I put this on my blog, and I'm putting it here too. Damn politicians!
Quoted Text
I took a phonecall for a "poll" today. A Schenectady County poll for the upcoming special election for Tonko's seat. And the major players are George Amedore Jr. and Fast Eddy Kosiur.
They were lengthy questions and with some of them, I found myself wanting to reach through the phone, grab the survey taker's neck and shake her because of the crap that Fast Eddy came out with! Oh, and the outright lies.
I've never been a Tonko fan, wouldn't even think of pulling his lever but I think highly of Eliot Spitzer. I don't think he'll be able to make real changes in our dysfunctional government. There's too many power mongers that run for government breadbox. Hell, we've got a dictatorship right here in the City and County of Schenectady! The Democratic Majority.
One of the questions was about Ed Kosiur's yes votes on raising our taxes here in Schenectady. The "excuse" was that it was all the prior administration's fault! That's such an old excuse and so many people believe it that they're ready to blame the old administration for all the woes of the city.
Nonsense! Poppycock! Bull sh**!
And for Fast Eddy to use the same excuse tells me he's a hollow, shallow, wimp and gutter slug. Ride on your own horse Ed. What the hell have YOU done to make our lives better in the city? Come up with a sex offender law that makes registered offenders move out of the city???
It's bad enough that you STOLE that idea and made it so that it caters to your so called "voter base" of fearful sheep. I'm in his "voter base" too and I wouldn't vote for Fast Eddy Kosiur if he were the only one on the ballot. My husband saw you yelling at your daughter - In Public - at a Jerry Burrell Park dog and pony show. And come to think of it, I'm pretty sure Frederic Lee was there too. It doesn't matter that you yanked her away from the crony crowd you were with. He saw it and he won't be voting for you either. You are a freakin' fraud!
So I'm willing to give a newbie a chance. I could care less that George Amedore Jr. built an "Extreme" house. We need to sh** can the long time garbage from our government and get some new people in those notoriously "appointed" seats. Kosiur was a city council "appointee." He only got on the Legislature because he was "new." Well, his kind of "new" only belongs in the trash!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
I received the same phone call yesterday. And what I found most amusing, was the person taking the poll could not speak very good English and did not have even a clue how to say "Schenectady". And I also found it somewhat strange that right from the beginning they asked to speak to the "youngest" voter in the house. I lied and said "I was"!
This is called trying to dress up a turkey. The Democrats know that they are in trouble in this race, that Lumpy Kosiur is highly unpopular in the City and unknown outside the City, so they are running excuses by young voters to see which will stick. Older voters already know what a Tax & Spend turkey Lumpy is.
The best idea is call an emergency Democratic meeting. Have Lumpy Kosiur cite "work duties", no that's too comical, try "family obligations", then substitute Joe Allen for Lumpy. Still gonna lose but at least Joe Allen has earned his stripes.
It appears that if these political hopefuls have to resort to polls, then perhaps they are out of touch with the 'people' they are hoping to be 'public servants' for.
I just remembered one of the questions. They wanted to know what I thought about Charter Schools.
I'm in FAVOR of Charter Schools. If any parent takes that kind of interest in their child's education, and doesn't think the public school is meeting their needs, they should have a CHOICE!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
I just remembered one of the questions. They wanted to know what I thought about Charter Schools.
I'm in FAVOR of Charter Schools. If any parent takes that kind of interest in their child's education, and doesn't think the public school is meeting their needs, they should have a CHOICE!
By RYAN HUTCHINS, Special to the Times Union Last updated: 4:21 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2007
SCHENECTADY - Edward Kosiur, the man behind Schenectady County's new sex offender residency law, officially announced his candidacy today to replace long-time Assemblyman Paul Tonko, who steps down at the end of the week.
Kosiur is a Democratic county legislator from the city of Schenectady.
Tonko is leaving a seat he has held for 25 years to become president and CEO of the state Energy Research and Development Authority.
Just before Kosiur's announcement, his new political foe George Amedore, of Rotterdam, opened his campaign headquarters. The Republican home builder gained prominence through his work with the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" show.
Kosiur, 51, and Amedore, 38, will face-off in a special election for the chance to complete Tonko's two-year term in the Assembly's 105th district seat. Gov. Eliot Spitzer will likely select a day for that election once Tonko leaves. Special elections are traditionally held between 30 to 40 days after a seat is vacated.
The 105th Assembly District includes Montgomery County, most of Schenectady, and the Schenectady County towns of Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown.
i can't think of anything kosiur has done thats really impressed me...the sex offender thing was good, though he seemed to have heisted it from mr suhrada...beyond that he seems to just be a run of the mill guy, nothing too special. hopefully mr amedore has more than just a name, cause he could win if hes got some solid plans. i saw his press conference on the news and he seems a little uncomfortable in front of everyone. understandable for sure, but something to work on if he wants to win.
It looks like the GOP "spinmeister" found another acorn. Not bad for a cub reporter?
Tom DiMezza is the leading Democrat from the booming Town of Amsterdam, Montgomery County. His endorsement of George Amedore(R) is the first of many to come from Democrats in Montgomery County. But don't worry, Gringo, the Supervisor of the Hamlet of Minden {R} is swimming towards a sinking Kosiur.
Mini crowd at Kosiur's announcement, was mainly populated by political hacks padding the Nursing Home budget. Know they all punched out to come to this political "rally"-NOT. Know that all jobs there are based on qualifications, as read on recent post-NOT. It was always this way at the Home-NOT. Gee, I wonder how Lumpy Kosiur will vote on the ripoff new Home building-NOT.
Another letter to the Editor attacking Kosiur for his shuffling the pedophiles to the Towns bill he "authored". after copying it from Joe Suhrada, the County's lone Conservative voice. The people are awaken to the old tricks, thanks to this website.
Another Funny "report" from the Gazette. What is on top of Lumpy Ed Kosiur's campaign "themes"?
TAX RELIEF....to the Democratic stooges here please list one time Kosiur has proposed cutting or consolidating anything. He supported double digit property tax increases in the City and kept seconding ridiculous spending ideas in the County, without fighting for equitable Sales Tax redistribution.
This is another example of Kosiur's copying and total lack of vision. He shamelessly copied George Amedore's top priority. Yeah, George doesn't have the same experience of nailing the poor taxpayers to the wall, time after time. Shame on the Gazette reporter Puff Lamendola for printing this outrageous statement, fresh off a Democratic press release, without comment. How dumb do they think we are? We'll find out July 31st.....
Can you believe it. Can you imagine the cost for this election! The polls will be open from 6 in the morning til 9 at night! ALL sites just like on election day. Are they expecting a huge turnout?
It's my understanding that there will be fewer actual polling sites than during a general election - but STILL crazy to be open all those hours. 6-9AM and 6-9PM would be more than sufficient.
Figure each poll worker makes an average of $100 per day ... 4 typically to a polling site. You do the math
The turnout for this election will be HUGE, probably over 70%. Rarely does an opening come up in the Assembly or State Senate. This will be more than double November's "Soviet style" one party Election.
Finally the voter's will have a clear choice, a successful businessman and fiscal Conservative, or a hand picked party hack who is given one position after another. Savage's choice is also on paid leave of absence from his "teen employment" "position" at the Boys Club until Aug 15th. He will need 2 weeks paid vacation to recover from his first real campaign.
It's my understanding that there will be fewer actual polling sites than during a general election - but STILL crazy to be open all those hours. 6-9AM and 6-9PM would be more than sufficient. Figure each poll worker makes an average of $100 per day ... 4 typically to a polling site. You do the math
Joe: While I haven't actually checked the election law, I don't believe that the boundaries for polling places are redrawn for special elections. There will be fewer polling places open in the County because not all of the County is within the 105th Assembly District, but all the polling places within the 105th District that are used during the general election should be used in this one. . .I think. As far as the hours are concerned, as a practical matter the logistics of closing down for 9 hours (or, really, for any period of time) in the middle of the election would not result in significant savings. At least two election inspectors would have to stay in the polling place throughout the shutdown, to ensure that there was no tampering with the machines and the registers, and really there should be three (to allow them to take breaks, but leave two people in the room at all times). The costs to prepare the registers and the ballot labels, and to set up the machines, would be the same regardless of how long the polls are open, as would the costs for notices. So (assuming 4 election inspectors per polling place) the most you would save would be the cost of one worker per polling place for the period of the shutdown--at the same time you would have increased the possibilities for the unsuccessful candidate to allege that there was tampering by the inspectors. And, oh yeah, it is hard enough to find election inspectors; this is a one-weekday-a-year, low-wage job, so it doesn't attract people who are already employed full-time. If you turn one of those jobs into two 3-hour shifts separated by a nine-hour hiatus, you risk making it even harder to fill. Of course, the decision, what the hours should be, cannot be made on an ad hoc basis--doing that would create the opportunity to manipulate the hours to the advantage of one of the candidates (or for the unsuccessful candidate to allege such manipulation, which comes pretty much to the same thing, in the end). So if the hours are to be reduced for a special election, they should be reduced for all special elections--and then, in the event the voter turnout is at the same level as for the general election (it is unlikely to be greater than the general election turnout, voter apathy being what it is), you get backed-up polling places during the hours they are open. Democracy don't come cheap.
Land taxes high on agenda George Amedore, Assembly candidate, spells out his three-point plan for relief
By JENNIFER PATTERSON, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
ROTTERDAM -- In a bid to convince voters in the 105th Assembly District that he has what it takes to succeed Paul Tonko, political newcomer and local home builder George Amedore returned to the first residence he built to unveil his three-point property tax reform plan.
Amedore, R-Rotterdam, is capitalizing on the fame his construction firm gained for its role in building a Colonie home for the ABC television hit "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
Amedore, who is vice president of Amedore Homes, and Democrat Ed Kosiur, a Schenectady County legislator who has championed legislation to restrict the movement of convicted sex offenders, are in a race to fill the seat vacated by Tonko. Tonko left office late last month to take over as president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, ending more than two decades in the Assembly.
Campaigning with the core theme that the "American Dream" of owning a home is being turned into a nightmare because of high property taxes, the 38-year-old Amedore said that his political inexperience isn't a liability, citing his experience with running a business and creating jobs.
"Families who plan their budgets and seniors who live on fixed incomes deserve relief and stable tax rates," Amedore said. "What they don't deserve is excuses from politicians as to why they can't have it."
The Republican candidate's three-point property tax reform plan includes a cap on property taxes, the elimination of unfunded state mandates and the return of Medicaid fraud recoveries to homeowners in the form of rebate checks.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer's office has said a special election will be held July 31 for the right to represent the district, which encompasses all of Montgomery County as well as Schenectady, Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown in Schenectady County.
Both Amedore, who lives in Rotterdam, and Kosiur, who resides in Schenectady, announced last month that they intended to run for the seat. Amedore was recruited to the race by Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, who has put the weight of the Republican Party behind him.
Kosiur's announcement came last month on the steps of Schenectady City Hall. Flanked by Tonko and Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton, Kosiur said he wants to continue the fight against sex offenders as an assemblyman by pushing for a statewide residency law.
"Through economic development, we've (the Legislature) brought in over $200 million in private investment and created 200 jobs, placing 32 new commercial properties back on the tax rolls," said Kosiur, 51. "I want to continue down that road as assemblyman and in addition, continue with the government cooperation of shared services, allowing counties to work smarter and more efficiently to save taxpayers money." Patterson can be reached at 454-5340 or by e-mail at jpatterson@timesunion.com.
Heard the funniest radio commercial for Lumpy Kosiur today. Two women praising Lumpy to the hilt for his "authorship" of the sexual predator relocation to the towns act. Now, there children can finally play safely in the front yard. As if this really did anything to protect our kids and we have no other criminals to worry about. How about the home invasion Capital of Upstate?
Of course, the best is that Kosiur has the "right" stuff to follow Paul Tonko. There is nothing "right" about Kosiur. It's hard to transfer one candidates popularity to another unknown. But they will try. In the TU report Kosiur is again taking credit for Metroplex actions, which he had nothing to do with. We in the City know best what a tax and spender Kosiur truly is. Heard of trying to put lipstick on a pig but this race is one for the books.
One has to wonder why the investigative staff of our local hometown paper (Daily Gazette) hasn't picked up on the fact that the legislation that Lumpy is proclaiming to be his - was actually authoried by J. Suhrada.
The Gazette is doing a dis-service by continuing to regurgitate the incorrect facts.
Assembly candidate releases tax data Ed Kosiur will vie with George Amedore for seat vacated by Paul Tonko
By JENNIFER PATTERSON, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- Facing a wealthy opponent in the race to fill the 105th Assembly District seat, candidate Ed Kosiur released his tax return and other financial disclosure forms Tuesday, a move he said reflects his campaign's theme of improving government transparency.
As well as his tax return, the 51-year-old Democrat said he's disclosing his assets, business transactions and expenditures to the public. "I think that anyone who runs for public office should fully disclose this important information," he said.
Kosiur, vice chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature, is battling George Amedore Jr., whose family owns Amedore Homes, a large regional home-building company that earlier this year received media attention for its role in building a home in Colonie on the ABC television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
Kosiur, who is director of teen employment at the Boys and Girls Club, and his wife, Barbara, a school nurse, earned $77,365 last year.
Amedore, a Republican, said he has turned over his financial records to the state Ethics Commission.
He said while he earns more than Kosiur, it wouldn't affect his role as an assemblyman.
"There are 212 legislators in the state Assembly right now, and I'm sure there is a broad range of income levels," Amedore said. "The issues I'm focusing on are high taxes and how they hurt people, not about who's making more or less." A special election will be held for the seat on July 31. Amedore and Kosiur have each begun to run television advertisements, an unusual occurrence in an Assembly race and a sign of how intensely interested both political parties are in the outcome.
The two men are vying for the seat vacated last month when Democrat Paul Tonko resigned to become president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The district is comprised of Montgomery County as well as Schenectady, Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg.
Kosiur says he backs several Assembly bills to reform government, including legislation to allow citizens to copy public documents maintained by the state Ethics Commission and Legislative Ethics Committee.
He also supports a measure to prevent state agencies from claiming copyright protection for information that is required by public law and another that would strengthen the state Open Meetings Law.
Kosiur resides with wife and three children in Schenectady.
Patterson can be reached at 454-5340 or by e-mail at jpatterson@timesunion.com.
He also knows the challenges small businesses face, having been the owner and operator of a plumbing service company for seven years, a business he sold to focus on his career helping children.
Right! From TOILETS to CHILDREN! That is tooooo much! Ed Kosiur the toilet man helping your children. Maybe that's why he's so obsessed with doing the job of the Parole Board! He knows toilets and kids!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
An election at the time of year many people go away--I'll be gone away--and coming up very quickly, not enough time to get aquainted with either one of them very well. Must be something someone doesn't want dug up
          "American consumers might benefit if lenders provided greater mortgage product alternatives to the traditional fixed-rate mortgage." --Greenspan, Feb. 2004
"It is the silence of the world that is real. Our noise, our business, our purposes, and all our fatuous statements about our purposes, our business, and our noise: these are the illusion." -Merton
Smith, be sure to get an absentee ballot. Surely they'll have many
Secondly on Kosiur, the thing I remember most about him is bring the city school kids in to sing for the city council.
You see, Kosiur's focus, in relation to kids, is singing rather than reading and math. Did he ever bring kids into city council meetings for the "recognition" part and recognize the kids for excellence in reading and math? NOPE.
How many of the kids in schools are going to become singing stars and be self sufficient? They'll be unable to read, unable to make change, working, i.e., singing, in some low rate corner bar and look to taxpayers to subsidize them. They'll be able to sing but unable to pass exams to get into college or unable to read instructions for installing a toilet (can't be a plumber), unable to calculate the size of a room or whatever to be a carpet layer, or other such trades that pay decent.
These kids that Kosiur paraded through council chambers were clearly not prodigies who would go on to some prestigious conservatory of music. Most of the kids in the appearances probably had no clue of the difference between a note and a rest!
AT, that is quite an assumption on your part. While what you say about Kosiur's motives might be correct and it is a fact that he absolutely has never brought the Math Club to a Council meeting, you have no evidence for your assumption that the children brought in to sing were not also excellent students. I think in this case, you might have insulted some children in your zeal to point out a politician's grandstanding.
Yeah, been wrong about so many things Kate, especially Picasso, Downtown, CardioMag, Lumpy and Roth's deli, or make that bakery?
Turnout will be higher than in Nov. That few Democrats will participate is no surprise. Voters are not interested in buying what the former toilet supplier/current lob is selling. A "small businessman", a "tax cutter", a "streamliner", who "buys needy kids a sundae after there first hit" but not himself, and most importantly that Lumpy Kosiur is the "right"man to follow Paul Tonko. Can't make this stuff up....but they did...
The Schenectady "machine" has not figured out that they have a big problem. The City is winnable by George Amedore. And Montgomery County...fuhgitaboutit....Maybe Democrats should read the polls right side up...
I am confused....ending which ones career? And...when are the special elections held? Can those who live in Schdy County who are registered as "Independent" vote, they can't in primaries...so does that hold true in this "special election"?
Any voter who was represented by Paul Tonko can vote. This is not a primary, candidates have been chosen by 2 main parties, any political party or no political party is eligible to vote. Anyone who lives anywhere in Montgomery County or in Upper Union St, Woodlawn and GE Realty Plot neighborhoods in the City(half the City) as well as all of Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg in Schenectady County, are eligible to vote on Tuesday, July 31st. Polls are open from 6AM until 9PM like any GENERAL ELECTION. If you are in Jim Tedisco's half of the City, there is no special election. Know that there is very little interest in this race according to our resident experts Kate and Gringo.
Dream, if you have received a mailer or call you have an election. As far as career, Kosiur started a toilet supply business and when that went belly up was named "Teen employment director" at the Boys Club. Know this couldn't be a political appointment (ha-ha).Not sure either is a "career". Now wants to be a "career" politician.
As far as the singing at City Council, AT, this is a common trick to drag out the proceedings so enraged taxpayers leave before having an opportunity to speak. Kosiur is not alone is utilizing this tacit. Your points about exploiting for political gain, paid work many of us do for free, are well taken.
If you are new to the city or not sure if you are eligible to vote in this assembly election you can call 377-2469 and ask.
Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank Some people don't get it, will never get it, and don't care to..... "Individually we are one drop.  Together we are an ocean." -Ryunosuke Satoro
I drove around Rotterdam today and there are Amedore signs EVERYWHERE! I have not seen one Kosiur sign. But then I don't know if his are even available yet.
Kosiur's worried about milk? If he was so worried about milk he'd have supported Schenectady County Dairy Farms! NO he hasn't. Schenectady County Farms are fast becoming non-existent! What do we have now, maybe 5 left?
Good job Kosiur. It's nice to know your INITIATIVE is forthcoming. When? As soon as some hack writes it up for you?
Being that I come from a farming and military family background (parents moved to the BIG City of Schenectady from Little Falls and Dolgeville), I find Kosiur to be insincere and slimey. Can't help it. He's just too slimey.
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
Any voter who was represented by Paul Tonko can vote. This is not a primary, candidates have been chosen by 2 main parties, any political party or no political party is eligible to vote. Anyone who lives anywhere in Montgomery County or in Upper Union St, Woodlawn and GE Realty Plot neighborhoods in the City(half the City) as well as all of Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg in Schenectady County, are eligible to vote on Tuesday, July 31st. Polls are open from 6AM until 9PM like any GENERAL ELECTION. If you are in Jim Tedisco's half of the City, there is no special election. Know that there is very little interest in this race according to our resident experts Kate and Gringo.
Dream, if you have received a mailer or call you have an election. As far as career, Kosiur started a toilet supply business and when that went belly up was named "Teen employment director" at the Boys Club. Know this couldn't be a political appointment (ha-ha).Not sure either is a "career". Now wants to be a "career" politician.
As far as the singing at City Council, AT, this is a common trick to drag out the proceedings so enraged taxpayers leave before having an opportunity to speak. Kosiur is not alone is utilizing this tacit. Your points about exploiting for political gain, paid work many of us do for free, are well taken.
I don't understand why voters in Tedisco's area can't vote in this election. Why are the districts separated like that?
/ethanol, ha, that is a real laugher. /farm lobby are the real pros /let's burn up our remaining farm soil powering cars; great... /btw, 40% of the daily consumption of oil is to produce/transport food. /we are essentially eating oil... /the soylent green is oil folks... oil... /btw, there are lot's of high paying high tech jobs in sch right now. /most positions go unfilled due to lack of skill/experience /amd is a company in trouble. /intel will never allow them to get the leg on them again like they did with the Athlon processor. /every 18 mos for the next decade intel has planned releases of cpus. /amd will never be able to compete
Unofficial Customer Service Help Desk For City of Schenectady At the Daily-Soviet-Gazette, It Reads You Welcome to Schenectady, GMT -200 yrs and -5 hrs. Who is this Todd? Joe 'the Vote Machine' Allen, 07/2008 Welcome to Schenectady, Socialism for the Connected (tm), and Capitalism for Everyone Else
"Myself and Paul Tonko are working closely on an alternative means of producing this ethanol without corn being a main product", Lumpy Kosiur said.
"Myself and Paul Tonko?" If anyone is still on the fence this absurd statement should end any possible doubt. Who is Kosiur's campaign manager? There are already alternatives to corn that have been developed without Kosiur's input. The farmers in Montgomery County are smarter than Ed Kosiur. This clumsy attempt to pander, by "farmer Ed" will completely backfire. Most farmers also grow corn and are enjoying the increase in prices.
George Amedore solutions are to slash taxes, Thruway tolls and business costs. Lumpy Kosiur's solutions? Expand Metrograft to Montgomery County, more government give aways, and higher State Taxes. Rotterdam? They will remember that Ed Kosiur authored the relocation of pedophiles to the towns act. If they forget his commercials will keep reinforcing it. By the way, contrary to his hilarious Radio Ads, Kosiur's relocation does not take effect until Nov. 1st, if ever. Don't let your kids play alone in the front yard yet.......
It looks like the Schenectady County Democrats are at it again — foisting yet another tired politician, with a record of raising taxes and spending more of our hard-earned money. That’s right, [County Legislator] Ed Kosiur voted to raise taxes while a member of the county Legislature over and over again — leading our county to be the eighth-highest taxed, per capita, in the nation. And what did he do about protecting our children? He relocated sex offenders from his own back yard in the city of Schenectady to places in Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg. I guess rural children don’t matter as much to Mr. Kosiur.
Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank Some people don't get it, will never get it, and don't care to..... "Individually we are one drop.  Together we are an ocean." -Ryunosuke Satoro
I found it pathetic that Chartock says that its "Tedisco" who has a lot to lose.
It just so happens that its "US" who has a lot to lose depending on who gets elected. Kosiur is now going on in his commercials about how he "cut" taxes in Schenectady County. Yeah, that gas tax cut for a couple of months, then the county didn't notify stations that the tax cut was done and they had to pay on fuel sales where the stations didn't collect.
And if Kosiur is touting that 1% decrease in the city tax rate, all the while we getting hit with increases in the water and sewer rates, well then he's just plain lying.
Aren't political ads also subject to "truth in advertising?" They should also be subject to NO POLITICAL SPIN!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
And I love it! Gary Hughes, spokesman for MVP who got GOBS of CASH fro METROPLEX and the City of Schenectady! His "inside game" is making sure his own interests are covered with this Democratic Majority!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
And I love it! Gary Hughes, spokesman for MVP who got GOBS of CASH fro METROPLEX and the City of Schenectady! His "inside game" is making sure his own interests are covered with this Democratic Majority!
Thank you Ray Gillen for getting more of a pilot. Shame on you though Gary Hughes. Just for being YOU!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
That special Assembly election between Republican George Amedore and Democrat Ed Kosiur will be decided two weeks from today. Not soon enough for me and others I speak with.
Both candidates are appearing on annoying, repetitious TV campaign advertisements. The TV blitzkrieg will be stepped up even more in the stretch run before the vote.
I've received three campaign fliers from Kosiur and two from Amedore. Party workers on both sides say we'll be getting mailed and hand-delivered fliers almost daily until the polls open.
Then there are the eyesore signs both parties often planted illegally on the public right of way.
Also, Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing robo calls for Kosiur and Rudy Giuliani is expected to do likewise for Amedore.
No doubt the final spending figures for both candidates will be obscene.
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
Repeat offender law pushed Candidate backs measure that would set minimum terms for chronic criminals
By JENNIFER PATTERSON, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Thursday, July 19, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- State Assembly candidate George Amedore is pushing for passage of the Chronic Criminal Act bill, which was recently passed by the state Senate but has stalled in the Assembly.
Amedore, a Republican who faces Democrat Ed Kosiur in the July 31 election for the 105th District seat, was joined on the steps of the Schenectady County Court House Wednesday by local victims' advocate Steve Downey to call for tougher crime-fighting laws.
Downey's daughter, Hillary, 26, and her 13-month-old son, Romello Taylor, were murdered in their Congress Street apartment on Jan. 14, 2006, by career criminal Kareem Hayes.
"Slaps on the wrists of these career habitual criminals are almost like a pat on the back," Amedore, 38, said. "It's time we take back our streets, neighborhoods and communities, and the way we can do this is by removing those criminals who refuse to obey the law."
The Chronic Criminal Act, if passed, would mandate a minimum of 1 to 4 years in state prison for anyone convicted of four serious misdemeanors in a 10-year period.
The Republican-controlled state Senate has twice passed such a measure, but it has died in the Democrat-run Assembly. The bill is supported by Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco and his Republican colleagues.
Downey said had Hayes -- sentenced in January to 50 years to life in state prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder -- been subject to such a law, he might never have killed his daughter and grandson.
Long before he became a killer, Hayes was racking up a criminal record. He was convicted of embezzlement in North Carolina and served four years in New York state prison for an attempted robbery. But from his release in 2003 to the Schenectady murders in 2006, Hayes had served no more than 90 days in jail for a string of misdemeanors.
"(Hayes) could be a poster child for this bill," Downey said. "I saw the way the system works and it's very frustrating. Something needs to change."
Hillary Downey befriended Hayes at the City Mission and allowed him to live with her, even after she suspected him of stealing.
Steve Downey, a registered Democrat, said his endorsement of Amedore reflects the bipartisan support in the Assembly for the legislation, which most recently was blocked by Speaker Sheldon Silver from coming to the floor for a vote.
Kosiur is a Schenectady County legislator who has championed legislation to restrict the movement of convicted sex offenders. He and Amedore, a political newcomer whose construction firm gained fame for its role in building a Colonie home for the ABC television hit "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," seek the seat vacated by Paul Tonko, who left office to take over as president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Kosiur, 51, said he would work closely with Silver and Gov. Eliot Spitzer's office to pass the bill or similar legislation.
"I have fought hard in the Schenectady County Legislature to keep families safe from criminals, which I will continue to do if elected to the Assembly," Kosiur said. Jennifer Patterson can be reached at 454-5340 or by e-mail at jpatterson@timesunion.com.
Kosiur, 51, said he would work closely with Silver and Gov. Eliot Spitzer's office to pass the bill or similar legislation.
"I have fought hard in the Schenectady County Legislature to keep families safe from criminals, which I will continue to do if elected to the Assembly,"
The reporter gave Kosiur too much print time. I can just imagine the "similar legislation" he'd come up with. Like stealing Joe Suhrada's legislation and making it unworkable. There are so many laws that our State lawmakers pass that they don't (can't) even read.
But if a law is good, pass it. Make sure you can support the law through the court system. This Kosiur sex offender law is most likely not going to pass the court test. Dumb Kosiur. He's a parrot. Repeating what our so-called party strategists have told him.
All he's good for is "learning lines."
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
I've read nothing in the papers about the veracity of the sex offender law except statements by the county attorney that the law will withstand any challenges. Many poster on this site, myself included, have opined our doubts as to whether the law can withstand a constitutional challenge, or whether it can be legally enforced. Again, I have to state that it's most likely a bad law which elicits sympathy for a group of people like sex offenders and actually appears to make victims of victimizers.
Kosiur's relocation of pedophile's to the towns law is unconstitutional as a ex post facto restraint. The fact that no other County in the nation has a law like this should state the obvious. This was enacted for one reason only to give empty suit Lumpy Kosiur some legislative bona fides.
Who cares? Maybe some of you will wake up when after the special election the ACLU successfully sues the County for millions of dollars. The Sheriff has already stated that this is unworkable. County residents will pay the full tab for Ed Kosiur's 'work'. The County Legislature needs to forget about Kosiur, who is sinking like a rock, and immediately rescind this horrible, unconstitutional piece of garbage.
Paul Tonko soloed in it, vouching for Kosiur's tax cutting and job creation record.
Loyalty is a wonderful thing.
Strangely, no mention of the sex offender law.....say, didn't Kosiur have something to do with that? What a great campaign issue....I wonder why Mr. Tonko didn't mention that amongst Kosiur's accomplishments?
Tonko's efforts drawing critics Some say NYSERDA president should stay out of Assembly race
By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Monday, July 23, 2007
ALBANY -- You can take the politician out of politics but you can't take politics out of the politician. That may sum up the situation in the hotly contested race for the 105th Assembly District in Montgomery and Schenectady counties. Republicans are grumbling that former Democratic Assemblyman Paul Tonko, less than a month into a job in the Spitzer administration, has been campaigning for Democrat Ed Kosiur, the Schenectady County legislator seeking Tonko's old seat in the 105th Assembly District.
Kosiur faces homebuilder George Amedore Jr., lately of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" fame. The special election is July 31.
Tonko, now president and CEO of the state Energy and Research Development Authority, has been busily stumping for Kosiur, appearing at events like the popular July 4th Strawberry Festival in St. Johnsville, and he's endorsed him in a series of "robo-calls" and TV ads.
Republicans like Matt Walter, spokesman for the Republican State Committee, pointed to an executive order that Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer issued at the start of his term titled "Eliminating Politics From Government Decision Making," which directs employees of state agencies to keep politics out of their decisions.
"This is the latest hypocrisy by Gov. Spitzer, who breaks his own rules when it suits his political purposes," said Walter.
He said former state Sen. Michael Balboni, a Republican whom Spitzer appointed homeland security czar, stayed out of the race to replace him in Long Island's 7th District, even though Spitzer worked on behalf of Democrat Craig Johnson, who won the race. Balboni's wife, Stephanie, supported the Republican, Maureen O'Connell.
Tonko, though, said he's been campaigning weekends, evenings and other times when he's not on the job at NYSERDA.
"I can obviously work (for Kosiur) after hours," said Tonko, who said he has strong opinions about the district.
Spitzer spokesman Paul Larrabee agreed there is no restriction on Tonko helping Kosiur on his own time.
Kosiur also is getting help from U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose voice is being used on a series of automated calls urging voters to support him, said Republicans.
The race for the 105th comes at a sensitive time, and place, for Republicans. Last week, the Democrats increased their majority in the 150-seat house to 108 seats when Westchester Assemblyman Mike Spano switched his registration from Republican to Democrat.
And the 105th is adjacent to the district of Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, who is working on Amedore's behalf. Rather than pre-record calls, Tedisco has been personally working the phones, according to his aides. Rick Karlin can be reached at 454-5758 or by e-mail at rkarlin@timesunion.com.
Benny, would you be so kind as to favor us with an example of a successful lawsuit in which a legislative body was required to pay damages because it adopted a law later judged unconstitutional? This seems to be a pretty popular contention here, and I'm looking to move beyond contention and toward reality. Thanks.
Land taxes high on agenda George Amedore, Assembly candidate, spells out his three-point plan for relief
By JENNIFER PATTERSON, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
ROTTERDAM -- In a bid to convince voters in the 105th Assembly District that he has what it takes to succeed Paul Tonko, political newcomer and local home builder George Amedore returned to the first residence he built to unveil his three-point property tax reform plan.
Amedore, R-Rotterdam, is capitalizing on the fame his construction firm gained for its role in building a Colonie home for the ABC television hit "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
Amedore, who is vice president of Amedore Homes, and Democrat Ed Kosiur, a Schenectady County legislator who has championed legislation to restrict the movement of convicted sex offenders, are in a race to fill the seat vacated by Tonko. Tonko left office late last month to take over as president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, ending more than two decades in the Assembly.
Campaigning with the core theme that the "American Dream" of owning a home is being turned into a nightmare because of high property taxes, the 38-year-old Amedore said that his political inexperience isn't a liability, citing his experience with running a business and creating jobs.
"Families who plan their budgets and seniors who live on fixed incomes deserve relief and stable tax rates," Amedore said. "What they don't deserve is excuses from politicians as to why they can't have it."
The Republican candidate's three-point property tax reform plan includes a cap on property taxes, the elimination of unfunded state mandates and the return of Medicaid fraud recoveries to homeowners in the form of rebate checks.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer's office has said a special election will be held July 31 for the right to represent the district, which encompasses all of Montgomery County as well as Schenectady, Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown in Schenectady County.
Both Amedore, who lives in Rotterdam, and Kosiur, who resides in Schenectady, announced last month that they intended to run for the seat. Amedore was recruited to the race by Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, who has put the weight of the Republican Party behind him.
Kosiur's announcement came last month on the steps of Schenectady City Hall. Flanked by Tonko and Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton, Kosiur said he wants to continue the fight against sex offenders as an assemblyman by pushing for a statewide residency law.
"Through economic development, we've (the Legislature) brought in over $200 million in private investment and created 200 jobs, placing 32 new commercial properties back on the tax rolls," said Kosiur, 51. "I want to continue down that road as assemblyman and in addition, continue with the government cooperation of shared services, allowing counties to work smarter and more efficiently to save taxpayers money." Patterson can be reached at 454-5340 or by e-mail at jpatterson@timesunion.com.
Did the Times Union get this wrong???
I find it amazing that somehow an extra ZERO got attached to Kosiur's claim of 200 jobs. And now that Tonko has gotten into the fray, begging people to follow his lead and vote for Kosiur, he too is using that 2000 figure.
There's supposed to be truth in advertising and Tonko is letting sh** drop out of his mouth without supporting documents. Tonko now has a PATRONAGE JOB people. And its as PATRONAGE as it gets. He's getting more money yet wants to retain control through his Kosiur Puppet? His supposedly hand groomed little puppy dog?
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
Sue Savage, with Ed Kosiur in tow, made a visit to Railex today for a photo shoot. She must think that everyone's going to believe that Kosiur is solely responsible for the jobs that Railex has brought into Schenectady County.
Is Kosiur solely responsible? Ha! Not likely!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
Sue Savage, with Ed Kosiur in tow, made a visit to Railex today for a photo shoot. She must think that everyone's going to believe that Kosiur is solely responsible for the jobs that Railex has brought into Schenectady County.
Check out Kosiur's 10 point plan for economic recovery. Complete socialism-basically expand Metrograft to Montgomery County. Including "Consolidating economic development programs in Montgomery County, similar to what has occurred in Schenectady County",Gazette 7/24/07 Page B-3, i.e. {Create another Metrograft}.
No thanks Lumpy, Montgomery County is not stupid enough to raise Sales Taxes to hire hacks, delegate zoning and economic development to an unelected Czar. Please release a list of the 2,000 jobs you supposedly created.(ha-ha) Do these include 100 jobs at Cardio-Mag? (which has 25 now) Lumpy still doesn't get it. The solution to our economic downfall is not more government and higher taxes. Of course Kosiur's ads do not mention the relocation of pedophiles to the towns. This is the final nail in his coffin. More Tonko and no Kosiur.
To tax cut, its hard to answer your question since no other County in the NATION has enacted similar legislation. Will lexus a search of recent suits against counties in NYS and pm it to you. It happens every day and many attorneys make a living off of suits against governmental entities. Need to wake up on this issue, enough wasteful spending without this unenforceable election day grandstanding....
Marjorie is has wondered all over the map here, without making too much sense. All I can make out from her letter is that she loves Paul Tonko, and neither candidate can replace him....her reasoning is rather cloudy, to be generous.
Marjorie Schmidt is a pita and long time Democratic mouthpiece. The fact that even she can't support Lumpy Kosiur says it all. Kosiur is no Tonko and never will be Tonko. All the lies will never make this skunk a mink.
Suggest that she follow the lead of many other Democrats in Schenectady County and stay home on election day or "regrettably" vote for George Amedore.
Last week when Ed kosiur was walking door to door in the Woodlawn area asking for his votes. I gladly answered the door and looked at his brochure and then asked him why is the woodlawn residents paying high taxes and our area has not been improved. I then found out that he lives around the corner and said taxes are not bad. well i said waite here and in my letter box I grabbed my taxes for the year property and school ohh look here Edf I pay over 5,000 a year his eyes got big and could not believe how much I pay. But somehow he tried to side track me and said he had nothing to do with the taxes that have been raised. I then asked him can you help us residents that pay this much and it goes up every year. Again he tried to devert the subject. and he had to go see more people. My question is why do people only need us for there votes and promise the world but when they get elected they don't care about us. As I see it I have lived in Woodlawn for 8 years and man have my taxes gone up. roads are looking like sh** and still the woodlawn park is closed and a perfect place for the sex affenders. So Where is the woodlawn tax money going. HHMMM? And as far as all those people on the city council and our lovely mayor. The have been in their seats to long and too busy pointing fingers on who is to blame. "WE FOR THE PEOPLE" Well your not going to find it in Schenectady. I though each council member repersented each part of the city? What has BROUCKER done with woodlawn NOTHING!!!!!! We all sit here and complain but if we pull together we become a TEAM and over power those on the seat> We need new blood in schenectady "VOTE NONE OF THE ABOVE" to give the best for all the tax payers. Be part of the solution or be part of the problem.
Just caught the Von Roll news conference about their Rotterdam plant expansion. Guess who was right in the background, right in the camera shot and making the announcement for the county? Why Ed Kosiur, of course! Another 50 new jobs he can take sole credit for bringing to the county!
Mr. Salami: No need to look for other entities in New York State which have adopted sex offender location legislation. I'm asking a much more fundamental question, which should be easier to answer. There are those on this board who claim that the County will have to pay financial damages if one of ite local laws is adjudicated unconstitutional. I'm looking for examples where any United States jurisdiction was required to pay monetary damages because a Federal court found that one of its laws was unconstitutional. Thanks.
Gay marriage issue key in 105th race Candidates Amedore, Kosiur seeking Assembly seat differ on how they would vote on same- sex legislation
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Wednesday, July 25, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- Both candidates for the 105th Assembly District say they are opposed to gay marriage, yet how they would vote on same-sex legislation could provide a deciding point for some voters in the special election next week. George Amedore Jr., a Republican, said he is against same-sex unions. But Ed Kosiur, a Democrat, said he would put aside religious beliefs and vote in favor of same-sex legislation.
"I do not support same-sex marriage," said Amedore, who said he's been married for 17 years and has three children. His comments came during a meeting with the Times Union editorial board Tuesday. "I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman," he said.
Later, Amedore, 38, a GOP newcomer, said through a campaign spokesman that he supports health benefits for partners of gay and lesbian state employees but believes private companies should make the decision for themselves.
Proposed same-sex legislation has passed in the state Assembly but has not come up for discussion in the Senate. From the Capital Region, Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, and fellow Democrats Jack McEneny of Albany and Paul Tonko of Amsterdam voted for the measure, while Democrat Robert Reilly of Colonie, Republican Minority Leader James Tedisco of Schenectady and independent Tim Gordon of Bethlehem voted against it.
It's Tonko's seat, which represents most of Schenectady County and all of Montgomery County, the two men are vying to take. Tonko left the seat to take over as president and CEO of the state Energy and Research Development Authority.
The special election is Tuesday.
Tonko has been stumping for Kosiur, who is married with three children and said he would support the legislation.
"If it does come to a vote, I will vote that way because that's the way the majority of my constituents want me to vote," said the 51-year-old Democratic Schenectady County Legislator. "I have to vote according to the way my constituency feels."
Libby Post, who lives in Menands and is a nationally syndicated columnist on lesbian and gay issues, said Amedore is "not in tune with the electorate."
She lauded Kosiur for his stance.
"I think he generally wants to reflect the will of his constituency and that's laudable," Post said.
Muddying the waters. Kosiur isn't going to go the way of the "constituents" he's going to go the way of the Democrat machine. Plain and simple.
By the way, I've got eleven pieces of mail from Kosiur in my collection now, and seven from Amedore. And I got a poll call last night where I told the poll taker loudly NO KOSIUR!
And seeing Kosiur's face even next to whoever it was on Von Roll was pretty disgusting.
I can't wait to cast my vote next Tuesday. I hope I'm the first!
You don't need a title, to make an impact. - Sarah Palin
Lumpy wasn't in the background on TV at the Von Roll newscast he was front and center. As if he had anything to do with it. Did not know that he now represents Rotterdam. These possible 50 jobs can now be added to the 2,000 jobs Lumpy Kosiur says he created side by side with Paul Tonko. How many thousands of jobs and citizens fled this area during there "leadership"?
Kosiur hacks please release this imaginary jobs list before Election Day. For course Kosiur has never created any jobs for anyone other than himself.
To Mr. Clean, Ed Kosiur "leadership" is why we lead the nation in high taxes. Kosiur always votes as he is told to by party bosses and has never shown any ability to cut or slow government spending. He is always the first one appointed to open seats because he follows orders. George Amedore is a new face, who is coming from the right perspective. Hope to see you at dawn on July 31st....
Wow, N-Zone! That was certainly one of your more substantive comments.
Sarcasm...what a witty way to deny a public voting record.
Of course, Amedore has no voting record to scrutinize, so it seems the darts are only flying in one direction for the moment.
But a Kosiur supporter can always counter with the old "typical Republican campaign tricks" whine, tricks to which of course Democrats never stoop, but then they might sound like they're in pre-loss whine.
Fortunately, N-Zone, neither of us have to worry about voting in this very special election. It's likely that whichever candidate is elected won't have much influence anyway, although being in the majority never hurts when it's important to at least look as if your doing something of substance.
It doesn't get any better than this for George Amedore. Keep talking about Lumpy's relocation of pedophiles to the towns and Montgomery County. This has become the central issue of the campaign, not Kosiur's constant lying about being both a tax cutter and small businessman. This is a State issue and should not be left up to individual Counties to decide in an ad hoc fashion.
Watched Green Talk with Elmer last night. Special guest progressive Democrat Rev. Jim Murphy. He was urging all Democrats to vote against Kosiur and against any Democratic Legislature that supported Kosiur's relocation disgrace. He said a lot more but Salami will save the great news for after the Special Election when the backlash really hits the fan.
Don't quit now, must dump the Lump in the City, where we have suffered the most from his "leadership". Send a clear message to puppet master Susan Savage. Bring your neighbors with you and of course we meet at dawn {6 AM} at the polls. This Tuesday is Special Election Day. See you there...
Don't quit now, must dump the Lump in the City, where we have suffered the most from his "leadership". Send a clear message to puppet master Susan Savage. Bring your neighbors with you and of course we meet at dawn {6 AM} at the polls. This Tuesday is Special Election Day. See you there...
Unfortunately I can't vote in the election, but I WILL be taking a few of my mom's neighbors to their polling spot. They all have a deep desire to vote in this special election, whereas they wouldn't normally vote in a non-presidential year.
If you've got neighbors, maybe y'all could offer to give them a lift to pull a lever for Amedore - er, the best candidate
I got an email with an attachment this afternoon. Here is the email and the attachment. It is duplicated for members only. I wanted to make it visible to everyone.
Quoted Text
Attached is a letter that was printed in The Amsterdam Recorder on Thursday 7/26. It was also submitted to the Daily Gazette and The Spotlight "newspapers", but they were not printed. The Gazette even called Anita to tell her they would NOT print it, claiming they are "getting a lot of complaints about too many letters against Kosiur". Can you believe it! Since when do the editors call you to tell you they are NOT printing your letter! Would you post it on your message boards? I would just put up a link to the paper, but it is a paid site and unless you subscribe, you can't read it.
Absolutely incredible / incredulous that the Gazette would not print a letter on those terms.
Ms Hickey wrote a very well worded, concise editorial letter, it should have been printed, but I'm not surprised. The Gazette is so biased it's ridiculous.
Couldn't the Gazette find a pro-Kosiur letter to print along side Anita's? And that's not a trick question or sarcasm. This is the first I heard about Kosiur not showing up for a scheduled debate, one he agreed to participate in.
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This is called trying to dress up a turkey. The Democrats know that they are in trouble in this race, that Lumpy Kosiur is highly unpopular in the City and unknown outside the City, so they are running excuses by young voters to see which will stick. Older voters already know what a Tax & Spend turkey Lumpy is.
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It's bad enough that we're the laughing stock of all our neighboring counties. 
