By Chris Ulanowski
Oswego, NY – BIPAC ANNOUNCES 2008 STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS
Syracuse, NY- BIPAC, The Business Industry Political Action Committee, the political arm of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, today announced their 2008 candidate endorsements in both the State Senate and Assembly races.
This year's political process involves a number of important and competitive races, stated Randy Wolken, MACNY's President. Central Upstate New York manufacturers are burdened by an increasingly difficult business climate, coupled with a legislative process that is seen as inefficient, and, at times, dysfunctional. The endorsement process is our manufacturing community's opportunity to meet with each candidate, and determine who best will champion our sector's best interests in Albany. I would like to personally congratulate each of this year's endorsed candidates.
This year, the BIPAC Board looked to endorse pro-manufacturing and reform-minded candidates, pressing further for specific support of legislation and immediate remedial action on issues of significant importance to the manufacturing community. Each candidate was asked a series of questions involving how to achieve additional workers compensation reform, ways to lower energy costs in New York State, plans to ease the tax burden for businesses and manufacturers, efforts concerning Medicaid system reform, means to lower healthcare costs, solutions to the state's looming financial crisis, and additional plans to aid Central Upstate New York manufacturing. This year, BIPAC participated in 19 races throughout the Central Upstate region.
Based on the candidates' responses and interviews, BIPAC is endorsing and weighing in on the following races:
48th State Senate District - The race for the 48th State Senate district seat includes incumbent Darryl Aubertine and challenger David Renzi. As newly elected Senator and longtime Assemblyman, Darryl proves well versed and dedicated to the issues pertinent to the state's business community, including state fiscal responsibility, energy production and reform of partisan politics. Challenger David Renzi clearly defined his stances on some key issues to manufacturing, such as property tax relief, eliminating taxes for manufacturers and expanding capacity of state energy to attract and retain good paying manufacturing jobs. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately the BIPAC Board felt that David Renzi showed a specific dedication to our issues and the prosperity of Central New York manufacturing and business. Therefore, BIPAC announces its endorsement of David Renzi.
49th State Senate District - The race in the 49th Senate district includes incumbent Senator Dave Valesky and challenger Jim DiStefano. In his four years as State Senator, Dave Valesky has earned a reputation of responsiveness. His vocal advocacy on manufacturing and business issues such as energy costs and workers compensation reform are well documented, often leading the charge for MACNY's energy agenda, as a standing member of the Senate's energy committee. Jim DiStefano, a longtime attorney in Syracuse, also served as a strong pro-business candidate. Jim's impressive background in local politics, in addition to his pro-business agenda including addressing property taxes, cutting the cost of State Government and jump starting the CNY economy served as impressive and promising goals to the BIPAC Board. Ultimately, Valesky has continually demonstrated his knowledge on manufacturing issues, and has proven he is hard working and determined to make our agenda an Albany priority. Therefore, we are pleased to endorse David Valesky for the 49th State Senate Seat.
121st State Assembly District - This race for the seat includes incumbent Assemblyman Al Stirpe and challenger David Knapp. Again, this race featured two candidates extremely well versed and knowledgeable on the critical issues hindering manufacturing and business growth in New York State. In Al's two years as Assemblyman, his extensive manufacturing background, coupled with a deep knowledge of the most critical issues for manufacturers, served positively for the manufacturing community and as a voice for our region and sector. David Knapp also proved an impressive background. As both a successful businessman and Lafayette Town Councilman since 1999, David's past and present experience gives him strong insight into what it takes to create and retain good-paying jobs in Upstate New York and what it will take to enact pro-business legislation and policy. The choice between these candidates proved very difficult for the BIPAC Board, and faced with two such strong pro-business candidates, BIPAC announces a decision to make no endorsement in the 121st State Assembly race.
The Central New York manufacturing community would like to weigh in on the political races below as well. The Business-Industry Political Action Committee offers the following endorsements based on an examination of candidate records in public office, candidate interviews, and the determination of candidates who will best represent the interests of manufacturers in Albany:
47th State Senate District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Joe Griffo.
50th State Senate District - BIPAC has decided to endorse John DeFrancisco.
51st State Senate District - BIPAC has decided to endorse James Seward.
53rd State Senate District - BIPAC has decided not to endorse in this race.
53rd State Senate District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Michael Nozzolio.
107th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Clifford Crouch
110th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse James Tedisco
111th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Bill Magee
115th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse David Townsend
116th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Roann DeStito
119th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided not to endorse in this race.
120th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse William Magnerelli
124th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Will Barclay
125th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Bob Oaks
129th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Brian Kolb
140th State Assembly District - BIPAC has decided to endorse Robin Schimminger
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The Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) is the political arm of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York. BIPAC is a group of 220 manufacturers and businesses throughout Central New York concerned about the status of New York's business climate.