Mary Wilmot to Challenge James Alesi
By Mike Connery on 06/21/2010 @ 09:30 AM
This weekend, with the support of Representative Louise Slaughter and Assemblyman Joe Morelle, Mary Wilmot declared that she will challenge Republican incumbent James Alesi in New York's 55th Senate District (Monroe County).
Wilmot is a life-long resident of Monroe County who brings a strong family background of service to District 55. As Regional Director for the Governor and the New York State Senate, Wilmot has extensive knowledge of the challenges facing Monroe County. She understands the need to rein in excessive government spending and high taxes in order to preserve the local economy, and as a mother and working parent, she is committed to revitalizing our upstate community job markets. Mary will bring her passion for the environment to the Senate, championing investment in clean energy alternatives and energy conservation that will bring new industries to New York and create good jobs in Monroe County.
Her opponent, James Alesi, has been part of the problem in Albany for 14 years. He supported the failed Pataki-Bruno era of leadership, and has done nothing while corruption grew and property taxes in New York skyrocketed. With Wilmot's entry into the race, reform-minded New Yorkers have a strong chance to replace an out-of-touch Republican with a strong, independent woman dedicated to cleaning up the capital.
Mary's campaign launch was covered widely in the local news. Read more about her candidacy below, and visit her website to learn how you can help Mary win in November.
- Democrat and Chronicle: Mary Wilmot to Challenge James Alesi for State Senate Seat
- Rochester YNN: Mary Wilmot Will Oppose Alesi in 55th State Senate District
- News 10 WHEC: Mary Wilmot Announces Candidacy for 55th District
You can read the full text of Mary's announcement speech below:
Albany is dysfunctional, endless bickering fueled by the influence of special interests. I will bring new ideas and new energy to get us back on track, to promote good government serving the best interests of all New Yorkers.
Once the pride of the nation, New York State has become a national embarrassment, a state in crisis, an economy in shambles.
Out-of-control borrowing and spending, coupled with the historic failures on Wall Street, have left the state with a 9.2 billion dollar deficit. The Great Recession of 2009 served as a harsh reminder that uncontrolled government spending is unsustainable. Our ways must be defined by our means.
State leaders are incapable of passing a budget, putting critical services, human-service agencies, and school districts in jeopardy.
Property taxes … an incredible 79% above the national average and continue to drive people, and businesses, out of our state.
Some current State Senators have simply been in office too long. A train wreck on auto-pilot. They are more interested in sustaining their status quo and the perks of their job they’ve lost sight of what serving their constituents really means. It’s time for them to go.
My opponent, Jim Alesi claims to be a friend of small business. What I don’t understand and what the people of the 55th district need to know is how this public servant, who claims to be an advocate for taxpayers, could vote to effectively double the size of the state budget over the last 12 years. During the very same 12 years, the resources of our states families have certainly not doubled; in fact the incomes of most New Yorkers have stagnated. Since joining the Senate in 1997 Jim Alesi has voted to more than double our state’s debt making New York second only to California in the liabilities we taxpayers, and our children, must repay. And to make matters worse, given the crushing tax and regulatory burdens of our state, there’s now over two million less of us to pay these debts. It’s time for a change in the 55th District.
New York State must do more to retain our existing businesses and to bring in new ones … to create new and better jobs.
My family is here with me today, my daughter Kailey and my best friend husband Tim. My son Jimmy has just started his summer job and will graduate from college next year. Like far too many young people his age in our community, he may be forced to move out of state after graduation where job prospects are better and the cost of living is lower. To all of us who have, or will have, children his age, that should be unacceptable.
In my most recent role with the State, I listened to the concerns of business owners, large and small who pay high taxes and constantly have to battle Albany’s bureaucracy. We can do a better job serving the employers of New York State.
I also heard loud and clear from residents in the 55th District who are fed up with Albany … who struggle to make ends meet and to pay their mortgages and their taxes. We can do a better job serving the workers of New York State.
Today, I pledge to fight for a cap on property taxes … so people don’t have to live in constant fear of losing their homes.
I will fight to make the Empire State more business-friendly, so we can start ushering businesses into our community and stop driving them out of state.
I will not just talk a good game about being fiscally conservative. I will work to reduce state spending and to restore government accountability, to make sure we get a valuable return on each and every tax dollar spent.
And I will work to change the culture in Albany where too many current Senators go along to get along. It is unacceptable when our leaders approve budgets year after year that spend more than we can afford and when sensible policies are crushed by lobbyists and special interests.
Clearly, the time has come for new leadership and new faces in state government. I will work for you to restore accountability and integrity in the State Senate.
I believe that my diverse mix of experience in the private and public sectors and in human services prepares me well for this challenge.
It is fitting that we are here today along the Erie Canal. The canal connects many of our towns and villages of the 55th District. It helps make us good neighbors with common concerns and common hopes for our families. Building this man-made waterway took incredible vision, diligence and hard work – it wasn’t easy.
Fixing Albany won’t be easy, either. But I’m committed to making it happen.
My family has demonstrated our investment in this community and they understand how to create good jobs in Upstate New York -- and they embrace the need to give something back to our neighbors. As a State Senator, I will look to my grandfather as my role model.
His hard work helped build a successful business from scratch.
And he taught me about the importance of giving something back to the community.
I have lived in Monroe County my entire life. I believe the best way I can contribute to our District right now is to serve in the State Senate. I look forward to a spirited debate on the issues and a competitive campaign and I look forward to serving all the residents of our great community while I’m in Albany.
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