This year, Bell, who lost his Assembly seat to a young buzz saw named Maurice Hinchey 40 years ago next month, has been “running” as a write-in on the Libertarian ticket for assembly against the Kevins. I use the word in quotes since write-ins are usually on ego trips, and lord knows Bell has been down that path.
Bell knows he can’t compete. Let’s just call this Clark on a lark. I’m predicting his over-under at around 50 votes.
I note from the official ballot that Roberts is not on the Stop Common Core/Libertarian line with Republican Rob Astorino and state senate candidate George Amedore.
Recall the unpleasantness in New Paltz in September where an apparently overzealous Roberts campaign aide was accused of forging the name of Cahill staffer Dan Torres, a town councilman, on nominating petitions. The overly long investigation has limited Roberts to the Republican and Conservative lines, which taken together do not equal Democratic enrollment in the district.
Go flip
It may not swing the election, but in the waning days of the campaign the sharp dispute between congressional rivals Chris Gibson and Sean Eldridge over federal support for poor hungry people has accelerated.
Usually termed food stamps, SNAP (for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), serves about 300,000 people in New York State, by extrapolation about 3000 in Ulster County. Eldridge says Gibson voted to cut $9 billion in SNAP funding as part of the omnibus farm bill he helped craft and which was signed by the president earlier this year.
Gibson insists he did not vote to cut anything from SNAP, and that after the farm bill passed New York State moved to increase its support of program from one dollar to $20 a month per family, via the heating assistance program. The net effect, as determined by the Congressional Budget Office, Gibson said, was an $800-million annual “saving” for the federal government on a $77-billion annual poverty program.
“There were zero cuts to [food stamps] in New York,” Gibson said. “As a result of this legislation, and thanks to governor [Andrew] Cuomo, SNAP recipients were actually getting $19 more a month in aid.” Thanks to Cuomo, that increase cost New Yorkers almost $6 million.
Eldridge, in depicting Gibson as just another cold-hearted Republican bent on balancing the federal budget on the backs of the poor, continues to accuse his opponent of cutting aid to hungry Americans.
Which candidate is blowing smoke? Based on experience, my considerable gut gives Gibson the benefit of the doubt, something Eldridge has yet to earn. Others might be more comfortable with a coin flip.
Personal note: At the risk of appearing a laggard, we journalists really try hard to sift through the sludge of politics and personalities to give readers, listeners and viewers the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Given the complexity of issues and the plethora of knaves, spinners and flat-out liars we deal with, you know it don’t come easy.
Top of the ticket
As only cave-dwelling hermits give Republican Rob Astorino any chance against incumbent Cuomo, speculation shifted months ago to what Cuomo might do in his second term, beginning in January.
Cuomo, in that arrogant, dismissive way of his, has refused to take a position on such major issues as fracking, financing of the new Tappan Zee Bridge and locations for casino gambling. Astorino, with nothing to lose, has been out front on most issues.
There have been other concerns among those who think they know the darker side of the governor. One expects him to reward friends or sections of the state who vote for him, but will he take vengeance on those who don’t?
In the September Democratic primary against Zephyr Teachout, ten of the eleven counties in the 19th confessional district — that’s us — voted for the challenger. Could that mean that somewhere in a back room in Albany there’s a bull’s eye on the number 19?
Meanwhile, readers in Gardiner, among other places, say we ought to say more about Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins. There’s more to the Hawkins candidacy than might meet the casual observer. Up for grabs between the Greens and the Working Families Party is a place on the ballot in 2018. And Hawkins appears to be running a strong race. Working Families reluctantly re-nominated Cuomo, but then Cuomo turned around and created the Women’s Equality Party. Every vote for Cuomo on that line will cost WFP, which needs a minimum of 50,000 votes statewide to remain in the top four parties with Democrats, Republicans and Conservatives. It could happen, with the governor’s vocal support in this “year of the woman” that the new WEP might even beat out Greens and Working Party for that coveted slot.
Other faces
Former Pataki DEC commissioner John Cahill will do okay in these parts against incumbent Eric Schneiderman for attorney general, given his advocacy for Belleayre. But Schneiderman’s TV ads, which among other things feature his giving bulletproof vests to cops will carry the day. Some might call it shameless pandering.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has lots of friends in this area, principally county comptroller Elliott Auerbach, and he has the power of the purse. It was no coincidence that DiNapoli, in this election year, managed major reductions in local pension payments to the state retirement fund. Ulster County, according to legislator Dave Donaldson, will see its pension costs reduced by over $3 million next year.
Onondaga County comptroller Bob Antonacci makes points about the “independent” comptroller turning something of a blind eye to fellow Democrats, but he faces a juggernaut.
This year’s race for comptroller was otherwise noteworthy as an experiment in public financing of statewide campaigns. Hastily if not cynically advanced in the waning days of the legislative session, it appears a bust. DiNapoli, with millions in his war chest, refused public financing. Antonacci was unable to reach the $200,000 threshold in small contributions to qualify for funding.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
