Open Thread: Your endorsements

Thanks Howard for providing this platform. I know I always like to see other people's opinions. These are my endorsements. Probably won't sway anyone, but I do what I can. Please, take the time to vote. If the people who run for office and the people who run the campaigns see more voter turnout, maybe they'll start paying better attention to us regular folk.

Proposition One: Voting No. I supported this at first, but have now decided that our county legislators need to be accountable to us the voters and taxpayers as much as possible. Having an election (or approval vote) every 2 years is healthy and good for us in general. I’d like to see term limits however, so we can get some new blood coming in.

Town of Alabama Supervisor: I support Dan Mangino. Dan has been a resident of this town for 25+ years and raised his family here. He’s served on the town board for 3 years. He has a sincere interest in the future of Alabama and will serve us, his friends and neighbors well.

NY Assembly 139th District: Chris Barons, I want an independent voice representing us in Albany. Chris (or C.M.) has not gotten very many donations or endorsements, that’s a good thing, he will be beholden to noone, not even the Democrats. Chris has gone door to door visiting with voters in his spare time outside of his full-time job. He will bring fresh ideas, an outsider's view and a true understanding of what an average working person has to deal with daily. For what it’s worth, politically C.M. and I have many differences, but Integrity beats Ideology everytime for me. http://www.solutionsnotexcuses.org/

U.S. Senate: John Clifton, Libertarian: US Navy Veteran. Against our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. Senator Clifton would call for the immediate withdrawal of US military and civilian contractors, shutting down the bases; quote “Give these native people back their sovereignty and self determination, instead of making them a perpetual co-opted puppet state of the US empire.” “In short, this Libertarian candidate stands for ending government meddling abroad, as well as in the market, and in our personal lives. I will work ceaselessly to end the Federal Reserve, the IRS, and the insane war on drugs. I pledge to fight globalism, aka the New World Order, and all movements institutions that would further Big Brother on an international scale. I will fight to reverse the Patriot Act in its entirety, as well as the National ID (in whatever disguised new form it takes). I will vote to repeal heath care reform and restore true choice in medical care.”
http://serfcity.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/libertarian-candidate-for-us-s…

NY Governor: Warren Redlich, Libertarian: Stop Wasting Money!!! Warren has a cogent plan for cutting spending. Warren has not received large contributions from corporations or other special interests who will then be expecting something in return. Warren wants to cap all state salaries at $100k per year, including politicians and the governor. He wants to eliminate the waste of all the separate authorities that exist in this state. Does anyone really believe that a career politician or a long-time pay to play real estate developer will change Albany? Not me. http://wredlich.com/ny/

Since you asked:
Governor: Warren Redlich
Comptroller: Harry Wilson
Neither one is a "politician"
Assembly: Chris Barons
I like his honest approach to things. Besides, someone has to back him up, the county Dems aren't doing it. (Still think it's shitty to ask someone to run, then you leave him high and dry)
State Senate: I'm abstaining
US Senate: Kirsten Gillibrand and Randy Credico
US House of Reps: Chris Lee
Gillibrand strikes me as an authentic person. I wasn't crazy about her as Paterson's choice, but she is doing a fair job, and I like how "transparent" her office is.
Credico wants to legalize pot..nuff said
Whatever you do, make sure you vote.

I really thought this would get more play than it has.

Governor: Andrew Cuomo
U.S. Senate: Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand

U.S. House: Abstain

Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman, I supported Sean Coffey during the primary, but I know Schneiderman will do a great job. If Kathleen Rice had won the primary I might be voting for a Republican here.

Comptroller: Tom DiNapoli, He's been doing the best he can with what he's been given and he's been very honest about it.

State Senate: Marc Coppola, long before campaign or even petition season began, Marc told me he was dedicated to doing what's right for Genesee County. Back then, I wasn't sure if I believed him, but for the better part of a year, Marc has been keeping that promise and he earns more of my respect every day. I'm proud to have helped him and I'll be happpy to do it again in the future no matter what happens tomorrow.

NYS Assembly: Chris Barons, if I could vote for Chris a million times I'd be happy to do it. Chris is an intelligent and capable man with a wealth of great ideas. He has raised the level of discourse and worked harder than I've ever seen a candidate work. There's no quit in this man and, should he win tomorrow, he'll make all of us proud.

Batavia City Council: Patti Pacino, I live in Patti's ward and she is running unopposed. I could choose not to pull the lever for her, but she gets my vote. Patti is a dedicated public servant.

A few months ago I moved back into my parents house.

Why?!?!?!?

Because my rent was too damn high!

Governor: Andrew Cuomo
U.S. Senate: Chuck Schumer
The first time Senator Schumer ran, I didn't vote for him. I considered him one of those downstate guys who didn't even know land existed west of the Hudson. I've since become one of his biggest fans. I would suggest anyone sit in on a hearing at which he presides. He is intelligent, full of facts and figures, and sympathetic to the plight of those living in our area.
U.S. Senate: Kirsten Gillibrand
I met Senator Gillibrand for the first time two years ago. She struck me as a woman who could juggle the job of wife, mother, and senator without skipping a beat. She is cool under pressure. Her knowledge of our area and the concerns of the people is incredible.

U.S. House: Abstain

Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman
Like Chris, I liked Coffey, but Schneiderman will work hard as our new AG. He has my vote.

Comptroller: Tom DiNapoli

State Senate: Marc Coppola
When Marc came before our committee to ask for an endorsement I was probably one of the hard nuts he had to crack. "What do you know about Genesee Co.?", I asked. "What do you know about Batavia?". He was sincere and honest when he answered, "not much, but I intend to learn all that I can.".
Marc has made one heck of an effort to learn about issues that impact our county and city. He has spent hours, here, talking to people and truly listening to what they have to say.
A side note to his dedication is his eye for detail. He was asked numerous questions at one event. Each issue was noted as were the names and addresses. Every person received a letter with information regarding their particular concern.
Marc worked to gain my confidence. He has my vote.

NYS Assembly: Chris Barons
What is left to say about our own C.M.?
He is the ultimate example of a regular (albeit, extremely intelligent) working guy with a feel for what is needed in NYS.
Anyone who has watched The West Wing will understand when I say that C.M. is the 'real deal'.
Unlike most politicians, C.M. didn't have the time to spend 23/7 campaigning. He did it on his days off and off hours from work. His platform is unique. He sees NYS through the eyes of that everyday working person.
Chris had my vote from the moment I met him. I hope he has your's too.

Chris, nobody cares but, us junkies.

Gov. Undecided (but, the rent is too damn high!)

US Senate: Chuck Schumer and "The little Girl"( I like people who do exactly what Chuck tells them to do)

US House: Lee
State Senate: Coppola
State Assembly: Hawley

Chris,

I thought this thread would get more play as well.

I don't advertise who I vote for. Maybe most of the regular posters here feel the same way?

I am suprised by the number of folks who strongly participate in the political discourse here that are abstaining from the house vote.

I'm thinking that the House vote really doesn't matter, because Lee is basically unopposed (The guy on the Dem line is there because they had to put someone one, he has said that he's not campaigning) and because after redistricting this seat won't exist any more, We will probably get Louise Methuselah Slaughter back again. NY is projected to lose 2 seats due to population loss since 2000, and since the Democrats will be re-drawing the Gerrymandered lines that make the state look like a Rorschach test slide and since this a traditionally Republican district......... need I say more?

I didn't realize that this district was expected to disappear. All the abstains make sense in that case.

It's just a guess on my part. Mike. It would be nice of the re-districting is done by an impartial panel, if that even exists. But there is a lot of power and money involved, so whoever has the power will use it. Gerrymandering is one of the issues that really ticks me off, The districts could be done very simply and the people would control the balance of power.

My choice for judges.
9A Kevin Dillon has been a State Supreme Court Justice since 1997. He is a former Erie County district attorney who was president of the State District Attorneys Association. Judge Dillon is a graduate of Villanova University and UB Law School. He is also a UB adjunct law professor and serves on the Erie Community College criminal-justice advisory board.

10A Eugene Fahey has been a State Supreme Court Justice since 1997. He is also a member of the Appellate Division where he sits on the appeals court. Judge Fahey is a former Buffalo City Court judge and Common Council member. Fahey holds a master’s degree in European history from the University at Buffalo and graduated from UB Law School.

www.judgefahey.com

11A Mark Montour is a Lancaster town justice and is an acting Buffalo City Court judge. Montour is of Mohawk ancestry. He was a Lancaster Town Board member and deputy town supervisor. Judge Montour graduated from Canisius College and UB Law School. He is founder of the Lancaster Town Court’s Problem Solving Court and was named “Jurist of the Year” by the Judges and Police Conference of Erie County earlier this year.

www.votemarkmontour.com

12A Catherine Nugent Panepinto is a law clerk to State Supreme Court Justice Tracey Bannister. She is a former Buffalo Board of Education member. She is a former civil litigator and a former lead organizer for labor unions and has taught at the Cornell University Institute of Labor Studies in Buffalo. Panepinto is a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and UB Law School.

www.nugentpanepintoforjustice.com

13A Henry (Hank) Nowak is a Buffalo City Court judge since 2003 and has been presiding judge of the innovative and nationally-renowned Buffalo Housing Court. He is an adjunct professor at UB Law School. Nowak is the son of Congressman Hank Nowak and is a graduate of UB Law School. He worked in the law firms of nationally known Buffalo lawyers Paul Cambria and Terry Connors.

www.judgenowak.com

Dave, don't even get me started on gerrymandering. If only one thing could be reformed I think I would start with gerrymandered districts.

Gov- Cuomo...
Honestly, I was leaning toward him a while back, but the clincher was when he named Bob Duffy his running mate.

U.S. Senate- Schumer & Gillibrand...
Gillibrand has turned out to be a fine stand-in for Clinton, and seems to actually care about what is good for her constituents, including us in WNY. Schumer as well seems to realize there is more to NY than downstate (and it doesn't hurt that he has fought for us Bills fans on NFL matters!).

State Senate- Coppola

NYS Assembly- Barons...
I have met both CM and Steve Hawley. Both are nice enough guys, if it were a nice guy contest, I'd abstain...but it's not, so I won't.

Not one endorsement for Crazy Carl? I thought this was "Carl Country"