Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee Endorses Joanne Yepsen
By Mike Connery on 06/07/2010 @ 10:53 AM
This weekend the Democratic Committee of Saratoga Springs endorsed Joanne Yepsen for State Senate. Yepsen is challenging Roy McDonald, the successor to convicted felon Joe Bruno.
The Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee has enthusiastically endorsed Saratoga Springs Supervisor Joanne Yepsen in her run for the 43rd State Senate seat.
Yepsen will apply her resourcefulness to contribute to the solution of Saratoga Springs’ main problem, the parlous future of horse racing in upstate New York. She has demonstrated her skills in bringing people together to find solutions. She will put an end to McDonald’s passivity, sheltered by do-nothing, lazy minority status.
Also endorsed was B.K. Keramati in his run for New York’s 110th Assembly District. His charming performance at his announcement in Congress Park was witnessed by new and old Saratoga Springs Democrats, including, among others, the previous and present chairs Al Turkheimer and Thilo Ullmann.
The Saratoga Springs Democrats are looking forward to an active and energetic 2010 election season as a harbinger of successes in 2011.
Thilo Ullmann, chair, Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee
Change Albany Now: Senate Class of 2010
By Mike Connery on 05/26/2010 @ 05:01 PM
Earlier today at the State Party Convention, Senator Sampson introduced the Democratic Party, and all of New York, to the Senate Class of 2010. You can read his full remarks here (video coming soon).
As Senator Sampson noted in his address, these are the women and men in whom we are investing our hopes for the future. They are challenging Republican incumbents across New York State - from Monroe County all the way out to the tip of Long Island. They are running to Change Albany Now. But they need your help.
They need your help to get our candidates on the ballot. They need your help to staff the phone banks and stuff the mailers. They need your help to knock on doors and rally Democrats around this state.
And with your help, they'll win in November and bring real change to Albany.
Meet the Democratic Senate Class of 2010, and listen to their vision for a reformed New York. Then go out into your districts, recruit your friends and family, and help make that vision a reality.
Joanne Yepsen: Where Was Roy McDonald on NYRA?
By Mike Connery on 05/17/2010 @ 06:26 PM
This afternoon, Saratoga Supervisor and Democratic challenger to incumbent Roy McDonald held a press conference demanding that McDonald stop playing partisan games and get to work saving the jobs of 40,000 residents of Saratoga county who will be unemployed if a solution is not found to NYRA's funding troubles.
McDonald has twiddled his thumbs on this issue, pointing fingers at others instead of taking a leadership role to protect jobs in his own district. Yepsen perhaps best summed up the situation in her press conference when she said:
“Roy McDonald has clearly failed to lead on this issue. Instead he shifts the blame on the Senate floor, as he did last week, saying that someone should have addressed this issue years ago. I’m pretty sure that someone was supposed to be him.”
Here is the full text of a release put out by the Yepsen campaign:
JOANNE YEPSEN, WE DESERVE ANSWERS SAVE 40,000 JOBS (Saratoga Springs, NY) –Joanne Yepsen, candidate for the 43rd state senate district seat, today called on Sen. Roy McDonald to stop partisan game playing and get to work on saving jobs for Saratoga and Rensselaer counties.
This morning, the media reported that the New York Racing Association indicated today they are working very hard with the state to secure the loan needed. However, to date, no funding has been found which may put the race season at risk for Saratoga 2010. Where is our voice in Albany? This will cost New York State another 40,000 jobs amidst the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
“Roy McDonald has clearly failed to lead on this issue. Instead he shifts the blame on the Senate floor, as he did last week, saying that someone should have addressed this issue years ago.” said Yepsen. “I’m pretty sure that someone was supposed to be him.”
Indeed, the problems with the New York Racing Association and the Aqueduct Video Lottery Terminals are not new. The VLT proposal has been around since 2001, when Roy McDonald’s predecessor Joe Bruno led the Senate. It is now 2010 and the state still hasn’t selected an operator.
“McDonald is just now getting involved, but where has he been for the past two years?” said Yepsen, “Our elected officials should be leading this fight to save our district’s jobs, not getting involved at the last moment.”
Not only does Yepsen take offense at McDonald’s last minute interest in the most important issue for this region, but she also criticizes his methods. McDonald has teamed with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce in preparing to sue New York State for failure to subsidized NYRA. “Partisan bickering and political grandstanding is not the answer,” Yespsen continues, “A law suit will only cost us more money in the end.”
Yepsen added, “Cessation of New York State racing will hurt all of us, Republicans and Democrats. Therefore, we all need to work together to help our Upstate economy and refrain ourselves from partisan cheap shots.”
As Saratoga Supervisor, Yepsen led the fight for preservation of the historic Saratoga Flat Track. She has been a staunch advocate for nonpartisan cooperation and governmental transparency.
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Yepsen Hits the Trail: Notes from Troy
By Mike Connery on 05/03/2010 @ 10:09 AM
Fresh off her successful campaign launch, Joanne Yepsen attended the third annual stickball tournament and fundraiser for Rensselaer county food pantries. The event was in Troy's little Italy.
Yepsen, who once lived in Italy, spoke with many voters in their native italian.
Here are some photos from the event.
News from Joanne Yepsen's Campaign Launch
By Mike Connery on 04/30/2010 @ 11:01 AM
Yesterday Saratoga Supervisor Joanne Yepsen announced her candidacy against Republican incumbent (and Joe Bruno successor) Roy McDonald. So far her announcement is well-received in the local press:
- Saratoga Today: Yepsen Challenges McDonald
- News 10 has great video of Joanne from after the announcement.
- The Post-Star: Yepsen Plans Run for State Senate and Yepsen Announces Bid for Senate
- The Saratogian: Saratoga Springs Supervisor Joanne Yepsen Announces State Senate Run
- Troy Record: Yepsen Announces Senate Run
- Albany Times Union: Democrat to Test McDonald and Candidate: Work Together
Quick Hits from the Campaign Trail: Yepsen Announces, Arizona's Immigration Law Hits New Yorkers
By Mike Connery on 04/29/2010 @ 11:01 AM
The latest news from our conference, candidates, and campaigns.
- At 2pm today, Joanne Yepsen will announce her candidacy for the 43rd Senate District, challenging Joe Bruno heir Roy McDonald. The Troy Record and Albany Times Union have already covered the announcement.
- More information is coming out on Republican Sullivan County Legislator Dave Sager, who wants to switch his party affiliation to Democrat and challenge incumbent Republican John Bonacic.
- Local teacher Glenn Dannaham is also running to unseat Bonacic.
- Tom Libous took time out of his busy schedule to bash video games. Next week he'll be yelling at kids to get off his lawn.
- Two of the Republicans vying to replace Vincent Leibell - Mary Beth Murphy and Jim Borkowski - get profiled in the Lewisboro Ledger.
- Craig Johnson is calling on those disappointed with the Arizona law to not take out their anger on AriZona Iced Tea, which is actually a Long Island-based company.
- José Peralta, and José Serrano slammed Arizona's new immigration enforcement law:
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