Robin Wilt to Challenge Joe Robach
By Mike Connery on 06/17/2010 @ 09:56 AM
Yesterday, Robin Wilt declared her candidacy for the 56th Senate District in Monroe County. Wilt is a strong candidate with roots in the local progressive Democratic community. She's the co-founder of the Genesee Valley chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, a small business owner, and a mother.
Her opponent is a 7 year incumbent, but the district is strongly Democratic. There are over 44,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district.
Wilt is running on a platform of reforming Albany, and bringing needed jobs and opportunities back to the region. After a successful campaign launch yesterday, she's already receiving positive local press:
- Democrat and Chronicle: Robin Wilt to Challenge Joseph Robach in State Senate Race
- Rochester YNN: Robin Wilt Announces Run for 56th District Seat
- Rochester Turning: Robin Wilt Kick-Off For New York State Senate Tomorrow
- The Daily Record: Wilt running for state Senate in 56th District
- WHEC: Robin Wilt announcing candidacy for 56th State Senate District
Here is the full text of her launch announcement:
I am so gratified and humbled to see so many here today to support me in this endeavor.
We are gathered in Rochester’s first park, where Frederick Douglass was a frequent orator, and in the shadow of so many things that make this community great.
For years now, I have worked with many of you to bring about the common sense changes needed to have a government that is responsive to people, as opposed to corporate interests. I, like you, am tired of the dysfunction in Albany, and I am tired of a system of legislative horse trading where standing on ones principles is derided as naïve and impractical.
I stand here before you, an unlikely candidate for elected office. I don’t come from the political establishment. I truly am not a politician—much less a career politician like my opponent. As a mother, a community activist, and a business owner, I have undergone the struggles of an uncertain economic environment; and it is precisely that which makes me uniquely suited to represent the interests of everyday upstate New Yorkers in Albany.
I will go to Albany to implement the common sense policies that will positively impact the lives of the people in our district. I represent your challenges and frustrations with the status quo, but more importantly, I represent your hope that we can, through our efforts, change our system of government for the better. As you believe in the strength of our community and our potential for positive growth, I am asking you to believe that we can, through the success of this campaign, move one step closer to realizing a government that is as strong as the community it serves.
That’s why today I am solemnly asking for your support for my candidacy for the 56th Senate District.
We are at an historical crossroads for our community. We can either decide to maintain the broken system that has overseen the loss of jobs and opportunities for our region, or we can decide that it’s time that our government reflect the can-do spirit of the people it represents.
The task before us is not easy. This will be a vigorous race against a well-funded, entrenched politician. I know, however, through history, and through my own experiences, that a small group of committed individuals can effect real change. Imagine what we can do with all of the groups that are represented here today.
That’s why today I am asking that you join with me in gaining financial support for this campaign—and in return I promise that I will become an instrument of change to fix our broken campaign finance system. I ask that you sign up to carry petitions and literature in support of my campaign, and in return, I promise that I will carry your message of positive change to Albany. I ask that you make calls on my behalf to your friends and family, and in return, I promise to deliver a wakeup call to our legislators in Albany.
Thanks again everyone for being here to support me today. I look forward to working with all of you over the months to come.
New York Senate Dems Hits Republicans on Taxes and Budget
By Mike Connery on 04/16/2010 @ 05:26 PM
Yesterday was tax day, and once again hard-working New Yorkers sent too much of their tax dollars to Albany.
While New Yorkers continue to pay more than their fair share, Republicans are sitting on the sidelines, running from decades-long record of taxing, spending and borrowing away the financial stability of our state. To add insult to injury, they are refusing to participate constructively in the current budget process, and trying to blame Democrats for their own mess.
New York Senate Dems are determined to hold Republicans accountable for these actions.
Today we launched a series of robocalls into the districts of 14 Republicans who are ducking and dodging their record on taxes while the people of New York foot the bill. Calls were placed into the districts of Dean Skelos, Steve Saland, Hugh Farley, Roy McDonald, Owen Johnson, Kemp Hannon, John DeFrancisco, Tom Libous, Joe Robach, Michael Ranzenhofer, Ken LaValle, James Alesi, Frank Padavan and Joe Griffo.
Voters in each of those districts received a call informing them of their Senator's record on the budget and taxes, and asking them to call and ask their Senator to work with Democrats to resolve our state's budget crisis.
You can listen to a few of those calls below:
Dean Skelos
Kemp Hannon
Owen Johnson
Senate Republicans bear the brunt of responsibility for landing us in our current fiscal straits. They owe it to their constituents, and to all New Yorkers, to engage in good faith negotiations to help fix their mess.
We're not going to let them run from their record any longer.
Ed Note - We're still in beta and working out the hiccups, and this post was accidentally deleted from our system on Monday April 19th. A new copy was uploaded on Tuesday April 20.
