2006: Opportunity Knocking?

The New York State Assembly has been in control by liberal Democrats (and Republicans) for at least twenty-five years.

The lower-house has not had a conservative majority since 1973 and has lost the ability to block veto-overrides in 2002.

Because voters are showing lack of interest in local campaigns and also with special interest helping incumbants win time and time again, bringing reform to Albany is becoming harder and harder.

This year, New York City voters have an opportunity to start making some changes so new life can enter Albany and a reform agenda can be a key issue in making State Government work again.

How? you might be asking?
Well, by first, voting for the challengers instead of incumbants. In other words, by voting Republican.

Here are ten races where Republicans are challenging the incumbant Democrats:

23rd AD - Stuart W. Mirsky (vs. Audrey I. Pheffer)

44th AD - Viviana V. Hernandez (vs. James F. Brennan)

64th AD - Michael A. Imperiali (vs. Sheldon Silver)

65th AD - Michael Fandal (vs. Alexander B. Pete Grannis)

67th AD - Theodore Howard (vs. Linda Rosenthal)

68th AD - Dean Loren Velasco (vs. Adam Clayton Powell, IV)

71st AD - Glenda Allen (vs. Herman D. Farrell, Jr.)

72nd AD - Martin Chicon (vs. Adriano Espaillat)

73rd AD - Robert Heim (vs. Jonathan L. Bing)

74th AD - Frank Scala (vs. Sylvia Friedman)

The one race that can bring change to Albany is the 64 AD race against Speaker Sheldon Silver. By winning the seat, the Democratic Party will be forced to choose a new Speaker and with a new Speaker, new life can breathe into the Assembly chamber.

Reform is a very important issue with voters and it would be wise for all Republican Assembly candidates to formulate a similar message on issues or unite together as a "ticket" against the same-as-usual crowd that candidates Tom Suozzi and John Faso talk so much about.

The four basic reform issues I'd like to see brought to Albany are:

Statewide candidates consisting of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and Comptroller should be term limited to two four-year terms only.

The State Senate consisting of 62 members, equal to the number of Counties in the State of New York, should be representative to the counties and not by population.

The Senators should be elected to four-year terms instead of the current two-year terms.

Leadership positions and Committee chairpersons should be limited to a maximum of eight years.

Some people may want to see term limits for the Legislature as well, and part of me believes that many not be such a bad idea. Something like 5 terms for Assembly (two year terms) and 3 terms for Senate (four year terms). However, I am opposed to enacting such limitations where 80% to 90% of a legislative body could be ousted at one time. The only way to avoid such an event is to impose the limits on the next elected representative for such a district. That way, the imposed term limits will stagger the years throughout the legislative body when an official retires, win election for another office or loses to a challenger (or gets convicted of a crime, which seems to be happening more frequently).

Voters will listen to candidates running for office and consider voting for the challengers, if a case is presented against the incumbant and a reform agenda appeals to them.

*This entry has been cross-posted here.