Quoted Text

21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Resignation frees Tonko for Congress bid
Ex-NYSERDA head won’t confirm he’s running
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Paul Tonko resigned Friday as head of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, freeing himself to run for the 21st Congressional District seat, local party officials said.
    He is expected to announce formally next week, said Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton.
    Tonko would not confirm a bid for Congress during a phone interview Friday afternoon. “I will be sharing my thoughts on my future plans with the people in the relative future,” he said.
    When he declares, Tonko will join a field of six already in position for the Democratic primary for the 21st Congressional District candidacy.
    Tonko issued a statement Friday, stating “I have informed Governor Paterson that I have tendered my resignation to the NYSERDA board effective immediately. After a long career in state service, I am looking forward to a new challenge.”
    He retired as the popular assemblyman from the 105th Assembly District last year after 24 years to become NYSERDA head.
    His resignation means he likely will run for Congress, said Bethany Schumann-Mc-Ghee, chairwoman of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee and a Tonko aide for 10 years.
    Tonko was prevented from openly seeking Democrat Michael McNulty’s congressional seat by an executive order signed by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The order banned directors, executives and senior officials from starting up a political run while serving the state in a paid capacity.
    Tonko said his decision to resign from NYSERDA was difficult, adding he was proud to have led the agency and its staff.
    Stratton said he would “absolutely support Paul” in his candidacy. Stratton had considered a run for the seat, once held by his father, but said he wanted to remain mayor of Schenectady.
    “I hope it is true. He becomes the only tier one candidate in the race. He is a proven leader and a strong, energetic and proven representative we need in Washington. Much of the success I was able to achieve in the first years of my administration was due to his strong representation in Albany,” Stratton said. “He knows what it is all about.”
    S c h u m a n n - M c G h e e s a i d Tonko’s name immediately surfaced when McNulty announced in October he would retire after 20 years in office. But Tonko persistently refused to say whether he would seek the seat.
    She said Tonko brings a big advantage to the race: “Paul has a great name recognition and very good record in state and local government.” Nevertheless, she said, Tonko “has some signifi cant ground to cover for fundraising.”
    He would have to start raising money from scratch in a bid for Congress, as federal law prevents him from using the $100,000 he collected through his Assembly campaign committee. As of Friday, he had not filed a notice with the Federal Election Commission establishing a committee to raise funds.
    Candidates may have to spend at least $1 million to wage the expected Democratic primary on Sept. 9. But first, the candidates need to get on the ballot. The first day to sign a designating petition is June 3, the last day is July 10.
    The Schenectady City Democratic Committee has already endorsed Tonko for the seat; the county committee is expected to follow suit when it meets shortly.
    Schumann-McGhee said the Montgomery County Democratic Committee may break with tradition and endorse a candidate when it meets next month. She would not say whom the committee would endorse, but Tonko is expected to be a heavy favorite.
    The Albany County Democratic Party will screen Tonko’s questionnaire today.
    The other Democrats in the race are John Aretakis, 47, an attorney from North Greenbush; Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton; Lester Freeman, the city of Albany’s equal employment opportunity officer; Darius Shahinfar, an Albany attorney and former aide to Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand; Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman; and Arthur Welser, a licensed broker with Real Property Enterprises in North Greenbush.
    The two Republicans are James Buhrmaster, 62, president of Buhrmaster Energy Group, based in Glenville, and a Schenectady County legislator; and Steven Vasquez, 33, of Ballston Lake, a self-described Tech Valley entrepreneur who started an electronics company called ReQuest.
    Democrat Gary Mittleman, former Plug Power CEO, withdrew from the race this week, citing the fundraising difficulties and an inability to achieve his agenda if elected.

Quoted Text

Actually, I will be on some medications for the next few days (can you say a $10 copay for 3 pills of antibiotics, along with a few other drugs at additional cost), but I'm raring to go, especially with all the big news coming out on the Metroplex front lately (did you know, if you're inpatient at Ellis, part of your inpatient stay is a FREE copy of the Gazette every morning?).

Quoted Text

Tonko confirms he'll seek House seat
Thursday, May 1, 2008
By Bob Conner (Contact)
Gazette Reporter


21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT — Paul Tonko confirmed Thursday that he is running for Congress in the 21st District to succeed U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty, D-Green Island, who is retiring at the end of the year.

“Yes,” Tonko responded when asked at a Democratic Party event in Saratoga Springs whether he is running. He said he has not yet made a formal announcement of his candidacy because he is “putting my paperwork together.” Tonko resigned last week as head of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority. He previously served more than 20 years as a state assemblyman representing Montgomery and much of Schenectady counties.

Saratoga County Democratic Chairman Larry Bulman said he sees Tonko as one of the two leading candidates in the race, the other being Tracey Brooks of Albany County. Brooks is an attorney and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Assemblyman Bob Reilly, D-Colonie, said he sees three leading candidates: Tonko, Brooks, and Phil Steck, an attorney and Albany County legislator. They are all good candidates, Reilly said, though he is sticking by his endorsement of Steck.

McNulty’s district includes all of Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery and Schoharie counties, and parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.

Enrolled Democrats outnumber Republicans there by 174,054 to 119,493. Several other candidates have already declared that they are running for the seat. Most of them, like Tonko and McNulty, are Democrats.

McNulty, like most of the district’s Democrats, is from Albany County. Tonko is from Amsterdam in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Democratic Chairwoman Bethany Schumann-McGhee said that the committee does not usually endorse in primaries, but might make an exception in this case to back Tonko. Tonko also has substantial support in Schenectady County.

Meanwhile, in Saratoga Springs, the New York State Democratic Committee on Thursday elected four new superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention. All four — state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, former Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields and Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo — are supporters of the presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton.

New York’s elected leaders have lined up in overwhelming numbers behind their home state senator, but nationally Clinton remains about 139 delegates behind Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Schumann-McGhee was sporting two Obama buttons, but stressed that her committee has not taken a position in the race. Speaking personally, she said she was inspired by Obama’s speeches and his life story, noting that she is in an interracial marriage, and he is the product of one.

Bulman, like most New York Democrats, is a Clinton supporter. The Saratoga committee got behind her candidacy last year, he said.

At the Democratic meeting, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, gave a fiery lunchtime speech denouncing President Bush as the worst president in U.S. history, but did not mention the contest for the Democratic nomination. Asked later if Clinton still has a realistic chance of winning, Silver responded: “Absolutely, unequivocally. You’ll see it in the next few primaries.”

Assemblyman Jack McEneny, D-Albany, said he too thinks his candidate, Clinton, can pull it off. But she needs to get Obama’s delegate lead down below 100, McEneny said. Otherwise, he said, the superdelegates may be reluctant to put her over the top. Under Democratic Party rules, the superdelegates are not directly elected by voters. They are mostly senior officials, such as members of Congress, and are not legally bound to any candidate.

U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee for New York, said in a speech that several Republican seats are vulnerable, including that of Rep. John McHugh, whose district includes part of Fulton County.

Some local Democrats, however, were skeptical. Bulman said he thinks the three most vulnerable Republican seats are in central and Western New York, and does not see McHugh’s seat as a likely pickup.

Meanwhile, the suspense in the GOP race is over, and Republicans are looking past their convention to the general election.

J. Christopher Callaghan, a delegate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said he is finding strong support for McCain, and not just from Republicans. Callaghan, the former Saratoga County treasurer, said people admire McCain’s courage, character and candor, even if they don’t agree with all his positions. “He’s the adult in the race,” Callaghan said.

Quoted Text

21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Tonko says he is in running
Democrats line up for candidates
BY BOB CONNER Gazette Reporter

    Paul Tonko confirmed Thursday that he is running for Congress in the 21st District to succeed U.S. Rep. Michael Mc-Nulty, D-Green Island, who is retiring at the end of the year.
    “Yes,” Tonko responded when asked at a Democratic Party event in Saratoga Springs whether he is running. He said he has not yet made a formal announcement of his candidacy because he is “putting my paperwork together.” Tonko resigned last week as head of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority. He p r e v i o u s l y served more than 20 years as a state assemblyman representing Montgomery and much of Schenectady counties.
    Saratoga County Democratic Chairman Larry Bulman said he sees Tonko as one of the two leading candidates in the race, the other being Tracey Brooks of Albany County. Brooks is an attorney and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, DN.Y.
    Assemblyman Bob Reilly, DColonie, said he sees three leading candidates: Tonko, Brooks, and Phil Steck, an attorney and Albany County legislator. They are all good candidates, Reilly said, though he is sticking by his endorsement of Steck.
    McNulty’s district includes all of Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery and Schoharie counties, and parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.
    Enrolled Democrats outnumber Republicans there by 174,054 to 119,493. Several other candidates have already declared that they are running for the seat. Most of them, like Tonko and McNulty, are Democrats.
    McNulty, like most of the district’s Democrats, is from Albany County. Tonko is from Amsterdam in Montgomery County.
    Montgomery County Democratic Chairwoman Bethany Schumann-McGhee said that the committee does not usually endorse in primaries, but might make an exception in this case to back Tonko. Tonko also has substantial support in Schenectady County.
    Meanwhile, in Saratoga Springs, the New York State Democratic Committee on Thursday elected four new superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention. All four — state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, former Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields and Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo — are supporters of the presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton.
    New York’s elected leaders have lined up in overwhelming numbers behind their home state senator, but nationally Clinton remains about 139 delegates behind Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
    Schumann-McGhee was sporting two Obama buttons, but stressed that her committee has not taken a position in the race. Speaking personally, she said she was inspired by Obama’s speeches and his life story, noting that she is in an interracial marriage, and he is the product of one.
    Bulman, like most New York Democrats, is a Clinton supporter. The Saratoga committee got behind her candidacy last year, he said.
    At the Democratic meeting, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, gave a fiery lunchtime speech denouncing President Bush as the worst president in U.S. history, but did not mention the contest for the Democratic nomination. Asked later if Clinton still has a realistic chance of winning, Silver responded: “Absolutely, unequivocally. You’ll see it in the next few primaries.”
    Assemblyman Jack McEneny, D-Albany, said he too thinks his candidate, Clinton, can pull it off. But she needs to get Obama’s delegate lead down below 100, McEneny said. Otherwise, he said, the superdelegates may be reluctant to put her over the top. Under Democratic Party rules, the superdelegates are not directly elected by voters. They are mostly senior officials, such as members of Congress, and are not legally bound to any candidate.
    U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee for New York, said in a speech that several Republican seats are vulnerable, including that of Rep. John McHugh, whose district includes part of Fulton County.
    Some local Democrats, however, were skeptical. Bulman said he thinks the three most vulnerable Republican seats are in central and Western New York, and does not see McHugh’s seat as a likely pickup.
    Meanwhile, the suspense in the GOP race is over, and Republicans are looking past their convention to the general election.
    J. Christopher Callaghan, a delegate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said he is finding strong support for McCain, and not just from Republicans. Callaghan, the former Saratoga County treasurer, said people admire Mc-Cain’s courage, character and candor, even if they don’t agree with all his positions. “He’s the adult in the race,” Callaghan said.

Quoted Text

Paul Tonko confirmed Thursday that he is running for Congress in the 21st District to succeed U.S. Rep. Michael Mc-Nulty, D-Green Island, who is retiring at the end of the year.
    “Yes,” Tonko responded when asked at a Democratic Party event in Saratoga Springs whether he is running. He said he has not yet made a formal announcement of his candidacy because he is “putting my paperwork together.”