Calls Continue For Open Senate Selection Process
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- December
- 19
Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, who heads the Senate Elections Committee, called on Governor Paterson today to hold open meetings on picking a Senate replacement for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
It’s a message that Republicans have been making in recent days.
“Although there is a rush to judgment in the media as if we were approaching a political coronation instead of filling an office to represent all the people of this very diverse state, I believe that the needs of our state – and the needs of our candidates who wish to represent us in Washington – require a structured policy of openness in which all the people can get all the facts about where candidates stand on the issues that matter most to us,” Griffo wrote in a letter to the governor.
Griffo wants Paterson to schedule town-hall style meetings in upstate and downstate communities, and “to make his selection from among those candidates who attend.”
Griffo said Utica should host a town-hall session. The city has been particularly angered after Rep. Gary Ackerman last week said he’s not interested in the seat because “I don’t do Utica.”
Ackerman is now headed to Utica Monday to clear the air.
“Recently, this city has been battered by comments from a downstate representative demeaning the noting of “doing Utica,” Griffo said. “We need to show the people that our next senator will ‘do Utica,’ and Watertown, and Binghamton, and other areas where our senator needs to do more than drive through to understand the complex web of issues that need attention.”
This entry was posted
on Friday, December 19th, 2008 at 11:50 am by Joseph Spector.
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you republicans can go jump in a lake….face the facts – stop whining and grow up
I am not sure that town hall meetings will make any difference. I think that letters, emails and public postings through blogs like this might get one’s message out there better.
I wanted to share with you another person who I feel would make a great US Senator; Congressman Mike McNulty (D – Green Island). Allow me to share with you some of the reasons why I feel he is best suited for the office of US Senator.
a) McNulty is well versed at Washington politics and is well liked on both sides of the isle. Even the August storm, as he sat in as Speaker, was dismissed by all later when cooler heads prevailed.
b) He does not need any “ramp up” time to learn the ins and outs of Washington. He also sits on similar Congressional Committees to that of Senator Clinton’s Senate Committees too.
c) He resides upstate which creates the opportunity for Governor Paterson to show upstaters that he cares about upstate.
d) McNulty, by virtue of his impending retirement in Congress, does not create another void in local, state or federal government. Paul Tonko ran as a Democrat to fill McNulty’s seat that he is vacating this month and won.
e) Since the appointment is to fill the rest of the term – 2 years [I believe] – it also gives Congressman McNulty an “out” should he really want to retire in two years AND it would give the voters of the State of NY the opportunity to vote for a non incumbent candidate should McNulty not run when the Senate term expires.
McNulty is has been a hard working Congressman that does not need the limelight for gratification. This would certainly be welcomed news for Senator Schumer, our senior Senator, as well.