Campaign Roundup: A Few Good Candidates
By Mike Connery on 10/29/2010 @ 04:50 PM
DAILY CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP … Our roundup of campaign news.
- Senate Dems to GOP: Bull - New York Senate Dems are on the air with a new ad hitting Republicans for their atrocious 4 decade history in the Senate.
- Bill Samuels: Why Electing More Women Will Help Reform Albany - In a year when Democrats are running 12 women candidates, Bill Samuels writes in the Huffington Post about the crucial role of women in delivering on reform.
- A Few Good Candidates - The New York Times comes out strong for Democratic candidates Tony Avella, Mike Kaplowitz and Didi Barrett.
- Saland Hit With Ethics Complaint After Pressuring Firefighters - Steve Saland gets caught muscling local firefighters into supporting his reelection by threatening their grants.
- Schumer Endorses Carlucci, Kaplowitz - US Senator Chuck Schumer makes his first state senate endorsements.
- A Fresh Face for Albany - It's been a long time since the Saratogian endorsed a Democrat for State Senate, but today Joanne Yepsen breaks the streak.
- State Dems: Zeldin Too Extreme for the Senate - The NY Democratic Party is out with a new web video hitting Lee Zeldin for his extremist views and supporters.
- When Principle Matters - The NY Post endorsed the reelection of Senator Craig Johnson today.
- Cuomo Endorses Savage - Andrew Cuomo has endorsed Susan Savage in her race against Hugh Farley.
- LoHud Endorses David Carlucci - The Journal News endorsed David Carlucci today.
- Pretty Angry in Pink - Hugh Farley has offended just about everybody during this final week of the campaign - from the mentally handicapped to LGBT New Yorkers to environmentalists. Susan Savage is calling for an apology.
- Albany Times Union Endorses Savage, Breslin - Two Dem endorsements in today's Albany Times Union.
- Outsiders Juice Up Ads for Quinn, Kennedy - TV ads by outside groups, including Fight Back NY, are flooding the airwaves in SD-58. This is a big race for marriage equality advocates.
- If You Like Carl Paladino, You'll Love Greg Ball - NARAL sends mailers into state senate districts on behalf of Democratic candidates.
Campaign Roundup: Kaplowitz Promotes Green Collar Jobs
By Mike Connery on 09/09/2010 @ 02:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Mike Kaplowitz moves green collar jobs to the top of the agenda; Greg Ball is AWOL; and two of our women candidates continue to rack up the endorsements.
- Democrat Mike Kaplowitz has a plan to bring green collar jobs to New York. According to reports from Politics on the Hudson, the plan would create 22,000 green jobs, provide up to a 30% tax credit for investments into the manufacture of clean products, and boost economic output by $20 billion.
- Where in the district is Greg Ball? Not at his own town hall forums, according to reports by North County Local. Fortunately Democrat Mike Kaplowitz has shown up in his stead to talk to local Republican voters.
- Didi Barrett received two more endorsements in her bid for the New York State Senate’s 41st district. Local 21 of the Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Technicians Union, and the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Political Action Committee both announced their support for Barrett. “This endorsement only magnifies the impeccable record of public service and level of commitment she has displayed in the past. Her integrity, professionalism and high moral fiber are a testament to why she has maintained an unmatched level of respect amongst her peers and the community,” declared Local 21’s endorsement.
- Eleanor’s Legacy, a committee dedicated to increasing women’s roles in politics, endorsed Joanne Yepsen for State Senate. Yepsen is the ninth Democrat running for State Senate that the group has endorsed. "Each [women endorsed] is running to unseat an entrenched incumbent or to reclaim an open seat. Each [woman] promises the change to honest, effective government we need. We are proud to endorse Joanne Yepsen who encompasses these qualities,” ERLC’s President Nora Bredes said in a statement. Eleanor’s Legacy has yet to endorse a Republican for this election cycle.
Eleanor's Legacy Endorses 5 Women Candidates
By Mike Connery on 06/10/2010 @ 02:26 PM
Today, Eleanor's Legacy took the unprecedented step of making early endorsements of 5 women challengers running for State Senate:
- Didi Barrett, challenging Steve Saland in SD 41/ Dutchess & Columbia Counties.
- Regina Calcaterra, challenging Ken LaValle in SD1/Suffolk Couny
- Mary Wilmot, challenging James Alesi in SD 55/Monroe County
- Robin Wilt, challenging Joe Robach in SD 56/Monroe County
- Joanne Yepsen, challenging Roy McDonald in SD 43/Rensselaer & Saratoga County
With only 9 women serving in the state senate out of 62 total senators, the concerns of women are not being adequately represented in Albany. This endorsement from Eleanor's Legacy is a recognition that this needs to change, and that the fight to overthrow incumbent Republicans must begin today.
These campaigns need your support - to petition and get on the ballot, and to raise enough money to compete against heavily entrenched incumbents. Read the full endorsement from Eleanor's Legacy below, and sign up to support these great candidates win their fight.
Dear Friend,
Of the 62 members in the State Senate, just 10 are women. That's less than 16%. And we are determined to change that.
Breaking with precendent, we are providing early endorsement and support to 5 stellar candidates for the State Senate: Didi Barret, SD 41/Dutchess & Columbia; Regina Calcaterra SD 1/Suffolk; Mary Wilmot SD 55/Monroe; Robin Wilt SD 56/Monroe; Joanne Yepsen SD 43/Rensselaer & Saratoga. Learn more about these candidates.
We know that to see action finally taken on the issues important to our lives, women have to be at the table. We have to send these 5 women to Albany.
Help Didi, Regina, Mary, Robin, and Joanne get to Albany. Make a donation today.
It won’t be easy. These women are challenging entrenched incumbent Republican men who will have high name recognition in their districts. But we have something these Republican incumbents do not: a network of passionate, active women across the state.
Didi, Regina, Mary, Robin, and Joanne will be counting on our support from now until Election Day.
Click here to contribute today. Your finanical support means we can help these candidates level the playing field and get their message out to the voters.
Stay tuned for more updates from the campaign trail. It is going to be an exciting summer.
Nora Bredes President
NARAL-NY Endorses Didi Barrett
By Mike Connery on 05/14/2010 @ 10:10 AM
NARAL-NY announced yesterday that they will endorse Didi Barrett, our candidate in the 41st Senate District.
Didi is facing a tough battle against a 20 year incumbent, and it's going to take a significant investment of grassroots energy and financial support to win in November. If you'd like to join NARAL in their support of Didi's campaign, sign up to volunteer, or make a contribution today. As EMILY's List is known to say - early money is like yeast, it makes the dough rise. Every bit you give now will pay a higher return on investment in November.
NARAL Pro-Choice New York Endorses DIDI BARRETT for NY State Senate Millbrook, NY – May 13, 2010 – NARAL Pro-Choice New York announced today that it is endorsing Didi Barrett for New York State Senate. Barrett is running in the 41st senate district, which encompasses most of Dutchess and all of Columbia counties.
NARAL Pro-Choice New York is a political and advocacy reproductive rights organization that works at the state and local level to protect and advance access to the full range of reproductive health care to help men, women and teens stay healthy and safe.
“Didi is a 100% pro-choice candidate running to unseat anti-choice incumbent Senator Stephen Saland (R). Didi has served on the boards of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice New York. She has a fresh perspective and believes in the progressive values that the majority of New Yorkers share. Her election to the State Senate will bring a needed change to a district that, for far too long, has been represented by someone who does not share his constituents’ values when it comes to protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare,” said Kelli Conlin, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York.
“I am honored to receive NARAL Pro-Choice New York’s endorsement. As I have for decades, I will continue to fight to protect every New Yorker’s right to reproductive health care that suits their individual needs,” said Barrett.
Barrett has been a leader in the not-for-profit community for more than two decades, focusing her energy on issues relating to women and girls. She was a board member of the Women’s Campaign Forum and the New York Women’s Foundation. Barrett was the founder of Girls Inc of New York and currently is the driving force behind the new Dutchess Girls Collaborative, which is bringing together service providers in the county.
“NARAL Pro-Choice New York is committed to supporting Didi Barrett. We will leverage our resources and our strong network of pro-choice New Yorkers to help ensure her success,” added Conlin.
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