Left Behind” and “Race To The Top” high-stakes testing and financial punishment of poorly funded schools with low test scores. Return to need-based federal education funding to help poorly-testing underfunded schools to improve.

End the war on drugs and mass incarceration. Treat drug abuse as a medical problem, not a criminal problem. Drug prohibition failed like alcohol prohibition did. Legalize, tax, and regulate drugs, like we do alcohol and tobacco, starting with marijuana.

Cut military spending 50 percent. We are now spending twice the average Cold War level and the Soviet Union is gone. The main national security threats now are terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and climate change. These problems require good intelligence, not massive occupation forces. Spend the savings from military spending on rebuilding America as a climate-friendly sustainable economy.

Electoral reforms: instant runoff voting (IRv), pro-portional representation, voter-verifiable paper records for all elections, abolition of the Electoral College and election of the president by popular vote using IRv, fair ballot access standards for federal elections, public cam-paign financing, a Right to vote constitutional amend-ment, a Right to Regulate constitutional amendment to end the court-ordered doctrines of “corporate person-hood” and “money is speech” so that corporations and election finance can be regulated by We, the People.

What are some major differences in your plat-form from the major party candidates?

I stand for progressive alternatives to the conservative policies that both major party candidates stand for. Buerkle stands with the extreme conservatives of the congres-sional Republicans. Maffei stands with the moderately conservative New Democrats among the congressional Democrats. Our different positions on taxes and the fiscal crisis illustrate our major differences. Buerkle opposes any tax hikes on the rich. Maffei does not support Obama’s modest proposal to increase tax rates by a few percent on the top 2 percent of incomes over $250,000. Maffei joins House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in conceding more ground to the Republican Right by proposing to only raise tax rates by a few percent on the top 1 in 1000 incomes over $1 million. Obama’s proposal would only raise $85 billion more per year. Maffei’s would only raise $50 billion more. The proposals of Buerkle, Obama and Maffei are not fiscally responsible when deficits have been running over $1 trillion a year for four years straight. I propose keeping the low Bush tax rates for the bottom 90 percent and restoring Eisenhower tax rates on the top 10% incomes over $137,000, the only income brackets who have gained since the 1970s. My proposal would raise $1.2 trillion, more than the federal deficit last year. We face a choice: either we restore progressive taxation and use the revenues for public spending to stimulate full employment and economic recovery, or we accept austerity with cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and domestic programs in order to balance the budget on the backs of working people. The major difference is that my policies represent the interests of the working class majority. The major party candidates’ policies represent the interests of the corporate elites who fund the major parties.

green party candidates don’t accept corporate donations. Has that hurt your campaign?

No. It has helped. voters want a representative to work for them, not corporate special interests. voters respect that we are building a party that is supported by large numbers of small individual contributors, not small numbers of large corporate contributors. We will raise enough to get our message out and compete with the corporate parties when working people realize that we have to do what we did in the labor movement did to build our unions: build a large base of individual dues-paying members. That is how working class and middle class majority can build a party that consistently wins elections against the two old parties funded by the moneyed elites. The Green Party is not there yet, but we are growing every election.

Why are you the best candidate?I am offering concrete and practical solutions to

the big problems we face. These policies best reflect the progressive majority in the district. I am completely free to fight for these policies because I owe nothing to special interest campaign contributors from outside the district who are spending millions to buy this election.

Rozum from previous page

50th Senate District

John DeFranciscoState Sen. John DeFrancisco

is running for reelection to his eleventh term. The Republican from Syracuse represents the 50th State Senate District seat, which has been redrawn to no longer include the city of Syracuse. The district has shifted west to include part of Auburn and four towns in Cayuga County, and most of Onondaga County.

What are the major issues facing your district?

1. Putting New York’s fiscal house in order. 2. Helping to create jobs. 3. Improvements to education.

What is your proudest accomplish-ment since coming into office?

After years of hard work, Upstate Medical University broke ground on a public cord blood bank on its Community General campus in September. I secured $15 million dollars in state funding for this world-class facility, which will save lives by making um-bilical cord blood available to more in need of live-saving treatments. Meeting two Central New York children, alive today, because of umbilical cord blood was a profound and moving moment for me.

What do you hope to achieve in your next term?

I hope to continue to work in a bi-parti-san fashion to reduce government spending, lower taxes and reduce the size of govern-ment. We spend a lot of money on education, and I’d like to see better results in education

for our children. We need to work together to improve educational outcomes for children.

You are running without opposition from the re-publican party. to what do you attribute this?

I represent 100 percent of my constituents. I under-stand the problems that the 50th Senate District faces, and I work very hard to solve the problems. I would like to think people see that,

and they are happy with what I have done so far.”

What is the most important difference between you and your green party challenger?

My challenger believes that government should provide solutions to our state’s prob-lem. I believe that we should help people solve their problems with as little govern-ment involvement as possible.

Why are you the best candidate for this position?

I have achieved success serving as a state senator for the past 20 years, and I am in a po-sition in Albany right now as the Chairman of the Finance Committee to do more good for our state and for Upstate New York.

DeFrancisco is being challenged by Green Party candidate Michael Donnelly, who did not respond to requests for comment.

Photo By Ned CamPBell

State Sen. John DeFrancisco speaks at an event in Manlius.

53rd Senate District

David ValeskyState Sen. David valesky is running unopposed for

reelection to a fifth term. The Democrat from Oneida has represented the 49th State Senate District, which spanned southern and northeastern portions of Onondaga County, the eastern portion of the city, as well as northeastern portions of Cayuga County and all of Madison County. Following 2012’s redistricting, in his next term he will represent the 53rd District, which includes the bulk of the city, the southeastern corner of Onondaga County, all of Madison County and two towns in Oneida County.

What are the major issues facing your district?Jobs and economic development. Central New York

has suffered greatly as a result of the national recession, and, even though we are beginning to see some improvement nationally, statewide and locally, the issue of job creation still remains at the top of my list. We need to attract and retain good-paying jobs, and while we are making some strides on a statewide basis to create a business friendly environment, more work needs to be done.

Another critical issue is education, and how our schools are funded. We need to ensure that every child in every district has the resources they need to succeed, and one of the ways we can do this is to ensure school districts, especially high-need, low-wealth districts like many of those in my district, are equitably funded.

What have you accomplished since coming into office?

Leading up to the 2010 elections, I had become incred-ibly fed up with the partisan politics that had gridlocked state government for years, prompting us to be called the most dysfunctional legislature in the nation. I have always believed that the best policy comes from bipartisan coop-eration, and we had not been seeing any of that — and it showed. So in 2011, three of my colleagues and I joined to-gether to form the Independent Democratic Conference, an entity separate from either of the main conferences, with the pledge to work in a bipartisan fashion and put policy over politics. We have worked closely with Governor

Cuomo and both Demo-crats and Republicans in the Legislature on issues that are of great concern to our con-stituents, and I believe it has been very successful.

We were able to close a two-year, $10 billion deficit with no new taxes or fees. We passed legislation to overhaul the tax system, ensuring that middle class families are paying the lowest rate in half a century. We passed a prop-erty tax cap that is helping to alleviate the tax burden on working families. And we are working together to make government more efficient, effective and transparent.

All of those things I believe are a result of a willingness to work together to achieve a common goal in the interests of the people of New York State, and I have been proud to be part of it.

How will you carry those accomplishments forward, and what do you hope to achieve in your next term?

I hope to continue working with the governor and my colleagues in the same vein. Our priorities next session have to be enacting mandate relief for our municipalities and schools, addressing the inequities of the school aid formula, and doing what we can to make New York more business-friendly.

You enter this election unopposed. to what do you attribute this?

All I can say is that I have worked hard on issues that matter in the district, focused heavily on providing excellent constituent service, and tried to do what is right as a state senator, and I will continue to serve by this standard.

State Sen. David Valesky

New York State Legislature

What are the major issues facing the district?First of all, we need to get our children back to work

and make sure that our children have all the opportuni-ties they deserve. Things in our region are getting back on track, but we can still do more and we need to do more. That means attracting businesses and supporting private sector job creation. I’ve been working with the governor. The governor says that it’s because of him that everything is [working.] I like to think that it’s because I got there as well.

What have you accomplished in your first term?I was able to secure over $100,000 in federal funding

for the Syracuse and DeWitt police departments. For the Syracuse Police Department it was to provide more cameras and for the DeWitt Police Department it was to provide a special vehicle that they needed. I worked closely with some of my colleagues to pass legislation in-creasing the buffer zone at funeral services for our armed services to protect the families and friends mourning the loss of our heroes.

How will you carry those accomplishments forward, and what do you hope to achieve in your next term?

[I will] keep on fighting for people’s rights and the services that we’re supposed to provide.

Your opponent has said you haven’t introduced enough bills to warrant a second term. How do you respond to this?

Well first of all, I don’t know what he would get passed if he was there. But the thing is, I did nine, and I feel comfortable with that. [I focus on] constituent

services, and making sure that we have what we need here. [I was a major spon-sor of nine bills,] but I also co-sponsored hundreds of pieces of legislation, and I feel comfortable with that, but I’m ready to go back and fight for what our families need. My priorities are to strengthen our economy, so businesses can grow and create good paying jobs here; fight for more state education money; and making sure our police departments have all the tools they need to keep us safe.

What are the most important differences be-tween you and your challenger?

He is against raising the minimum wage, I’m for raising the minimum wage. I am against hydrofracking, where my opponent is for hydrofracking. And at this point I’m just not comfortable to say that that process is 100 percent safe.

What makes you the best candidate?We’ve done a lot, but we have to do more and just

keep doing what we’ve done. I’m ready to go back to fight for what our families need … I’ve come out of the busi-ness area. I’m a blue-collar person myself. I retired from General Motors … I’ve been on the unemployment line. I’ve been on the welfare line. I’ve been there, so I know what it takes, and I don’t want other people to have to go through what I’ve been through. So I’m committed to my constituents in that way.

128th Assembly District

Why are you running?When I was young my father grew ill that’s

when a local politician stepped up and helped my family teaching me the important roll of constituency services. Going doing around the 128th District I had a chance to reminisce about changes to the district, to see what could be done, and needs to be done. Constituency services above all is something that I feel I would be well suited to provide and a value that I have first hand experience with.

What major issues are facing the district?The issues of our District are the same as you

could see anywhere in this economy in our State. The economic environment is multifaceted, we can use it to attract business, or not, but naturally all roads should lead to jobs. Manufacturing can return to our area, we have a great area, we have a great standard of living, we have an abundance of water, all things will attract those businesses if we have an a pro-business advocate for this area.

What do you hope to accomplish?If elected my top three priorities would be

(1) to work to restore a vibrant economy to Upstate New York, (2) to work to improve the Medicaid system by developing efficiencies and reducing fraud, and (3) I will work to bring about a fundamental change in the our state func-tions by reforming our broken pension system and ending unfunded mandates that drive up property taxes.

How would you get legislation passed in a Dem-ocrat-controlled assembly?

Realize none of the substance of these bills attract business, moreover some of the bills my opponent has sup-ported raise the cost of healthcare. Raising these questions and making the common sense challenges to legislation will open up debate. Furthermore, I would look to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats on all beneficial legislation.

What are the most important differences between you and the incumbent?

The importance of unlimited strategies to attract jobs to the area is among those glaring contrasts.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

I have been told I’m far and beyond the best choice for us in the Assembly by my wife. Dur-ing the past three decades I have worked in the Onondaga County Attorney’s Office gaining the experience and honing the skills to represent us. I believe I am the most qualified, capable and talented candidate for the job because of my experience and my drive.

Sam Roberts John Sharon

Sam Roberts John Sharon

State Assemblyman Sam Roberts, a Democrat from Syracuse, is running for reelection to his second term. He represents the 128th Assembly District. He is being challenged for a second time by John Sharon, a Republican from DeWitt.

New York State Assembly

New York State AssemblyDon Miller What are the major issues facing the 127th district?

The most significant issue facing the 127th district is job retention and growth. I have pro-posed a comprehensive package of initiatives to protect the jobs that we have in New York, and to make it possible for families and employers to begin to create jobs here again, so that my children and all of our families continue to call this our home.

What have you accom-plished during your first term? How will you carry those accomplishments forward? What do you hope to accomplish with a second term?

The most significant accom-plishment in my first term is tax cutting that has made room to grow 2,800 new jobs in our area. Before I was elected two years ago, Onondaga County had lost more than 8,500 jobs after my predecessor imposed the largest tax increase in state history. I promised to work hard to reduce taxes and stop Albany’s runaway spending so that families and employers could begin to create good jobs again. Well, we cut taxes and stopped the automatic spending increases. We locked in a middle class tax cut, and a tax cut for small business job creators, and we cut off Albany’s spending spree — and Onondaga County gained 2,800 jobs in the past two years.

I am proud of these accom-plishments, but we’re just getting started. New York is still the highest-taxing, highest-spending state in the nation, and there is much more we can do to reduce taxes further for even more job growth. I will continue to push for my proposal for a 0 percent cap on the growth of property taxes, and to eliminate completely the taxes on capital gains and estates. I will also continue to drive toward a constitutional 0 percent cap on spending growth.

You did not support the 2 percent tax cap. Can you explain that position?

The surest way to continue killing off good jobs in our state is to do more of the same taxing and spending that got us into the mess we’re in.

I voted “no” on the 2 percent property tax “cap” because any tax “cap” that is above 0 percent isn’t a cap at all — it is a tax increase. The legislature passed a 2 percent property tax “cap” that will lock in tax increases for years to come, and will allow politicians to walk away from all responsibility for the annual tax hike. Two years ago I promised I would vote “no” on any tax cap that was higher than 0 percent and which did not stop Albany’s spending addiction — an addiction made possible by forcing local governments and schools to pay for state govern-ment programs.

I kept that promise, and I will continue to work to pass my proposal for an honest 0 percent property tax cap with complete

relief from unfunded state man-dates, to control the spending that drives our local property taxes higher every year.

The governor, members of the legislature and even the Post Standard have all moved toward my proposal for a 0 percent property tax cap with complete mandate relief in the same bill. Slowly but surely our message of lower taxes and less spending is gaining ground, and the pressure is mounting on Albany to reverse course before too many more jobs leave the state, and the country.

Your opponent, as well as a local women’s political group, has attacked your voting record in terms of women’s rights and equal pay. How do you defend that record?

My opponent and fewer than 10 partisan political activists — many not even from the 127th district — have failed in an attempt to draw voters’ atten-tion away from my opponent’s miserable record of job losses and record tax increases by mak-ing false claims about my voting record.

Here’s the truth: I support equal pay for equal work for women with all my heart. If I ever have a chance to vote on equal pay legislation, I will vote for it. Unfortunately, I have never had that opportunity, because an equal pay bill has never come before the legislature during my time in office.

What I have voted on, and voted against, is comparable worth legislation, which would create a state government office to set wages in every private work-place. Comparable worth will drive wages down for women and minorities, not up. This idea is so bad that even my opponent’s own party refused to pass comparable worth bills when they controlled all of state government for two years. Some of the comparable worth bills I voted “no” on are so bad that they have languished in the legislature for more than a decade without ever breathing life beyond the assembly chamber. Even the old Soviet Union and the dictators in China have thrown away comparable worth — but my opponent seems to think the idea is brilliant. Hmmm.

I look forward to being able to cast a “yes” vote one day on genuine equal pay for women legislation.

the biggest problem mu-nicipalities and schools seem to face is unfunded mandates. How can we stem that tide?

Unfunded mandates are job killers, and stopping unfunded mandates is the key to controlling spiraling taxes in our state. That’s why I have sponsored legislation to completely eliminate unfunded mandates.

My mandate relief proposal is linked to a 0 percent property tax cap. My mandate relief proposal calls for a complete review of all unfunded mandates over three

years, during which time local governments and school districts can negotiate with the state to determine which mandates are desirable, and who will pay for them. At the end of those three years, every mandate will have been reviewed and will either be retained, reformed, or retired. In every case, each mandate will be paid for by Albany if local govern-ments so choose. This will expose how much money Albany actu-ally spends, allowing taxpayers to make more informed decisions in the future.

One key element of this plan is to avoid tax increases by reducing local tax collections as mandated costs shift to Albany. I worked on a bi-partisan resolution with the Onondaga County Legislature this year to reduce the property tax levy on a dollar-for-dollar ba-sis as the cost of state Medicaid mandates shifts to Albany. The resolution passed unanimously.

New York is notorious for its high taxes push-ing businesses out of the state. How will you lower taxes?

We have begun to move in the right direction on taxes. Last year we cut middle class income tax rates to the lowest level in 58 years, and we cut income taxes on family business job creators by about $2 billion. But we’re just getting started.

New York is still worst on job creation because we are the highest-taxing, highest-spending state in the nation. There is only one government in America that is larger and taxes more than New York, and that is the federal government in Washington, D.C. — New York state government is the 1 percent. Our taxing ad-diction has created the nation’s worst business climate here in New York, and I am determined to change that.

I have offered a number of proposals to unleash the cre-ative power of families and em-ployers in our state so that they will start businesses and grow jobs right here at home. I have proposed an honest 0 percent property tax cap with complete mandate relief; abolishing the capital gains tax, the estate tax, and the corporate franchise tax; capping state spending at 0 percent annual growth; requir-ing a 2/3 super-majority vote to raise any tax, fee, or surcharge; and an array of specific tax reductions on manufacturers, producers, and families. We have made some progress, and I want to continue to work to make New York better than we have ever been before, a place where families and job creators once again scramble to locate

Don Miller

Al Stirpe What are the major issues facing the 127th district?

Jobs. It is all about making sure we have the jobs we need to keep our community and economy going strong. I’ve built my career on creating jobs in the private sector right here in Central New York and when I was in the assembly, I was able to use that experience to help businesses start up and grow. In addition, I believe we have to make sure as the economy improves and revenues increase, we direct more funding toward education, pre-K through 12, but especially early education for special ed. Invest-ments in early education pay huge dividends in subsequent years. Early education for special ed saves tens of millions of dollars by correcting issues early and keep-ing kids out of special education tracts and finally, fixing a broken workers’ compensation system that works for neither employers nor workers.

You already served two terms in the assembly, and you were voted out. Why do you think you deserve another shot?

In 2010, over 22,000 fewer voters cast their ballot in the 121st Assembly District than in 2008. The individual I beat in 2008 by 13,000 votes received more votes than Don Miller in 2010. I do not view 2010 vote as referendum on the job I did. I think that many of those who did not come out in 2010 will come out in 2012 and the results will be different. Dur-ing the most difficult period of our state’s history I was still able to provide much needed resources to help businesses, schools, se-niors and local nonprofits achieve their goals and maintain their quality service. Central New York deserves someone who will work with Governor Cuomo to keep our area going in the right direction. My opponent has only stood in the way of much of what the governor is doing. I think to create jobs and cut middle-class taxes, we need someone who will work with the Governor and that’s what I plan to do.

the biggest problem mu-nicipalities and schools seem to face is unfunded mandates. How can we stem that tide?

One big way we can help is for the state to take over a bigger percentage of all Medicaid costs, not just the growth in Medicaid. New York is one of only a handful of states that requires local taxpay-ers to pick up the state’s share of costs. That’s wrong. I believe the implementation of the Health Care Reform Act will help New York move in this direction. New York already has in place many of the requirements in the HCRA and the extra money from the federal government we receive towards the implementation can be used by the state to pick up a bigger share of Medicaid. And we need more shared services between local governments; for

example, consolidating back office resources between school district and municipalities. I think another way to reduce costs would be to have regional health care plans for school districts. It would create bigger groups with more bargaining power and lower costs. That would be a start. I look forward to working with the governor to get the job done. Going forward it is important that we are mindful not to impose any new mandates without adequate funding.

New York is notorious for its high taxes push-ing businesses out of the state. How will you lower taxes?

My goal is to reduce regulato-ry red tape that pushes businesses out of this state and connect small business with incentive programs to encourage them to grow. I think the biggest problem facing businesses in New York is the complexity of regulations. Most businesses would welcome sim-plification as well as assistance in complying with these regulations (as opposed to the prosecutorial approached used by state agen-cies). The most burdensome taxes are property taxes — even on businesses. I believe that is what we need to focus on when we talk about reducing taxes. If we do achieve real mandate relief for both local governments and school districts that should lower property taxes on our busi-nesses. I would also work with the governor and my colleagues in government to reduce New York’s high business cost drivers by com-pleting the reforms to workers’ compensation and streamlining the process to achieve savings in workers’ compensation expenses and allowing us to reform the Scaffold Laws.

You have extensive support from numerous unions throughout the district. How can your other constituents be sure that you aren’t beholden to those interests?

I’m proud to have the support of working people across Central New York. I’m not beholden to anyone but the residents of the 127th Assembly District. I want to go to office to help the hard working people of Central New York, whether they are in a union or not. I plan on going to the assembly to support the middle-class because for too long, we’ve had a system that benefits only the rich or politically connected. I also, have support from many businesses — something that is often overlooked. My approach has always been to maintain a balance when it comes to issues between labor and businesses.

Your opponent has criti-cized you for getting rid of the Star program. Can you explain that?

I didn’t vote against the STAR Program and no one got rid of

STAR! This is an instance of my opponent twisting the facts to try and distort my record. In 2009, the state was facing an $18 billion budget deficit (the largest in his-tory) and spending had to be cut in order to balance the budget. After years of being criticized by the media and good govern-ment groups for using the STAR rebate check as an election year give away (because the checks were sent out the second half of October) we eliminated the re-bate checks. The STAR Program remained intact. Further, we fig-ured that the $650 refund checks that the President was sending to each head of household, plus the $250 that seniors got in addition, would make up for the elimina-tion of the small rebate checks. The fact is with STAR too many downstate millionaires were get-ting a huge tax cut. I want tax cuts for seniors on fixed incomes and the middle class, not downstate millionaires.

You’ve said that you think the best way to move for-ward in albany is to work together. Do you think that’s possible? Can you explain how you would do that and how you did it during your first terms?

Working together is the key to getting anything done in Albany. We’ve already seen how Governor Cuomo is getting the job done by working with both Democrats and Republicans. Sadly, my oppo-nent is not one of the people who is willing to work with the gover-nor. During my time in office I had to do that many times in or-der to get things done for Central New York — I had to work with Republican Senator John De-Francisco in order to bring back vital resources and important legislation to our district. Also, I was one of the few members of the legislature who would al-low any member of any party to sign onto my bills. I have voted with the minority many times (especially in committee votes), and occasionally on hostile amendments (my first vote in the assembly was one). Anyone can have a good idea. You need to pay attention, especially in committee meetings, to hear ideas that merit action.

as a Democrat in the Democratic assembly, how can your constitu-ents be sure that you’ll vote with them and not just vote the party line?

I have the best interest of Central New York in mind. Like I said, my main priority is creat-ing jobs and opportunities for our families — and that is what

Al Stirpe

SEE StirpE, NExt pagESEE millEr, NExt pagE

127th Assembly District

New York State Assembly121st Assembly

magee, Spires partake in lWV candidate forumBy pierce Smith

On the evening of Oct. 18, a crowd of about 60 area residents packed the Cazenovia Public Library Community Room to observe a candidate forum for the two politicians seeking a seat in the 121st Assembly District. The Cazenovia League of Women voters hosted and moderated the forum, in which incumbent As-semblyman Bill Magee and new-comer Levi Spires participated.

The newly-drawn 121st District covers all of Madison County, much of Otsego County and a portion of Oneida County. Assembly members serve two-year terms.

Magee, who has held the seat of Assemblyman (originally for the 111th District, before the redrawing) since 1990, is running on the Democrat party line. He is a resident of Nelson and chair of the NYS Assembly Agriculture Committee. A longtime sup-porter of area farmers and the agricultural community, Magee said he hopes to see the industry continue to grow and find ways to get Central New York produce to

downstate customers.“I feel as if I’ve made a real

difference in our communities and tried hard or represent all residents,” Magee said during the forum. “There are still things I can help with. I’d like the opportunity to go back to Albany for [another term] and further address some of the issues we’re seeing right now, such as consolidation and reduction of state [aid].”

A former captain of the United States Air Force, current Cazenovia resident and internet-marketing professional, Spires is running as a conservative Repub-lican and has received endorse-ments from both the Madison and Otsego County Republican committees. Spires said he hopes to reduce the tax burden on area businesses and residents by facilitating job growth through adopting a strategy of fiscal pru-dence, simple government and entrepreneurship.

“Small things haven’t worked, the numbers manifest them-selves. We’ve lost so much of our youth, there are only [about] 27 percent of people under the age of 35 living in the three coun-

ties I’d represent. We don’t have to manage the slow decline of our region,” Spires said. “I don’t blame Assembly Magee for any of this, it’s not his fault. We need major reform in New York state. I believe I have the education … experience … and enthusiasm to lead this effort.”

Over the course of the hour, the two men described their platforms to those in attendance and answered residents’ questions pertaining to the New York state government. Topics of discussion included unfunded mandates, the state budget and property tax cap, Medicaid, hydrofracking, gov-ernment ethics violations, how to keep young people living and working in Central New York, partisanship in Albany, term limits, the importance of the arts, workman’s compensation, politi-cal campaign funding and taxing the Oneida Indian Nation.

While the two candidates agreed on many points, some of the issues on which they differed strongly were hydrofracking, tax breaks for some businesses and term limits.

Magee said he is not in favor

of drilling for natural gas in this region, and has supported legisla-tion in favor of passing moratori-ums against the practice. Spires said he thinks it is a matter of time before New York state regulates hydrofracking, and while he wants to be absolutely sure it is safe for area residents, farmland and workers – thinks it could be an opportunity for job creation and economic growth.

Spires told audience mem-bers he is against tax breaks for certain companies while others go without governmental as-sistance, saying either all or none should receive occasional fund-ing. Magee said he has supported giving special tax breaks to some businesses over others, because those companies have shown continued success and have the potential for large job growth.

Although all state Assembly members govern in two-year terms, they are allowed to con-tinually to run for office each election. Magee said his time as an Assemblyman has afforded him the knowledge and experience to get things done in Albany, and listed some of his accomplish-

ments, including the reopening of the Clark Street bridge and passage of bills supporting local farmers. Spires said he is in favor of limiting the number of terms a politician can serve, as many who have held a position for a large amount of time become too powerful and may change their views to appease fellow officials and continue to hold their seat.

As the hour drew to a close both candidates and Cazenovia League of Women voters mem-bers thanked the standing-room only crowd for attending, and asked them to tell their friends

and neighbors what they’ve learned. Elections will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6.

For more information on the 121st Assembly District, visit as-sembly.state.ny.us or madison-county.org/boe. Additional infor-mation on Spires can be found at leviforassembly.levispires.com. To learn more about Bill Magee, visit assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Wil-liam-Magee.

Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or editor@cazenoviarepublican.com.

PieRCe Smith

Incumbent Assemblyman Bill Magee, left, sits beside newcomer Levi Spires during the Oct. 18 candidate forum in the Cazenovia Public Library Community Room, sponsored by the Cazenovia League of Women Voters.

129th Assembly District

By Erin WisneskiNYS Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli

is running unopposed in the 120th district, which represents residents of the city’s Northside, Westside, Eastwood, Strathmore and valley areas of the City of Syracuse, as well as the towns of Geddes and van Buren. Magnarelli has served on the NYS Assembly since 1998.

Following is a brief bio of Magnarelli:Community Involvement: President of

Our Lady of Pompei Church Parish Council, majority leader of the Syracuse Common Council, and board member of the Arthritis Foundation.

Focus: Bringing more jobs to Central New York, lowering taxes, improv-ing education, improving healthcare and safety. Through these appoint-ments, he helps direct the state’s commitment to these areas and helps oversee that the Central New York area is represented fairly in budgetary matters.

Currently serves as Chair of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government as well as standing committees regarding Economic Development, Education and Oversight, Analysis and Investigation; previ-ously served as Chair of the Assembly’s veterans Affairs Committee.

Native of Syracuse, served six years in the Army Reserves attaining the rank of Captain.

William B. Magnarelli

William B. Magnarelli

because this is the best place in the world to grow a family and a business.

You say that you have “the most independent voting record in albany.” How does that trans-late into effecting change?

Working for Central New York fami-lies and employers by protecting our jobs and helping them grow new ones demands a bold vision for new possibili-ties, and I’ve made it my business to de-liver those new ideas in Albany — ideas like a middle class tax cut and a tax cut for small business job creators that we won last year, and staunch opposition to a property tax “cap” that fails to cap property taxes.

I’ve never been the go-along-to-get-along type. I proved that these past

two years in Albany — I have voted for Central New York and against the Albany establishment more than any other legislator. On taxes alone, I voted 85 times against more than $4.2 billion in tax hikes. That’s a lot of “no” votes.

But I don’t care which person or party offers the job killers — tax increases, out of control spending, and more debt. I will stand strong against them every time.

Sure, it’s ruffled some feathers. But those feathers need some ruffling, and the families and employers of Central New York need a real voice in Albany again. That’s what I promised to de-liver, and I will continue to square off with the Albany establishment — on both sides — to protect and grow jobs through tax cuts, spending control, and

debt reduction.

Speaking of your voting record, you vote “no” more often than not. How does that make you an effective assemblyman?

It is untrue that I vote “no” more often than not. It is true that I vote “no” more often than any other member of the legislature. For example, I voted “no” 85 times to stop more than $4.2 billion in tax increases. Constituents often tell me they appreciate those votes. I will continue to vote that way — but it is important to remember that there were no fewer than 85 tax increases proposed. That’s absurd. I can say with confidence that if there were 85 tax cuts proposed, I would be casting a whole lot of “yes” votes!

You’re ritical of handouts from albany, yet your business, JaDak technologies, received Empire zone benefits. How do you justify that?

Your question is factually inaccurate. JADAK is not my business. I do not own it or have any financial interest in it. I used to work there.

In addition, your question also com-pletely misrepresents my position. I do not view legitimate economic develop-ment as “Albany hand-outs.” I voted for more than $750 million of economic development programs and funding to help small businesses and job creators in our state to become competitive with other states and other countries.

What I consistently vote against is pork barrel spending disguised as “economic development,” but what in reality amounts to nothing more than politicians using our tax dollars to pay off political friends and get re-elected. Many “economic development grants” fall into this category. Far different from tax cutting or easing a regulation, grants are too often a direct transfer of tax dol-lars to the politically well-connected.

The Empire zone doesn’t make com-panies profitable. Empire zone benefits make it profitable for companies to keep

jobs here in New York, rather than take them to other states. And that’s worth doing.

What makes you the best candi-date for this position?

A simple comparison of my record with my opponent’s record provides a clear answer: My opponent voted 43 times for tax increases of about $13 bil-lion, and while he was in office Onon-daga County lost more than 8,500 jobs. When his party had complete control of state government, they went on a two-year tax-and-spending spree so that by the time I arrived in Albany, we faced a $10 billion budget gap and the highest taxes in the nation.

Working independently with mem-bers of both parties, I immediately set on a course of protecting the jobs we have and helping families and employers cre-ate good new jobs by cutting taxes and reigning in spending. We achieved some initial success: We cut income taxes and nearly closed the budget gap in the first year, and finished the job in the second year. And Onondaga County has gained about 2,800 jobs in the past two years.

We’ve begun to move in the right direction, but we’re just getting started. We cannot afford to go back to the old tax-and-spend schemes that my oppo-nent mastered while he was in office. We need to continue to move forward. I do not want to take New York back to her former greatness. I want us to be greater than we’ve ever been before, and we can achieve that.

Now is the time to ensure new, forward-thinking leadership by limiting the terms of service for all state elected representatives.

Now is the time for tax policies that protect a family’s earnings and savings.

Now is the time for new rules that are fair to all employers, not just the politi-cally connected.

Now is the time for a new mandate for government to tighten its belt and balance its books the way families and employers do.

I hope to have your support on Nov. 6.

from previous pagemiller

I plan on doing. I will work with the governor and I will support common sense mea-sures that will bring jobs to our community and protect the ones we have. The reality is the majority has enough votes to pass anything. They don’t need my vote.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

I feel like this election gives voters a clear choice. I want to work with the governor because he’s made a lot of positive reforms; my opponent is opposed to the Cuomo plan. I support in-creasing the minimum wage; my opponent is against raising the minimum wage. I support economic devel-opment projects to grow jobs here; my opponent is against economic develop-ment funding. I support real campaign finance reform; my opponent wants con-tribution limits set by the amount of income tax you pay. Also, I have a much bet-ter relationships with both parties in both houses which will enable me to accomplish more for Central New York. Further I am more active in our community — I partici-pate in several different com-munity organization and activities and it is through this participation that I get a better understanding of our community, what we need and what makes it work.

I humbly ask for the vot-er’s support. And if anyone has any questions, please feel free to call me at 458-0095 or email me at candidate@alstirpe.org

from previous pageStirpe

New York State Assembly126th Assembly District

political affiliation: Re-publican, Conservative, In-dependence

First elected to assem-bly: 1999

previous elected offices: Trustee, village of Aurora, 1979; Mayor, village of Au-rora, 1982.

Education: B.S., public administration and political theory, SUNY Empire State College; degree from Sim-mons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, 1966.

occupation: Owner and chief operating officer, Brew-Finch Funeral Homes, Incor-porated.

Campaign website: Gary Finch for Assembly

New district: Finch, who represented the 123rd Dis-trict since 1999, was redis-

tricted into the 126th District in 2012. about gary Finch

From his campaign web-site: Assemblyman Gary D. Finch was born in Auburn. He attended Cayuga Com-munity College and was awarded a degree from the Simmons School of Mortu-ary Science in Syracuse, New York in 1966. Since 1970, Finch has been owner and chief operating officer of Brew-Finch Funeral Homes, Incorporated, which is a multi-funeral home company operating funeral homes in northern, central and south-ern New York State.

Finch was first elected to public office in 1979 as a village of Aurora trustee, and in 1982, he was elected

mayor. During his 8 years as mayor, he was successful in negotiating financial support from a local tax exempt higher education institution and planned a financially-solvent, long-term strategy for the village. He was also instrumental in planning the village’s water storage and

delivery system and upgrad-ing the village’s streets.

Finch’s commitment to higher education is evidenced by his service to Cayuga Community Col-lege. Finch has served the college in various capacities including Chair of the Board of Trustees and as a member of the Negotiating, Scholar-ship, Presidential Search and Strategic Planning com-mittees. He has served on the Assembly’s Education Committee and continues to be a strong and knowledge-able advocate on educational issues.

Finch is an active member of his community. He has served as Cayuga County United Way’s presi-dent and campaign chair

and also on its executive and finance committees.

Finch is a past member of Leadership Cayuga’s Curriculum Program Com-mittee, chair of the past membership committee for Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Rotary Club, a charter member, past president and big brother for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, past board member of Hospice of the Finger Lakes and a former member of the Schweinfurth Art Center finance commit-tee. Finch is a member of the American Irish Legislators Society and the Ameri-can Legislative Exchange Council.

Finch currently serves as Assistant Minority Leader

to the Conference. He is also assigned to the Assembly committees on Agriculture, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, Energy, Environmental Conserva-tion, Insurance and Rules. Finch previously served as ranking minority member of the Assembly’s Corrections Committee and continues to be a vocal advocate on behalf of correction officers, their families and correction issues.

He and his wife, Marcia Herrling Finch, reside in the town of Springport and have raised two children, Amy and Gregory and have one grandchild.

Finch is running unop-posed.

Gary D. Finch

Gary D. Finch

Onondaga County racesCounty Clerk The Onondaga County Clerk seat was left vacant after County Clerk M. Ann Ciarpelli resigned in July after four terms in office. Sandra Schepp is a candidate running on the Republican,

Independence, Conservative and Veterans party lines and Gary Morris, Sr., is a candidate running on the Democratic and Working Family party lines.

Community Involvement: vol-unteer Fayetteville Fire Department 1990-2003; Director of Medical Operations Fayetteville Fire Depart-ment 1991-1997; Manlius Chamber of Commerce

What makes you qualified to serve as County Clerk?

I have worked both in the public and private sector. As a member of the Manlius Town Board, I have worked with many of the same county officials that the clerk has to work with, such as County Legislators Kevin Holmquist, Dave Knapp and Bill Meyer and County Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon. As general manager of Juno’s Glass, LLC, I understand the importance of meeting a bottom-line. This mix of experience will prove invaluable in the County Clerk’s Office. I have the fiscal discipline to manage a $4 million budget.

if elected, how will you improve the onondaga County Clerk’s office?

The Onondaga County Clerk’s Office needs to catch up with our surround-ing counties in both technology and service. Onondaga County is one of the few counties that does not handle DMv transactions. DMv transactions, while adding work, can also take some of the burden off of local taxpayers. As clerk, I will work with our local state representatives towards bringing DMv transac-tions back to the clerk’s office. The Clerk’s Office is our County’s repository of documents. Other counties have shown the way to bring documents online in a secure and beneficial manner. Onondaga County needs to catch up.

What goals do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?Beyond working towards DMv transactions and improving technology,

I will also seed better relations between the clerk’s office and residents. I will do this by bringing the clerk’s office to the people with a rotating schedule of visits to our town clerk offices, enabling people to transact business closer to home and saving a trip downtown. Why should voters elect you?

With a $4 million budget, the county clerk’s office demands fiscal respon-sibility. My experience in local government and private business gives me a unique perspective that my opponent lacks. The voters of Manlius have honored me with their trust for 12 years, now I ask the voters of Onondaga County for that same trust. On Nov. 6, I ask you to cast your ballot for me, Sandy Schepp, so we may bring much needed change to the Onondaga County Clerk’s Office.

Community Involvement: Current Member of 100 Black Men of Syracuse, Inc.-2009; Current Board Member of Syracuse City School District Educa-tional Foundation Board-2009; Current Member of the Knights of Columbus-2006; Current Member of Syracuse City Democrat Committee. City Chair of the First Ward Committee-1994; Former Board Member of North Syracuse School District Multicultural Committee-2006-2010; Former Board Member of Syracuse Minority Media Coalition-2009-2011; Former Top Campaign Advisor for State Assemblyman Sam Roberts -2010; Former Campaign Manager for Syra-cuse Common Council President van Robinson -2009; Past Board Member with Syracuse Model Neighborhood-2006-2007; Ran for Onondaga County Legislator-2005 and 2007; Received the endorsement of The Post-Standard in 2005 and 2007, during run for Onondaga County Legislator; Past award recipient in 2006 and 2008 for Benjamin Banneker Club of Syracuse and Onondaga County; Past Board Member for Neighborhood Action Council 1998-2000; Public Rela-tions Director for Payton Temple Com-munity Men’s Center from 1997-1999; and co-established “Reading Round the World” at Cicero Elementary School 1993-1994.

What makes you qualified to serve as County Clerk?

I have the education, the experience and the qualifications. I have an associate, bachelor and master degrees in business. I have county management experience as a budget analyst for the county executive management and budget department, where I managed, prepared and al-located budgets totaling $81.7 million dollars. I have been a business professor at Onondaga Community College and

Cazenovia College for more than seven years. This wealth of education and ex-perience qualifies me as the candidate of choice for County Clerk.

How will you improve the onon-daga County Clerk’s office?

As the next County Clerk, one of my first tasks will be to root out any issues inhibiting the functionality of this office. This will be done by conducting an audit. The goal of this audit will be to:

1. Show ways of reducing costs, by streamlining processes to operate more efficiently and improve the quality and value of services the County Clerk’s of-fice provides.

2. Help improve performance-related issues and challenges.

3. Develop ways to integrate new technology, i.e. E-Recording, to move people out of line and online.

4. Implement and improve the County Clerk’s office performance to better focus on our core mission. “The County Clerks mission is to record, maintain, protect, and make available for public inspection documents filed in the County Clerk’s Office…”

What goals do you hope to ac-complish should you be elected?

My goal is to provide user friendly ac-cessibility to documents in a professional, customer friendly environment, whether in line or online. This will be done by continuously developing or adopting ways to implement cost effective train-ing and promoting staff development, while improving and implementing technological advances to modernize the County Clerk’s office as indicative of the audit.

I intend to improve the quality and value of the services the county clerk’s of-fice provides by modernizing this office,

by moving people out of line and online. E-recording is a web-based portal that can be used as an alternative method for delivery of documents. Once received by the county clerk, it is still reviewed and processed. E-recording will not be mandatory and you can still submit your documents by hand or by mail. The ad-vantage of E-recording is it will reduce the turn-around time on getting documents recorded quicker. Errors on a document can be rejected, corrected and sent back for recording all in the same day. This will reduce overhead cost. There would be no need for postage, overnight mail or courier charges. Once a document is accepted and recorded, the recorded information is electronically transmitted to you immediately. All submissions and recording status updates can be tracked. This modernization of the County Clerk’s office will have an impact on profession-als, i.e. attorneys, small business owners as well as the community.

Why should voters elect you?Throughout my life, I have always

been dedicated to enriching the lives of my family, my friends and my neighbors. My public and private business experi-ence, coupled with my professional edu-cation, make me the candidate of choice for Onondaga County Clerk. Now is the time for me to give back to our county and our city, because it’s all about good service for you.

Sandra Schepp Gary Morris, Sr.

Sandra Schepp

Gary Morris, Sr.

Family Court Judge

Onondaga County racesCounty Court Judge

County residents will have two candidates to choose from when filling the vacant seat on the Onondaga County Court bench, which consists of three judges. Judge Anthony Aloi and

Judge Joseph Fahey currently hold the other two seats on the bench, which has jurisdiction over the fifth judicial district. The third seat was left vacant after Judge William Walsh resigned.

Gordon Cuffy is a candidate running on the Democratic party line and Tom Miller is a candidate running on the Republican, Independence, Conservative and Veteran party lines.

County residents will have two candidates to choose from when filling the Family Court Judge seat left vacant after

Family Judge Bryan Hedges retired in April. Patrick Kilmartin is a candidate running on the Republican, Independence and

Conservative party lines and Julie Cecile is a candidate running on the Democratic and Working Family party lines.

Gordon J. Cuffy Thomas J. Miller

Patrick M. KilmartinJulie Cecile

Community Involvement: I am an alum-nus of Leadership Greater Syracuse, and a former board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New York. As a member of the Attorney General’s Office, I participated in the Onondaga County Bar Association’s Talk to a Lawyer program at the Southwest Community Center. As County Attorney, I involved county attorneys in the Talk to a Lawyer program.

What makes you qualified to serve?I have fourteen years of experience as a

prosecutor. During that time I presented cases to the Grand Jury and handled homicides, vio-lent and other felony cases. In addition, I was an appellate lawyer who wrote legal briefs and argued cases in appellate courts. As County Attorney I manage a law department with forty employees. I am also counsel for both the Onondaga County Legislature and the County Executive. I have been a civil litigator and have been an adjunct professor at Syracuse University College of Law since 1997.

Why should voters elect you?I have been a public servant in this com-

munity for 22 years. My wife and I chose to live and raise our daughter in Onondaga County. I have been a prosecutor in both the District Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office with 14 years of experience.

I have been the Onondaga County Attor-ney since 2008. I supervise 24 attorneys in my office, and the attorneys are required to make

independent judgments each and every day. I require my attorneys to make decisions that are both legally sound and ethically correct. That is the principle I have tried to follow throughout my career and will be my guiding principle as a judge.

I am a person who grew up in a low income neighborhood and has worked hard through-out my life, for example, I worked fulltime during the day and went to law school at night. During the course of my career, I have learned by interacting with a broad spectrum of people. My personal and professional expe-rience provides me with the temperament and qualifications to be County Court Judge.

Community Involvement: Fayetteville-Manlius Little League Coach; Fayetteville-Manlius Little League Board of Directors; Fayetteville-Manlius recreation league basketball coach; speaker/lecturer at Fay-etteville-Manlius and Manlius Pebble Hill high schools Stop DWI Program; speaker/lecturer at Syracuse University; speaker/lecturer for the Onondaga County Bar Association; speaker/lecturer for the NYS Magistrate’s Association; speaker/lecturer for the Onondaga County Magistrate’s As-sociation; and Onondaga County Bar As-sociation Board of Directors - elected vice President 2011.

What makes you qualified to serve as Judge?

Experience. As a practicing lawyer for over 30 years, I have appeared in County Court on a regular basis in hundreds of cases. I have been involved in several major felony trials and homicide trials in County Court.

As a village Justice for nearly a dozen years, I have presided over countless cases hopefully, fairly and impartially without advocating for one side or the other, as a lawyer does.

Why should voters elect you?Through my years of experience before

the bench as a lawyer and behind the bench as a judge, I believe I have developed the skills to understand the law, to realize that

being a judge is more than a 9-to-5 job, but rather is an identity and an obligation to be a positive role model.

Through my experience, I know the dif-ference between an individual who has made a mistake due to an addiction or mental health issue, and an individual who has chosen crime as a career path and will deal with each appropriately.

voters can be assured that I have the right balance of experience as a lawyer for 30 years and as a judge for almost 12 years to understand the law and to apply it fairly and impartially while protecting and balancing the rights of defendants and victims.

party affiliation:Community Involvement: Community

Involvement: Former Board Member, CNY YMCA Senior Apartments, former board member, Greater Strathmore Neighborhood Association, volunteer Attorney, Pro Bono Divorce Clinic

What makes you qualified to serve as Judge?

My 20 years as a practicing attorney along with my current position as the executive director of the McMahon/Ryan Child Ad-vocacy Center give me the experience that matters – both in the court room and with children and families in crisis.

Protecting and strengthening our chil-dren and families is something I experience every day.

I know firsthand the challenges families face in navigating the court system. In addi-tion, I have been reviewed as qualified by the NYS Independent Judicial Election Qualifi-cation Committee as well as the Onondaga County Bar Association.

I am the only candidate to have received the highest qualification rating from the Cen-tral New York Women’s Bar Association.

Why should voters elect you?I grew up in a house with over 20 foster

children and a brother from Korea. Perspec-tives and cultures were second nature in our home.

The diversity is what propelled me into my career as an attorney working to advo-cate for those who could not advocate for themselves.

I have worked in family courts in Onon-daga, Madison and Oswego counties. I know how the system works and what is needed for families in crisis.

Lastly, I am not a politician and running for Family Court Judge is not just about being a judge for me.

I truly want to make a difference in the lives of the families of Onondaga County and give them a voice so they can be heard.

Party Affiliation: Republican. Endorsed by the Republican, Independence and Con-servative parties

Community Involvement: I have served as a County Legislator in Onondaga County for six years and presently serve as Majority Leader for the Onondaga County Legislature. I presently serve as a Board Member on the Finance Committee for the Catholic Schools for the Diocese. I have previously served as President of the Parish Council for St. Mi-chael’s Church. I have served many years as a volunteer basketball coach at Most Holy Rosary School and Holy Cross School.

What makes you qualified to serve?I am qualified to serve as a Family Court

Judge based on my 18 years of practicing law in Onondaga County. I have served my community as a Prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office where I prosecuted cases of do-mestic violence. I have practiced law as a Family Court Attorney for nearly a decade.

I have served as a Law Guardian for Chil-dren in Family Court for nearly a decade where I advocate for the rights of children, safeguard children and make certain that children have a voice in Family Court. Judges in Family Court have entrusted me to serve as an advocate for children and to protect their rights. I am the only candidate for Family Court who has the unique courtroom experi-ence of having served as a Prosecutor, Family Court Attorney and Law Guardian.

Why should voters elect you?voters should elect me as the next Family

Court Judge based on my knowledge of the law, my experience as a trial attorney in Family Court and years of advocating for the protec-tion of children in our community.

Children are the most vulnerable in our court system and our next Family Court Judge must have courtroom knowledge and prior experience as an advocate for crime victims and children. I bring those unique qualifica-tions to service in Family Court, in addition to my experience as a husband, a father, a coach and community volunteer.

Gordon J. Cuffy Thomas J. Miller

Julie Cecile Parick M. Kilmartin