Candidate Free Air Time-- 25 October 2002

>>
[Captioning Made Possible by WXXI Public Broadcasting
Council]
>> This is candidate free air -
time, a chance for candidates -
to present a straightforward, -
unedited message to voters.-
This program features -
candidates for state senator, -
56th district, and the members -
of the assembly for 130th, -
131st, 134th, and 135th -
districts.-
The state Senate is made up of -
61 members and is part of New -
York state's legislative -
branch.-
The Senate creates and passes -
bills.-
The bills need to be approved -
by the state assembly before -
going before the governor for -
approval.-
The district represented on -
free air time this election is -
the 56th district.-
This district includes a -
portion of Rochester and all of-
the towns of Greece, brighton, -
and parma.-
The candidates are Joseph E. -
Robach and Harry B. -
bronson.-
The order of the candidates' -
appearance was determined by a -
coin flip.-
Harry bronson is the Democratic-
candidate.-
He is executive director of an -
agency that rehabilitates -
ex-offenders.-
He is 43 years old.-
-
>> Hello.-
I'm Harry bronson, proud Democrat.-
I am running for state Senate to make a change in Albany on the
issues that matter most to our community.-
We in the greater Rochester area have lost thousands of jobs.-
To reverse this trend, I propose a redevelopment authority for
upstate New York, to redirect and revitalize our economy.-
We must also market upstate New York to other areas as a
positive place to live and work.-
Second, the education of our children is critical to every
aspect of family and community life.-
The current state aid formula is antiquated and politically
driven.-
We need equitable funding for our schools based on need, not
politics.-
Children deserve no less.-
Third, with skyrocketting health care costs, let us and New
York state take the lead in holding down prescription drug
prices and offer affordable health insurance coverage for our
families.-
Finally, we need to rethink how we approach state government.-
Late budgets jeopardize our schools and other vital community
needs.-
And real campaign finance reform is crucial.-
I vow to bring government back to the people.-
We should rely on public hearings, town meetings, and other
forums that bring citizens into the process.-
As your state senator, I will listen to you.-
Join with me to make state government work for you.-
-
>> Joseph Robach is a Republican,independent, and conservative
-
party candidate.-
He's a sitting assemblyman and -
is 44 years old.-
-
>> My name's Joe Robach, and I'm currently state assemblyman
representative and a candidate for the 56th district.-
After the horrendous effects of redistricting in our region,
I made a commitment to run for the seat to remain a
strong, urban voice for the greater Rochester area, in the
community I've had the honor and privilege for representing the
last seven years.-
In addition to my deep personal ties to this community, I've
earned a reputation of being an independent voice and
maintained a tradition of putting people first.-
As a senator, I will continue that tradition.-
As the majority assembly member, I worked hard to improve the
quality of life for all Rochester citizens.-
Strengthing job training and improving the star program so that
residents on fixed incomes and all homeowners would save on
their tax bill.-
For over 32 years, this district has suffered from not having
majority representation in the state Senate.-
We've not received legislative or financial resources that
the Rochester area needs and deserves.-
I am the only candidate in this race that can change that.-
As your senator, I will more effectively drive the economic
development, health, education needs of this community.-
I've consistently stood up for our area, and will continue to
do so in the state Senate.-
I will continue to promote upstate agenda, push for a more open
government, and advocate for reform to make the budget process
more open and timely, and of course, I will continue to work
hard for my constituents.-
This is not an election about partisan rhetoric, but about
which candidate can and will be in the best position to get the
job done.-
It has been an honor representing the Rochester community, and
I pledge to continue to serve in the state Senate with
integrity and dedication.-
Thank you, and please remember to vote.-
>> The state assembly is made -
up of 150 members and is part -
of New York state's legislative-
branch.-
The state assembly creates and -
passes bills.-
The bills need to be approved -
by the state Senate before -
going before the governor for -
approval.-
The districts featured in this -
program are the 130th, 131st, -
134th, and the 135th.-
The 130th assembly district includes the town ofPittsford,
mendon, and -
Henrietta, along with portions -
of Ontario and livingston -
counties.-
The participating free air time-
candidates for the 130th -
district are Joe Errigo and -
Christine W. Saltzberg.-
The order of the candidates' -
appearance was determined by a -
coin flip.-
Joe Errigo is the Republican -
and conservative parties -
incumbent.-
He is 63 years old.-
-
>> Hi.-
I'm assemblyman Joe Errigo.-
As a lifelong resident of Rochester, I understand the needs of
our unique communities.-
In just two short years in the state assembly I've built a
proven record of results, I've worked hard to attract new,
good-paying jobs, cut taxes so we keep more of what we earn and
help improve the health care coverage for every person who
calls New York home.-
As a former business owner, I understand our communities thrive
when good-paying jobs are readily available, and the -- and in
the assembly, I supported the creation of 10 workforce
zones, and most recently joined governor pataki in announcing a
$30 million state grant for the university of Rochester, which
will create 3,500 new jobs for our region.-
I also understand that tax cuts help provide new opportunities
for our families and encourage growth in our small businesses.-
In the assembly, I voted seven times to cut taxes, saving
residents and businesses more than $55 million.-
I supported the expansion of the star property tax credit, and
I will continue to push for more tax relief, including a $1,000
personal income tax exemption.-
To improve our health care coverage, I voted for the historic
woman's health and wellness act, and fought to expand child
health plus.-
As a member of the assembly nursing shortage task force, I've
offered solutions to alleviate this looming crisis, and I
also understand we must do whatever possible to keep qualified
medical physicians in our area.-
This year, the residents of livingston, Monroe, and Ontario
counties have to make a choice for who they elect to be their
voice in Albany.-
As a proven fighter for job creation, quality schools, tax
relief, and better health care, I hope I'm your choice.-
Thank you.-
-
>> Christine Saltzberg is the Democratic candidate.-
She is currently a registered -
nurse consultant and a nursing -
educator.-
She is 52 years old.-
-
>> Hi.-
I'm Christine Saltzberg, and I'm running for state assembly
to represent western New York families in the 130th district.-
I'm no politician.
I'm a mother, a teacher, and a nurse who
deals with the same problems western New York families face
every day.-
that's why I believe it's time to put politics aside to fight
for good-paying jobs, better schools, and affordable health
care.-
I understand the disheartening effects that losing jobs,
limited opportunities, and stagnant wages have on our
families.-
Western New York families deserve to prosper, and it's going to
take someone who will fight for better paying jobs, and more of
them, to change things.-
The fact is our area has lost over 12,000 jobs in the past two
years.
Despite this fact our current assemblyman repeatedly
chose to vote against bills that would have helped our economy.-
Joe Errigo voted against creating 14 new tax-free empire zones
to help businesses and create jobs, including the empire zone
created in Monroe county.-
He voted no to doubling the size of empire zones from two
square miles to four square miles.-
He voted no to reducing taxes and fees for small businesses,
and no to establishing jobs now, women and minority owned jobs
programs, and other plans for regional economies.-
I know there's no quick fix, but I'll fight to
give our children the strongest education possible, preparing
them for the jobs of tomorrow and making our region more
attractive to business looking for a place to grow.-
When it comes to our economy and our families, the time for
politicking is over.-
It's time to start voting yes.-
Our families deserve it.-
-
>> The 131st assembly district includes a portion of Rochester-
and extends to the southwest to-
take in the Monroe county towns-
of riga, chili, wheatland, and -
rush.-
The participating free air time-
candidates for the 131st -
district are Susan V. John and -
Michael S. Slattery.-
The order of the candidates' -
appearance was determined by a -
coin flip.-
Susan John is the Democratic -
party candidate incumbent.-
-
>> Hi.-
I'm Susan John, running for re-election to
the stay assembly.-
I'm working to make sure our families have a better place to
live, work, and raise a family.-
With hard work, we can turn our economy around.-
I've been fighting for job opportunities for our families, by
expanding Rochester's tax-free empire zone to create 4,200 jobs,
reducing energy costs, and lowering taxes for small
businesses.-
I know families need help making ends meet, and that's why I
secured additional state funding for day care.-
Revitalizing our economy also means providing our children with
a quality education to ensure success in the modern business
environment.-
That's why I went to bat for $20 million for the Rochester
school district when a budget shortfall jeopardized our
children's future.-
When county budget cuts threatened access to libraries, I got
state money to keep the bookmobile on the road to children and
seniors.-
I secured a $50.9 million aid increase to schools, providing
funds to programs like ladder, which helps reduce class size
and expand pre-k and kindergarten programs.-
Further, I spearheaded project save, by removing violent,
disruptive students from classrooms.-
To help protect our children, I secured continued funding for
the prevention extension.-
We depend on the health and well being of loved ones, that's
why I fought for access to affordable health care, by securing
$3 million to renovate Rochester general hospital's emergency
room, and money to keep the rape crisis center, reducing
prescription drug costs for seniors, and helping hospitals
attract skilled health care workers.-
I also helped establish the historic law that expands women's
access to affordable health care and preventive screenings.-
I hope I can count on your support to continue as your advocate
for better-paying jobs, healthy families, and a future our
children can depend on.-
>> Michael Slattery is the -
Republican, independent, and -
conservative party -
candidate.-
He currently serves as -
councilman for the town of -
chili.-
-
>> My name is Michael slattery.-
It has been my distinct honor to serve as town councilman for
the past 2 1/2 years.-
When I ran for this position, I made promises to the people of
chili.-
Working together, in a bipartisan spirit, we have expanded
public water and are extending sanitary sewers.-
And we have brought new business and jobs to chili, while
paying off long-term debt and maintaining the residential
character of our neighborhoods.-
I was also proud to vote for the last two annual budgets, which
actually represented a tax decrease to our taxpayers.-
In addition, the town's tax base has increased by $74 million.-
I made promises, and I delivered results.-
I will fight equally hard in the state assembly.-
In the assembly, I want to expand the empire zone program, and
I will look for other incentives to bring new companies here to
help retain the existing businesses and jobs for our local
residents.-
For too many years the state budget has been late.-
Not only do late state budgets hurt our taxpayers and the
community, but it forces potential businesses to have to
seriously reconsider locating in New York.-
This cripples new job opportunities and makes it more difficult
to ease the tax burden on the families and seniors.-
Here's what I am promising to you now -- -
I promise that I will work to continue to increase job
opportunities for our residents and pass on-time state
budgets.-
I will make sure our children receive all they need to get a
good education here.-
And I will work closely with our community leaders and local
businesses for both their input and for cooperative efforts to
improve our community.-
In order to achieve these goals, I need your support.-
Let's work together to make sure the 131st assembly district
and New York remains a great place to live, work, run a
business, and raise our families.-
Thank you, and God bless.-
>> The office of the member of -
assembly, district 134, -
oversees the Monroe county -
towns of Greece, Ogden, and -
Sweden.-
The participating free air time-
candidates are bill Reilich and-
Frederick J. Amato.-
The order of the candidates' -
appearance was determined by a -
coin flip.-
Bill Reilich is the Republican,-
independent, and conservative -
candidate.-
He's a county legislator.-
He's 45 years old.-
-
>> For the past five years, I've had the privilege of serving
my neighbors as a county legislator.-
During that time I've enjoyed being a voice for constituents as
an open and accessible representative.-
I'm proud of my record of fiscally conservative, responsible
government that listens to people and works to meet their
needs.-
As your new assemblyman, my top priority will be jobs, bringing
good-paying, quality jobs to every corner of our community.-
I know what it takes to create jobs.-
In 1975, I started my own small business, and over 28 years
grew that business to include 60 employees.-
As a legislator, I serve as part of our local industrial
development agency and on our empire zone, where we helped
create 12,000 new jobs and retained 18,000 jobs in Monroe
county.-
I've also worked successfully to keep property taxes down and
eliminate $100 million in costly county debt.-
I will continue this in Albany by supporting a job creation tax
credit to give local employees $1,000 for every new employee
they train and hire.-
We also need real tax relief for working families, so you keep
more of your hard-earned money, in your pocket.-
That's why I'm creating a $1,000 income tax exemption, and
doubling the current exemption to $2,000.-
We built a record that is in stark contrast to the failure of
the liberal Democrats in the state assembly.-
In Albany, it's always business as usual.-
That's unacceptable.-
I'll fight the changes -- to change this broken system.-
My neighbors in Greece, ogden, and Sweden need their voices
heard in Albany.-
We need an assemblyman to work with the governor and local
leaders to ease the tax burden, grow your economy, and increase
job opportunities, and we need a fiscally sound budget, on
time, every time.-
I'll be an assemblyman who will take that message to Albany.-
I promise the residents of Greece, ogden, and Sweden their
voices will be heard in the state assembly, loud and clear.-
Thank you.-
>> Frederick Amato, the -
Democratic, working families, -
and right-to-life -
candidate.-
He is a county legislator.-
He's 60 years old.-
-
>> Hello.-
I'm Fred amato.-
As a father, a husband, a homeowner, and a county legislator,
and employee of Eastman-Kodak, I understand what's important to
our families.-
I've seen the effects of downsizing on our families.-
Many people I've worked alongside for years have been laid
off.-
They're struggling, and those left behind are anxious about what
the future holds.-
I've lived in this area my whole life, and I'm not about to
give up on our community.-
I believe our best days are still ahead of us.-
My first priority will be to protect jobs and pensions, bring
good-paying jobs back, and hold corporate executives
accountable for their actions.-
I'll work to create new state empire zones in Monroe county and
expand New York's power for jobs programs, and hold companies
that -- that receive funds accountable.-
I'll work to invest in schools, because I believe quality
education is essential to reinvigorating our economy.-
My wife pat and I have raised three children in Greece, so I
know how important public schools are to our children's
future.-
I'll fight to improve education standards without overburdening
property taxpayers.-
While building a brighter future, we must not forget our most
vulnerable citizens, the sick, elderly, and disabled.-
As a past board member on the regional council on aging, I
understand what our families and seniors need to stay healthy.-
I'll fight to hold H.M.O.'s accountable and expand the state's
epic program for prescription drug coverage to make more people
eligible for low-cost prescriptions.-
No politician can promise to make all our problems go
away, but I can assure you as your assemblyman, I will work
hard every day for the issues that matter most to our
families.-
Please vote for me on Tuesday, November 5.-
>> The office of the member of -
assembly, district 135, -
oversees the Monroe county -
towns of Webster, penfield, -
east Rochester, and -
Perinton.-
The participating free air time-
candidates are David R. koon -
and Clyde O. Benoy.-
The order of the candidates' -
appearance was determined by a -
coin flip.-
Clyde Benoy is the Republican -
and conservative candidate.-
He's a retired east Rochester -
resident and is 76 years -
old.-
-
>> My decision to run for the New York state assembly was not
predicated on any single issue or event, but rather upon my
sense that I could make a difference for our community.-
Being a senior citizen, I pride myself on my many and varied
years of experience.-
I have military service as a veteran of world war II.-
I have private sector experience exhibited in my 37 years in
the insurance industry.-
And I have experience in the public sector as a member of the
board of the Monroe county water authority and as a former
member of the east Rochester board of education.-
I also spent many years as the leader of the east Rochester
Republican party.-
All of this experience has taught me the value of listening to
people of all ages and all walks of life.-
I believe that politics and government should be based on the
three c's -- civility, communication, and compromise.-
I believe that in government, positions should be open and
honest between all parties involved in decision making.-
And that compromise should always be an option for resolving
our differences.-
Part of my experience that I have not often referred to is
personal.-
Earlier this year, my wife Jane lost her battle with cancer.-
Jane was a powerful influence on my life.-
She was intelligent and insightful, caring and honest.-
It is her influence that leads me to seek this office.-
She always believed that I should run for public office, and so
I am.-
I have dedicated this campaign to her memory.-
I have the willingness, the time, and the desire to listen.-
I have varied and valuable experience in areas that make me a
responsible decision maker.-
I am committed to making a difference in the New York state
assembly.-
>> David koon is the Democratic-
incumbent, who is also running -
independence and working -
families party line.-
He is 55 years old.-
-
>> Hi.-
I'm David koon, I'm running for re-election to our state
assembly, to represent Monroe county families in the 135th
district.-
As assemblyman, I fought hard to cut taxes, create jobs, and
improve education and health care, and protect families.-
Since going to Albany, I helped cut taxes by nearly $8 billion
and created 72 tax-free empire zones to help businesses create
jobs.-
To ensure our families keep more of their hard-earned cash, I
voted to reduce the gross receipts tax on gas and electric,
reduce the marriage penalty tax, and fought for college
tuition tax credit.-
I will continue to fight for more good-paying jobs and
businesses because our kids deserve a promising future here.-
To improve education, I fought for $530 million in state aid
for local Monroe county schools, helping reduce class sizes,
and expand pre-k programs.-
A college education is an important tool to getting ahead, but
it can't be a challenge to pay for it.-
That's why I rejected a proposal of $212 million cut to the
tuition assistance program.-
Our kids need a safe environment to learn and grow in, so I
fought to improve their safety by sponsoring a statewide
abduction alert program and a law that strengthens the state
sex offender registry.-
Our families deserve to know quality health care will be there
when they need it.-
That's why I fought to attract and retain skilled workers in
the health care facilities.-
I also worked to expand the epic program making over 288,000
seniors eligible for low-cost prescriptions, and sponsored a
law improving women's health care by requiring insurance
carriers to coverage annual mammograms and for women over 40
to have the coverage of osteoporosis screenings.-
I've worked hard to make our community safe to live and
raise a family.-
There's still more to be done, and I won't stop fighting for
Monroe county working families.-
-
>> I think we pay a lot more taxes in New York.-
By a considerable amount, yeah.-
-
>> I would think downstate pays more taxes, because they have
so much going on.-
-
>> We do.-
I'm sure we do.-
And we get very little back for it.-
-
>> Most of the downstate politicians always take a bigger part
of the pie from the upstate voters.-
Even though we contribute more.-
We're taxed probably more disproportionately than downstate.-
-
>> Since our population isn't that big, it doesn't mean we
shouldn't be getting it.-
We have very definite needs.-
-
>> I don't think upstate has gotten its fair share.-
Our economy in western New York is not in good shape, and we
really need help to bring it up to where it should be.-
-
>> For complete coverage of New York state issues, connect to
nycitizens.org, your one-stop destination.-
Direct access to lawmakers and current information on pending
legislation, redistricting, and star tax exemptions.-
In-depth coverage from capital news correspondent Karen DeWitt.-
Click on election finder to confirm your polling place.-
Nycitizens.org is a service of wxxi public broadcasting.-
>> To hear more candidate -
messages, tune in to wxxi-tv -
21, or cable channel 11, on -
Friday, November 1, at 10:30 -
p.m.-
We'll profile the races for New-
York state attorney general, -
representativive in congress -
for the 25th, 26th, 28th, and -
29th districts, and Monroe -
county court judge.-
Also tune to wxxi-am 1370 the -
week of October 28, as -
candidate free air time spots -
will be aired during "morning -
edition" at 9:20 a.m. and -
repeated during "all things -
considered" at 6:20 p.m.-
Captioned by the-
National Captioning Institute-
--www.ncicap.org—
>> For a transcript of this -
program, you can visit -
www.nycitizens.org.-
-
[Captioning Made Possible by
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council]