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Don’t hold your breath…
August 1, 2007 at 8:28 pm by Paul Nelson
As of late Wednesday afternoon, Democrat Edward Kosiur had not called to congratulate 105th Assemblyman-elect George Amedore, according to Phil Oliva with the Amedore camp.

And it’s a good bet, that conversation between the two men who fellowship at the same church, may not be forthcoming anytime soon, if ever.

”I don’t think they should count on that call,” said Schenectady County Democratic Chairman Brian Quail when asked about the issue.

Instead, he said Kosiur, 51, of Schenectady, publicly acknowledged defeat on television Tuesday night, and didn’t have to necessarily go beyond that.

In fact, he said he is aware of several local elections where the loser never called to congratulate the winner.

As for what Kosiur thinks about all this or any other matters related issues, it’s hard to say because he isn’t talking.

The Democrat has failed to return several calls from the Times Union since getting trounced 13, 666 to 10,8555 in the race to replace a seat that former Assemblyman Paul Tonko held since 1983.

Tonko, now the head of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, has reached out to Amedore, 38.

Amedore, who lives in Rotterdam, says Tonko called him and that the two men will work together from the residents of Montgomery and parts of Schenectady Counties, which make up the 105th.

Amedore will formally be sworn-in in at 10 a.m. Thursday at Veterans Park in on State Street in Schenectady where New York state Supreme Court Vito Caruso will do the honors. Then at noon, Amedore will do it all again in Amsterdam where Mayor Joseph Emanuele III will officiate.

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But the biggest and best message from this election may be that voters in Schenectady have a mind of their own, and they can't be manipulated or their votes taken for granted, no matter which party has the power.

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Don’t hold your breath…
August 1, 2007 at 8:28 pm by Paul Nelson
As of late Wednesday afternoon, Democrat Edward Kosiur had not called to congratulate 105th Assemblyman-elect George Amedore, according to Phil Oliva with the Amedore camp.

And it’s a good bet, that conversation between the two men who fellowship at the same church, may not be forthcoming anytime soon, if ever.

”I don’t think they should count on that call,” said Schenectady County Democratic Chairman Brian Quail when asked about the issue.

Instead, he said Kosiur, 51, of Schenectady, publicly acknowledged defeat on television Tuesday night, and didn’t have to necessarily go beyond that.

In fact, he said he is aware of several local elections where the loser never called to congratulate the winner.

As for what Kosiur thinks about all this or any other matters related issues, it’s hard to say because he isn’t talking.

The Democrat has failed to return several calls from the Times Union since getting trounced 13, 666 to 10,8555 in the race to replace a seat that former Assemblyman Paul Tonko held since 1983.

Tonko, now the head of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, has reached out to Amedore, 38.

Amedore, who lives in Rotterdam, says Tonko called him and that the two men will work together from the residents of Montgomery and parts of Schenectady Counties, which make up the 105th.

Amedore will formally be sworn-in in at 10 a.m. Thursday at Veterans Park in on State Street in Schenectady where New York state Supreme Court Vito Caruso will do the honors. Then at noon, Amedore will do it all again in Amsterdam where Mayor Joseph Emanuele III will officiate.

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Poor timing, perception doomed Democrat in 105th race  

  

First published: Friday, August 3, 2007

was supposed to be a super tight political contest turned out to be a runaway, a first-time Republican candidate prevailing in a special election for veteran Democrat Paul Tonko's seat in the 105th Assembly District.
It is, of course, foolish to read too much into this race, as much as we in the media love to do that.

It's not about Gov. Eliot Spitzer's shaky mandate, or Speaker Sheldon Silver's hold on the Assembly, or even Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco's persuasive charms. truth, from a statewide perspective, this contest covering all of Montgomery County and about half of Schenectady County is an imperceptible blip on the political landscape. Assembly Democrats maintain a huge majority, regardless.

Still, for 24 years Paul Tonko pulled down 70 to 80 percent voting majorities while handily keeping his seat as a Democrat in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 4,000. So what gives? What happened?

This has to shake up state Democrats a little. Both sides together spent more than $500,000 on this race, but the Republican walked away with it by nearly 3,000 votes. For a special election, turnout was incredibly high, approaching 30 percent. A clear indication the voters were motivated.

It can be just as simple as the voters preferring the likes of a total newcomer with no baggage in home builder George Amedore Jr. A 38-year-old fresh face.

By contrast, 51-year-old Democratic county Legislator Ed Kosiur carried the pluses and minuses of political experience, some of it unpopular, as the city and county of Schenectady have finally gotten economic traction. It's been slow, it's been painful.

Both candidates, oddly enough, belong to the same Assembly of God church. Both are conservatives. Amedore is the high-end builder involved in the local, high-profile "Extreme Makeover" television project. Kosiur is director of teen employment for the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady.

But what no doubt determined the outcome makes for an interesting study of timing, perceptions and exploitation of those perceptions. The meat of politics.

The 500-pound gorilla on Ed Kosiur's back is a nuclear piece of legislation he sponsored and extensively promoted that passed the County Legislature on June 12. It concerns the potential redistribution of sexual predators in the county. The law, whose details are still being hammered out to answer the fears of the towns in the county, would make it a misdemeanor for a convicted Level 1, 2 or 3 sexual offender to live within 2,000 feet of any facility associated with children. In addition, the county has the authority to remove any sex offender deemed in violation if the individual hasn't already moved so by Oct. 1.

An absurdly broad law that probably won't pass constitutional muster anyway. But in effect, the law chases all sexual offenders out of the city.

towns are in an uproar because they fear those offenders will wind up in their municipalities. That's not what the law intends, and the law is undergoing deep revision anyway.

Still, the perception for the past six weeks leading up to the July 31 election is of the Democratic county legislators busing sexual offenders out to the towns. A perception that in a political sense was beautifully controlled and exploited by Tedisco's Republicans running Amedore's campaign to great effect. The towns turned out in droves for the election.

Not that Kosiur didn't help bring this down on his own head. He absolutely wrapped himself around the sexual offender law, which had the effect of painting him with a bull's-eye. Passing that law when they did was about as dumb a political act as the Democrats could have concocted, not to mention that the law is dumb to begin with.

Tonko, who now heads the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, ascribes the results to the celebrity Amedore got from the ridiculous hoopla over the "Extreme Makeover" house rebuilding project, and the towns' sensitivity to the sexual offender law, or perceptions about it.

In politics, reality and perception are virtually the same thing.

Tonko himself was heavily criticized for campaigning vigorously for Kosiur, and even appearing in paid political ads. Although the former assemblyman says it was all on his own time, and cleared by NYSERDA and the Spitzer administration. Obviously, it didn't help his candidate win, although Tedisco stated that Tonko's involvement probably did narrow the gap.

"Our message was complicated and just didn't get out as well, and theirs was more simplistic and did. A simplistic message will win every time," says Tonko philosophically.

Now the trick for Amedore will be keeping his new seat. The next time around, he will no longer be a fresh face, the clean slate. "The secret to keeping any legislative seat is delivering for the needs of the district," says Tonko. As a member of the impoverished minority, that will be a challenge for Amedore.

"On top of that, the 105th is a high needs district, especially out along the western fringes. High numbers of seniors with insufficient health care, poor retirement plans, and so on. Economic development is a huge issue throughout the district. He's got his work cut out," notes Tonko. LeBrun can be reached at 454-5453 or by e-mail at flebrun@timesunion.com.

Quoted from 197

editorial - http://www.dailygazette.com

Quoted from 92

I do have a question...the election is over but I am still seeing alot of signs from both camps out...Isn't there a law that signs have to be taken up no more than a week after any election?? I know it is strickter after a primary but just a shame that it isn;t done yet!

Quoted from 92

I saw one on Duane and another on Mc Clellan and one near Rotterdam Mall for Amedore and Kosier signs are in alot of different places...can't remember where all of them I saw were but I do know there is one on Duane by the Monestary

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Debate spelled defeat

Final vote figures from the Assembly special election spelled in granite that Democrat Ed Kosiur's lead role on the sex offender law, which many feared would drive offenders into their neighborhoods, propelled Republican George Amedore's victory.

On election night, the initial vote total labeled Amedore a winner by about 3,000 votes. Top Dems who decided to spearhead Kosiur's campaign with the sex law denied the issue caused defeat.

Recently released figures show tiny Duanesburg gave Amedore a whopping 904-vote plurality. That surprisingly wiped out Kosiur's unexpectedly low 876-vote edge in the city of Schenectady, a Democratic monopoly.

Traditionally in Duanesburg, when Democrats lose to Republicans, it's by only 100 to 200 votes -- not a 900-plus wipeout. Duanesburg activists labeled the sex legislation "Kosiur's Law" on red signs sprinkled all over town.

Voters in Duanesburg, Princetown and Rotterdam, concerned about an influx of sex offenders from the city to their towns, gave Amedore a combined 2,236-vote plurality.

It was the same story in Montgomery County, where voters were concerned sex offenders from Schenectady would relocate there. Amedore took that county by about 1,700 votes.

Quoted from PatZollinger

Because its not even in the 105th district and its on Peter Della Ratta's property.  

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New job for Kosiur?

Democrat Ed Kosiur, defeated by Republican George Amedore in last summer's special Assembly election, is in line for either a county or state job appointment.

Democratic insiders said a new "commissioner for youth" position may be created to replace youth bureau and job training agency director titles cut from the '08 budget.

Kosiur is mentioned for the job, but insiders said he is also being considered for an unspecified appointment to the state payroll.

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Democrat Ed Kosiur, defeated by Republican George Amedore in last summer's special Assembly election, is in line for either a county or state job appointment.

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County Legislator Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, said the county is creating the special assistant’s position to develop a “more robust youth program.”
    The new youth program, expected to be announced with fanfare after Jan. 1, would “involve more kids, be more countywide and more focused on actual hands-on activities for kids,” Hughes said.
    “Our intent is to bring in someone who can work effectively with other county departments and in the community with other organizations, and to take the youth program up several notches,” Hughes said.

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Kosiur has new job with county
Critic says $80K post a slap to taxpayers
Thursday, January 3, 2008
By Michael Lamendola (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY COUNTY — Former Schenectady County Legislator Ed Kosiur started a highly paid county job Tuesday, a position one critic called “a consolation prize” after Kosiur lost his bid as the Democratic candidate for state Assembly last summer.

Kosiur became the county’s first-ever assistant to the commissioner of social services for youth development. He will be paid $80,000, close to the job classification’s top salary range of $85,000.

County Manager Kathleen Rooney appointed Kosiur to the position Tuesday after his four-year term on the county Legislature ended Dec. 31 and as soon as the job became available at the start of the county’s 2008 fiscal year.

Rooney’s action did not require legislative approval, but it was done with full support of the Legislature’s Democratic majority. Kosiur will report to Rooney, and he currently has no supervisory responsibilities.

Democrats created the executive-level position at their end-of-year meeting in December. At the time, they refused to say who would get the job, but Republicans and others said it was intended for Kosiur. Kosiur was not available for comment Wednesday.

Longtime friend Legislator Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, said Kosiur is “going to be excellent” for the job. “Ed will bring a different perspective to this. He has a broad view of what is possible and has some clear direction from the Legislature.”

Hughes said Kosiur’s job is to make the county’s youth program “more robust,” helping to create an “environment in the county that people want to move to. It’s a quality-of-life issue.”

Kosiur also is expected to use available resources to accomplish his goals, Hughes said. “The resources that were there already are still there. In Ed’s situation, it is the energy and contacts he has among not-for-profits and sport leagues that are important.”

Kosiur will work with the towns to expand their various sports programs and to develop further the county’s summer youth employment program, Hughes said. He also will work with the city to maintain its youth-directed efforts, he said.

“We will look to him for leadership. The summer youth employment program will be maintained, and we would love to see more activities for kids in the towns,” Hughes said.
POSITION TAILORED

Majority Democrats paved the way for new position by first eliminating the civil service-protected position of director of the Youth Bureau, held by Shane Bargy for the last five years. They did that in October when adopting the 2008 budget.

County officials then moved Bargy to the newly created position of director of temporary assistance and employment services, also exempt from civil service. The position carries a $6,000 increase over his current salary of $55,941. Bargy has no prior experience in this field and is expected to learn the job on the go.

Legislator Joe Suhrada, R-Rotterdam, said Kosiur’s appointment is a “brazen slap on the face to taxpayers. This is an unnecessary partisan job. They shuffled a couple of jobs around to give Ed a golden parachute when he left the Legislature in his bid for state Assembly.”

Kosiur gambled his political career in a special election in August for the 105th District Assembly seat, losing to Republican George Amedore Jr.; he chose not to seek re-election to a second four-year term on the county Legislature.

Suhrada said Democrats “thought they could give him a consolation prize, but it is a booby prize for the taxpayers.”

Hughes said even if Democrats “did what critics are suggesting, are the youths of this county not well served by Ed’s appointment? Give him a year and let’s see what he does in a year.”

Hughes said county officials moved Bargy to capitalize on his strong administrative skills. Bargy has a college degree and more than five years experience working in youth development; he took a civil service test to become county youth bureau director.

Kosiur, up until two weeks ago when he gave notice, was director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady after-school program at the city high school. He worked for the Boys and Girls Clubs for several years. He has no college degree and is a former master plumber and plumbing supply sales manager.

Kosiur started his political career in 2002 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the City Council when now-Mayor Brian Stratton became a county legislator. Kosiur ran in 2003 to complete Stratton’s term, and in 2004 he ran for the county Legislature in District 2. He chaired the Legislature’s committee on children and families.

Quoted from benny salami

Lumpy's Kosiur is still weighing his "important" job offers, while County taxpayers are waiting with eager anticipation for their late Christmas present. More robust youth programs-give us a break vampire Hughes. Lumpy got his-you got yours? Yeah-ho,ho,ho...

     More coal from the "Working Party" Democratic Machine. Baby Albany. Working together works: to increase self dealing and increase your taxes. Higher town taxes, higher County taxes, and a huge 1% City decrease under the enlightened rule of Son of Sam. So what if the County increase is 10X that. So what if the City Assessor is laboring hard to complete the three year reassessment debacle. All City residents should hold onto that huge decrease with dear life, we're gonna need it. Send it to Son of Sam's Congressional Committee....

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Bargy has a college degree and more than five years experience working in youth development; he took a civil service test to become county youth bureau director.

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Longtime friend Legislator Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, said Kosiur is “going to be excellent” for the job. “Ed will bring a different perspective to this. He has a broad view of what is possible and has some clear direction from the Legislature.”

Suhrada said Democrats “thought they could give him a consolation prize, but it is a booby prize for the taxpayers.”

Hughes said even if Democrats “did what critics are suggesting, are the youths of this county not well served by Ed’s appointment? Give him a year and let’s see what he does in a year.”

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Quoted from N-Zone:
May have to re-title this thread---doesn't sound like much of a "defeat" for Kosiur.  He who laughs last... .

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Quoted from ben:
... what really will make us madder is that if the gop ever takes the county back this job will most likely stay, and someone from their team will get a nice reward.  another expensive sham job that will never go away.

Quoted from grandegringo

you guys live in fairy land -- who do you like created the patronage jobs in the first place? God? The Republicans -- they started all the jobs -- and filled them with their own hacks, and bloated the budget in their 37 years of control.

please, please,,, the Republicans will not make things all right -- they will fire all the dem picks and put in their own guys --- stop eating the lotuses and drink some strong coffee.

what a laugh, "When the Republicans regain control of the Schenectady County government, they would be well advised to govern based on what is best for the residents, not for themselves and their friends as is the criterion for the present Democratic controlled majority.  All patronage jobs should be considered for elimination, including Kosiur's new job."

that will never, ever happen.......

they started the mess we are in

Quoted from N-Zone

....and, of course, represent his district and keep the voters informed about what he's doing.  Was it supposed to be fun?

Quoted from N-Zone

Just wondering---there seems to be such intense interest in what they guy he defeated is doing, I was looking for something the winner was doing.  I would think that for a newly elected republican in the New York State Assembly, learning the ropes would be fairly easy--especially with the minority leader in the adjoining district.  I would also think that, in light of an upcoming election, he would want to keep his supporters informed and pumped up.

Quoted from N-Zone

I am satisfied that he is working on "many issues"; and, as I said, let me know if any of them result in legislation and enactment.

Quoted from 749

Maybe someone could contact his office and advise that the constituents would like to see, besides the normal press releases, something to the effect of a blog stating what's going on and wht he's doing on the State level.  It would be nice to see ALL legislators do something like this.  Even for town / city / county board members.  They could even go into more depth on explanations of things that they want people to know.  That way, when no one shows up at the meetings, they're still holding themselves accountable for a job well done, and it gives them some sort of an idea, when they run again for office, what they've been doing since the last election.

Quoted from N-Zone

No website?  No "Letter from Albany"?  No press releases?  He has to run again pretty soon, I think.

Quoted from N-Zone

Same stuff as far as I could see.  Nothing about his legislative agenda in the upcoming session.

Quoted from 27

Maybe I should blame my GOP party, if they got there SH*t together and strongly endorse and back up       the people on the same party line that run to be a political official then maybe lumpy would not even have a JOB!
Now we have to suffer!

Quoted from 731

so, i work with a lot of the same kids that Kosiur worked with AND work with them more often!!  i have done very well on several service exams including the one i took for my current job, blew it out of the water, in fact!!  does this mean that i can rest assured in the fact that someone MAY take notice of  me and decide that i am worth a newly created position and $80,000?  if that were only true!!

Quoted from 27

Maybe I should blame my GOP party, if they got there SH*t together and strongly endorse and back up       the people on the same party line that run to be a political offical then maybe lumpy would not even have a JOB!
Now we have to suffer!

Quoted from 178

Tell us why Tonko was such a great assemply person?  Do you know?

Explain what would make Hillary such a great president, and not in comparison to other candidates or present office holders, but her own unique qualifications to hold any office.

As a senator, all she's done is run for reelection and for president.  What legislation has she enacted?

We're waiting!

Quoted from 178

Kevin, not to pick a not with you, and I certainly don't disagree with your last post....but who are "they" that are going to heal the City GOP?

Do you know?  

Who is it that's going to organize campaigns, go through a candidate selection process, raise campaign funds....

All of this talk about revitalizing the City GOP is great, but what is needed is new blood willing to learn fast and check egos at the door in order rebuild a City GOP committee that is beyond shattered.

Who are they?

Quoted from 178

Quoted from 178

Tell us why Tonko was such a great assemply person?  Do you know?

Explain what would make Hillary such a great president, and not in comparison to other candidates or present office holders, but her own unique qualifications to hold any office.

As a senator, all she's done is run for reelection and for president.  What legislation has she enacted?

We're waiting!

Still waiting!

Quoted from 204

Are you kidding Kevin?

I tried to get the County Leg members to give me a bio when we were doing the county website - most of them didn't have email addresses they'd give out - and I didn't get ONE Bio.  Even when the IT Director for the county requested them, nada. Not one.

Don't hold your breath on the county/city doing this - they've got nothing they want to be proud of - until election time.

Quoted from 749

Still waiting!

Quoted from 749

I just think it would be nice to see what they're thinking when they're not sitting around the tables (and sorry, Joe, I don't mean when you're talking about your muscle cars, although that is somewhat interesting).