Election 2006: An Overview

An overview of the candidates whose races affect the City of Beacon

The following races were chosen due to their immediate effect on Beacon. We have presented incumbent candidates first, followed by challengers. We have tried to present this information in a proactive, unbiased manner. We have therefore chosen to focus on the candidates’ records, positions, and proposed solutions to their issues, while excluding excessive or denigrating criticism. The choice and arrangement of issues was based on candidates’ priorities as indicated by their websites, and public and media appearances. Please visit the candidates’ websites for more extensive information on these and other issues.

New York State Senate—41st District:
All of Columbia and most of Dutchess Counties
Campaigning in the race has focused primarily on the record of incumbent Senator of 25 years, Steven Saland. Saland says it is a successful record reflecting his ability to achieve consensus and get legislation passed. Challenger Brian Keeler is a “netroots” candidate who has been campaigning extensively on the internet. He says Saland represents the status quo of one of the most dysfunction governments in the nation. Keeler is calling for major reform of the system. A primary issue in this race has been controversy over the current school tax system.

Incumbent:
Stephen M. Saland

Party:
Republican, Conservative

Websites:
www.senatorsaland.com
www.stevesaland.com

Background:
Senator Saland is a resident of Poughkeepsie, NY and has been representing the 41st Senate District since 1991. Sen. Saland began his political career as Wappinger Town Councilman. He served in the State Assembly from 1980 – 1990 before his election to the State Senate. He is an attorney belonging to both the Dutchess County and the New York State Bar Associations.

Current Involvements:
Deputy Majority Leader, State/Federal Relations
Chairman, Senate Education Committee
Member, Joint Legislative Conference Committee on Budget Reform
Member, Board of Directors of the Forum on Democracy and Trade
Co-Chair, National Conference of State Legislatures Task Force on No Child Left Behind
President, NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures
Dutchess County Diagnostic Advisory Committee on Child Abuse (Non-Legislative Committee)

Issues:
Environment – Sen. Saland authored the legislation creating the Hudson River Valley Greenway, which seeks to protect the Valley’s natural and cultural resources while encouraging compatible economic growth. To address the problem of well contamination, Saland supported the Private Well Testing Act which mandates the testing of drinking water from private wells upon the transfer of property.

Education – Saland is Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He authored the law requiring extensive criminal history checks on all prospective public school employees. He secured grants to fund technology improvements and supply schools with defibrillators. Saland sponsored the School Accountability law which enhances auditing mechanisms on school district finances and mandates fiduciary training of school board members. Saland supports legislation which reduces costly mandates on schools.

Taxes – In response to the school tax crisis, Saland is sponsoring legislation that would authorize every school district to take a public vote to determine if real property taxes on primary residences (STAR eligible properties only) would be phased out over five years and replaced with additional State funding.

Health Care – Saland worked to pass the Family Health Care Plus program. He also hosts the Golden Gathering, an annual senior citizens fair which brings together numerous exhibitors with an emphasis on health care and services for the elderly.

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Challenger:
Brian Keeler

Party:
Democrat, Progressive

Website:
www.keeler2006.com

Background:
Keeler, a resident of Hopewell Junction, began his political activism as writer and founding member of the internet publication, Political Cortex, and ePluribus Media, the largest citizen investigative journalism organization on the Internet. Keeler built a successful career as a performer, teacher, writer and activist. He is currently a teacher in the performing arts field and he runs Actorfactor Communications, through which he implemented The First Tee, a youth development organization with 250 chapters across the nation.

Issues:
Taxes – Keeler has introduced and signed the FAST (Fix Albany School Tax) pledge, making school tax reform his top priority. Keeler seeks to abolish the current system of deriving school funding from property taxes, instead securing funds based on the ability to pay.

Reform – Keeler demands transparent and open government. He also calls for campaign reform, bringing accountability to campaign spending. He supports the Clean Money, Clean Elections campaign in which participating candidates would receive an equal fixed amount of public funding providing they promise to limit campaign spending and collect small contributions from voters to demonstrate voter support.

Environment – Keeler calls for the establishment of a sustainable low-carbon energy-based economy to protect the environment. Concerning local water contamination, Keeler declares the testing of all wells, not just private wells, is necessary to ensure public health.

United States House of Representatives—19th District
All of Putnam and parts of Orange, Dutchess, Rockland and Westchester Counties

The race for the District 19 seat in the House of Representatives has been somewhat controversial. Kelly has been criticized for a lack of public appearances to debate the issues. She prefers to focus her campaign on her record of service and her contributions to the area, specifically the economy. Hall prefers to focus his campaign on national issues such as the War in Iraq, the Energy Crisis and Healthcare.

Incumbent:
Sue W. Kelly

Party:
Republican

Website:
http://suekelly.house.gov
www.suekellyforcongress.com

Background:
Sue Kelly is a former teacher, small business owner, rape crisis counselor, PTA President and biomedical research specialist. Sue Kelly was elected to Congress in 1994 and is now serving her sixth term. She lives in Katonah, NY.

Current Involvements:
Vice Chair of House Committee on Financial Services
House Committee on Small Business
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Issues:
Taxes – Kelly credits recent federal tax relief acts with improving the New York economy, and lowering unemployment. She promises to make these relief measures permanent. Making sure the Hudson Valley received its fair share of federal funding has long been a priority for Kelly.

Economy – Kelly is committed to making it easier for small businesses to grow. Two of her bills are awaiting action by the Senate and would respectively repeal a law prohibiting banks from paying interest on business checking accounts, and increase small business access to capital for growth and job creation. She also supports the Small Business Health Fairness Act, which would allow small businesses to join together through bona-fide trade associations to purchase health insurance for their workers.

Terrorism – While praising progress in homeland security, Kelly says we still have a long way to go. Specifically, she cites the need to reform flawed funding laws that send money to unnecessary places and she calls for improved defenses to neglected cites in our state, such as Indian Point. Kelly works to investigate terrorist finance activities, and develop methods of freezing the assets of persons funding terrorists and weapons of mass destruction.

Energy Crisis – Kelly acknowledges the danger of dependence on foreign oil. She co-sponsored the Fuel Choices for American Security Act, which would hasten the development and availability of more sustainable vehicle and fuel technology. Kelly supports the alteration of the tax code to spur new investments in sustainable energy sources, including the development new sources of energy from crops, vegetation and animal waste. She also calls for the improvement of the fuel economy standards of our vehicles.

War in Iraq – Kelly states that while mistakes have been made in the prosecution of the war, great progress has also been made. She believes the continued presence of American troops in Iraq is required to protect the democratically-elected government until it is able to defend itself and that American withdrawal will increase opportunities for terrorist development.

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Challenger:
John Hall

Party:
Democrat

Website:
www.johnhallforcongress.com

Background:
John Hall is a resident of Dover Plains. He is a musician and small business owner, and co-founded the band Orleans. As a musician and citizen Hall has a long history of political and environmental activism including involvement with Mid-Hudson Nuclear Opponents, which successfully fought the building of a nuclear power plant on the Hudson River in Greene County. Hall has served on the Ulster County Legislature and the Saugerties Board of Education. He has been a board member of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. and is co-founder of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy).

Issues:
War in Iraq – Hall wants to extricate American troops from Iraq as quickly as possible and transfer control to a true multinational force. He supports Senator McCain's effort to ban torture and adhere to the Geneva Convention. Hall believes America has and should always have a first rate military, but calls for a complete cessation of designing, building, or testing new nuclear weapons in order to end the nuclear arms race

Health Care – Hall promises to protect Medicaid. He believes that Medicare must be allowed to negotiate with drug companies to lower costs of prescription drugs for seniors and taxpayers. He blames changes in the Medicare reimbursement formula for big tax hikes in New York and promises to protect New York taxpayers from what he calls Federal negligence that may cause Medicare costs to explode. Hall supports stem cell research to secure America’s global research dominance.

Energy Crisis – Hall prioritizes developing alternatives to oil and seeks to put the United States in the position of marketing new technologies to the rest of the world. His plan includes a “Marshall plan equivalent commitment” to conservative and alternative energy; raising CAFE standards to make American cars more competitive; tapping into NYS hydroelectric sites; supporting bio diesel; requiring energy efficiency in small businesses and private homes; developing solar technology to replace power plants like Indian Point; and canceling insurance underwriting and subsidies for nuclear power while enacting them for sustainable energy.

Homeland Security – Hall calls for the establishment of a comprehensive security plan that addresses terrorism and natural disasters. He criticizes the current establishment for complicated, slow-moving democracy and misuse of the National Guard and Reserves. He promises to immediately implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and back the GI Bill of Rights. Hall labels Indian Point one of the worst protected, unsafe nuclear power plants in the country and demands an independent, fair and transparent safety inspection.

Taxes – Hall believes the re-allocation of funds going to support the War in Iraq will ease the burden on tax payers for the funding of domestic programs.

New York State Assembly
100th District: Parts of Orange, Dutchess, and Ulster Counties

The race for the 100th District Assembly position has been a quiet, respectful one. The candidates agree on what has emerged as the most important issue: the need for school tax reform. Both candidates support the switch from a school property tax to a school income tax, but each harbors particular concerns about the switch. While the candidates seem to have similar points-of-view, they do diverge in their priorities and agendas. Incumbent Tom Kirwan is noted for his bi-partisan reform efforts, and Thompson is known for efficient and appropriate use of tax dollars. Both candidates support term limits for state lawmakers.

Incumbent:
Tom Kirwan

Party:
Republican, Conservative

Website:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=100

Background:
A lifelong resident of Newburgh, Tom Kirwan served twenty-eight years in the New York State Police, retiring as a Lieutenant in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. He was part of New York Drug Enforcement Task Force in New York City investigating mid to upper level drug dealers. Kirwan is a member of the Board of Directors of Our Lady of Comfort, a shelter for battered women, and he is a member of the civic organization UNICO in Newburgh, participating in various charitable projects.

Current Involvements:
Ranking Minority Member, Assembly Committee on Cities
Member, Committee on Education
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
Member, Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Appointed to the Legislative Commission on Toxic Substances and Hazardous Wastes.

Issues:

Taxes – Kirwan sees the need for school property tax reform but insists that a school income tax would have to be capped. Kirwan suggests expanding the STAR program to save taxpayers more money, and stop unfunded mandates that force the raising of property taxes. He also wants to prosecute Medicaid fraud and allow counties to return the savings back to property taxpayers. Kirwan believes that officials of counties and local municipalities understand the best interests of their constituents and should be allowed to control sales and occupancy taxes.
Reform – Citing the NYS legislature’s reputation as dysfunctional, Kirwan calls for reform on many levels. This includes reform of spending policies that feed special-interest groups and cause tax increases. He proposes fiscal restraint and required fiscal impact statements on all bills as well as the elimination of “member items” which allow lawmakers to give money to constituents, often during campaigning. Kirwan also proposes changes in the legislative processes, such as the elimination of special committees that slow down the process of passing important bills. He calls for greater transparency and more accountability.
Healthcare – Kirwan would like to see a national universal health care program. He believes a state-level attempt at such a program would only increase taxes and drive out families and businesses.

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Challenger:
Eleanor Thompson

Party:
Democratic

Website:
www.eleanorforassembly.com

Background:
Eleanor Thompson grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and is an Ivy-league trained educator, businesswoman, community activist and artist. She has lived in Beacon for fourteen years and has served two terms as Beacon’s Ward 2 Councilwoman and last year as Councilwoman-at-large. Housing issues have long been a priority for Thompson. A real estate professional of 18 years, she served 3 years as a property manager for the NYC Housing Authority and worked as housing issues as a community organizer in the 1970s. She has also been a union representative for Local 1199 and a project manager for the NYC Office of Business Development. Thompson’s great passion lies in the arts, which she considers essential for high-level critical thinking and positive social interaction. She exhibits her own art locally.

Issues:
Taxes – Thompson is for property tax reform. She favors an income school tax, and would protect the interests of senior citizens living on fixed incomes. She wants to change state income tax schedules so that every household contributes to public school funding. As Councilwoman, Thompson has a track record of keeping taxes low (they increased only 4% during her tenure) by exacting maximum spending power of tax dollars. She insists that spending directly benefits her constituents.

Healthcare – Thompson believes New Yorkers must receive quality, affordable
health care. She says the state can't use its financial problems to avoid the issue and says lawmakers need to “think outside the box.”

Housing – Thompson wants to see the creation of more affordable housing, especially for seniors on fixed incomes and middle and working class people.

Open space – Thompson is for legislation that protects our remaining open spaces from development and urban sprawl.

Comments

[Dave Mehelas]

Nice non-partisan work here. I appreciated it.