Blanchfield also accused Amedore of taking the 75 percent number off a Web site that shows a doctored photo of Blanchfield wearing a crown with a dollar sign on it.
Below is the Web site Mr. Blanchfield was referring to:
105TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Assembly race is marked by mud-slinging Both candidates filed complaints BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
For the candidates and public, the current race in the 105th Assembly District is proving to be just as bruising as it was 15 months ago. This time around, Republican George Amedore Jr. is seeking a full two-year term, challenged by Democrat Mark Blanchfield. Amedore is running on his record and on the promise of fighting against entrenched special interests in Albany. He won the seat in a special election in July 2007, and filled the remaining year of former assemblyman Paul Tonko’s term. Tonko resigned to head the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority; he is now running for Congress. Blanchfield, an attorney and Schenectady city councilman, promises to bring an analytical approach to solving problems in Albany and will make connections that will benefit the district. Similar to last year’s campaign, this contest has seen claims of mudslinging, attacks on character and distortions of voting records. In a new twist, each candidate has fi led complaints with Fair Campaign Practices of the Capital Region. Amedore and Blanchfield each signed Fair Campaign pledges. Also like last year’s campaign, both candidates are receiving assistance from the Republican and the Democratic state campaign committees, even though they say they are running grass-roots efforts. Amedore’s campaign manager is an employee of the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, and Amedore is receiving help from Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady. In addition, the state committee is paying for Amedore’s mailings. Amedore raised $120,890 as of Oct. 3. Of this amount, $61,600 came from corporations, most representing the building industry. Amedore is vice president of Amedore Homes. Amedore raised $14,325 from political action committees and has the support of small business associations. In Blanchfield’s case, the Democrat Assembly Campaign Committee gave his committee $95,000 in October, which went toward campaign literature and media advertisements. Blanchfield raised $42,472 as of Oct. 3. Of this amount, $8,949 is from political action committees and $4,560 from corporations. He loaned his campaign $12,000. The $95,000 from the campaign committee is in addition to the $42,472. Blanchfield has the support of several labor unions, including New York State United Teachers. Democrats believe Amedore is vulnerable and Republicans are just as determined to retain the coveted Assembly seat, which was in Democrats’ hands for 25 years until last July. Tedisco recruited Amedore for the seat last year and was his prominent supporter and mentor. Tedisco himself is running unopposed in the 110th Assembly District. Amedore said he has business support because “a lot of businesses are hurting from high energy costs, over regulation and unaffordable health insurance. They see I understand their hurt and that I feel their pain.” During his time in the Legislature, where he “fought for the people,” Amedore sponsored 17 bills and had his name of many other pieces of legislation. “To get those passed, I had to work with the majority leader and the committee chairs,” he said. His campaign platform is to: reduce taxes by capping school tax growth to the rate of inflation or 4 percent; reduce energy costs by investing in alternative fuels; make health care affordable by reviewing state mandates on businesses and by opening up the borders of New York to competition; invest in education; and reduce the cost of government by eliminating fraud, consolidating services and more. “People don’t want a rebate check, they want their taxes lowered,” Amedore said. When he decided to seek re-election this year, Amedore said, he consulted with his wife of 18 years, Joelle. “I asked her if my running was a burden, a problem, if it was hampering our relationship. She asked me to think of all the organizations and people I helped and to think of the accomplishments to come,” he said. Said Amedore, “We will continue to serve the people. It is not just me doing this. My wife is alongside me.” Blanchfield said he would be more effective in Albany than Amedore. “It really comes down to getting things passed to benefi t your district,” he said. “I am not asking people to vote for me because I am a Democrat. You have to be in a position as a legislator to move issues forward and to get the help the district needs,” Blanchfield said. Blanchfield said if elected, he would work to increase state aid to the cities of Schenectady and Amsterdam; help develop incentives to assist the district’s agriculture industry; and seek additional highway aid for suburban towns. “The areas that need help aren’t getting it,” Blanchfield said. “I’m an issued-oriented person who tries to solve problems. I look at the issues and study the consequences.” Blanchfield said Amedore has not made the connections to help the district and that he has not been optimal while in office. “We are going into difficult times and I don’t think the message that government should leave you alone is a good message,” he said. “It is easy to say we should have a laissez-faire attitude, but that puts us at a disadvantage if others are positioning themselves to move forward economically.” The 105th Assembly District consists of Montgomery County, the towns of Duanesburg, Princetown and Rotterdam in Schenectady County and the southern portions of the city of Schenectady.
Re the Oct. 25 letter by Angelicia Morris, raving about Mark Blanchfield and his leadership ability for the city: Evidently Ms. Morris has never observed a city council meeting, or she is referring to a different Mark Blanchfield. Over the course of his term as City Council president and member, the Mark Blanchfield I know has implemented several restrictions in order to curtail the public’s ability to express their views during the so-called privilege of the floor. Mr. Blanchfield has shown that he is not accommodating to the public. He is neither patient nor sensitive to the needs of the people he is supposed to be serving. I, for one, do not see any leadership qualities in Mr. Blanchfield. What I do see are self-serving actions through his transparent arrogance.
105th Assembly District re-elects Amedore Jordan outpolls McGaughey in race for 112th Assembly seat
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Wednesday, November 5, 2008
In one of the most high-profile local contests for the state Assembly, incumbent Republican Assemblyman George Amedore Jr. defeated challenger Mark Blanchfield in what for decades had been a Democratic stronghold.
With 100 percent of the districts reporting, Amedore had 27,326 votes to Blanchfield's 16,686. Results are unofficial.
The 105th District campaign took on a nasty tone when Blanchfield, 42, ran ads that Amedore, 39, said took remarks — about viewing his Assembly position as a job — out of context.
"The difference was that I kept my word and ran a positive campaign based on the issues and my record," Amedore said Tuesday night.
Blanchfield could not be reached for comment after the results were in.
It's the second big win for Amedore, a protege of Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco. Amedore trounced Edward Kosiur in a special election in July 2007 to replace Paul Tonko, who had then left to take a job with the Spitzer administration and Tuesday won a congressional seat. Democrats hold an edge over the GOP when in the district, which includes Schenectady and Montgomery counties............http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=736416
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
A great win for George A. Pat Z was correct about Mark, who also attempted to take credit for non-existent jobs Downtown.
The funniest part is that Mark bragged about what he did for Sch'dy neighborhoods! Devastate them by skyrocketing City property taxes while dumping millions Downtown on failed Metrograft schemes. This should be a lesson for other City Council/County Legislator Krats, don't run for higher office-you will have an opponent and lose.
So now that Blanchfiled lost miserably against Amedore, I will be waiting to see what patronage job will be created for him! Ya know...just like Kosiur!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
So now that Blanchfiled lost miserably against Amedore, I will be waiting to see what patronage job will be created for him! Ya know...just like Kosiur!
Not yet...have to wait until he loses his re-election at the city level. Remember, the patronage positions only go to REAL losers. Blanchfield's already WON something.
Not yet...have to wait until he loses his re-election at the city level. Remember, the patronage positions only go to REAL losers. Blanchfield's already WON something.
I stand corrected! I forgot that there were 2 catagories....LOSER AND REAL LOSER!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
A great win for George A. Pat Z was correct about Mark, who also attempted to take credit for non-existent jobs Downtown. 
