44TH SENATE DISTRICT Farley/Savage state Senate race looking pricey Political control of Senate puts pressure on contest BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.
Democrat Susan Savage made a strong showing in her fi rst major campaign filing, but Republican Hugh Farley goes into the state Senate District 44 race with fi ve times more money in his war chest. Savage, who was elected in 1997 to the Schenectady County Legislature and has served as its chairwoman since 2004, raised $75,000 in six weeks prior to her July campaign disclosure filing with the state Board of Elections. Doug Forand, her campaign adviser, called her fi rst fi ling impressive, especially in a down economy, and said the amount makes her competitive coming out the gate. “Every candidate wants to look strong for the July filing,” he said. Savage said in her filing she spent $1,000, leaving her with $74,000 in the bank. Forand said Savage will record expenditures for his services in later filings. “I am not working for free,” he said. Farley, who is seeking his 18th two-year term, raised $41,775 during the same period. He spent $10,755 and has $381,398 in the bank. “I haven’t really gone out for fundraising yet. I will start in a few weeks,” he said. Farley said he is looking forward to a challenging race. “I will do the best I can and am proud of my record,” he said. State Senate District 44 comprises Schenectady, Montgomery and Fulton Counties, as well as a portion of Saratoga County. Forand called the District 44 race critical and that expenditures by both candidates could easily hit the $1 million mark. “This could also be a half million or $600,000 race,” he said. Forand said he expects Savage to raise several hundred thousand dollars for the race. The exact amount “is a moving target.” The race is critical because Democrats want to expand their majority in the Senate this fall and have identifi ed the state Senate District 44 race as competitive. INDEPENDENTS KEY New York Public Interest Research Group identified a competitive race as one in which the enrollment difference between the major parties is 13,000 or less. In the 44th state Senate District, Republicans number 77,000 and Democrats number 65,000. The number of blanks, people not affiliated with a party, totals 42,000. Frond said the blanks will provide key swing votes in the race. .......................>>>>...................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01400&AppName=1
Six-month fundraising period places state Senate challenger ahead, but incumbent’s total still strong
While Democrat Susan Savage is touting her recent campaign finances filing against GOP incumbent Hugh Farley, she still has a long road ahead of her to reach Farley’s paper backing.
For the mandated July 2010 campaign finance disclosure, Savage, chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature, is pointing out she raised roughly $74,000 in campaign contributions since she announced on May 23 her bid for the 44th District seat in the New York State Senate. Farley raised nearly $42,000 over the last six months.
For 33 years Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Schenectady, has held his Senate position with no sign of backing down. Even though Farley might have not garnered more contributions for this filing period, he still holds just over $381,000 in total campaign finances.
Savage touts her involvement in revitalizing Schenectady County over her tenure as chairwoman of the legislature since 2004, but Farley contests her contributions.
“Everything that has happened in economic development is a result of my legislation,” said Farley. “She takes credit for that, which I don’t know how she can.”
Savage said she has been instrumental in bringing economic development to Schenectady County.
“It is true Sen. Farley is one of the authors of Metroplex … but Metroplex didn’t really work the first five years in existence,” said Savage. “It really accomplished nothing.”
She said she was part of the effort to reorganize Metroplex and place highly professional people with the organization, which is how it was able to revitalize the economy. Thirty-five entities were combined, said Savage, to form one comprehensive and more effective agency within Metroplex.
Savage also pointed to her creating the position of commissioner of Schenectady County Economic Development and Planning, which Ray Gillen currently holds in addition to chair of Metroplex.
Some economic developments Farley said he has helped bring to the area include the New York State Department of Transportation Building in Albany, the state Lottery Building in Schenectady and the state Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities also in Schenectady.
“I’m very proud of my record,” said Farley.
Farley said Savage’s fundraising holds a “New York City Flavor.” Contributions from the city equal 29 percent of her total funding, but the majority of that funding comes from fellow Democrats most likely trying to overtake the Republican held seat.
“We need some Upstate representation. … Every single facet of [state] government is held by the Democrats and New York City,” said Farley.
Savage contested Farley’s suggestion that Upstate would not be her main focus.
“It is really ridiculous to think that my views are going to reflect anything other than working for the betterment of upstate New York,” said Savage. “I’ve already proven that I can create jobs, property taxes and improve the faltering downtown economy.”
According to Savage, Farley concentrated his efforts outside of Upstate needs even though the area has seen widespread foreclosures.
“I have a strong record in the area of economic development, and Schenectady is an example of what you can do in a struggling Upstate county when people work together,” said Savage.
Schenectady is an example alright. The ONLY area county that saw a sales tax decline the second quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter. Where are the jobs Susan?
She's right about creating property taxes-nobody does it better. And now her Scotia is running a close second to the record property taxes of the City which also has a $13 million deficit. Keep up the work! She will do to the State what she did in Schenectady? Don't say it can't get worse.
not to rain on your parade, but she has nothing to do with the city's deficit, nor with scotia's. sorry. those are local issues related to the county, but more related to the state BUDGET PROBLEMS.
also sales tax may be down for the quarter, but it is up significantly from what it was 5 years ago... please check your facts[ you know what facts are, don't you. They are those things that tell the truth].
What about the record County deficit did she have anything to do with that? Naah, blame that on Bob McEvoy whose been gone for years. County property taxes are included in your City and town taxes.
the largest part of the local town's taxes are COUNTY taxes! Under suzie's watch, the county budget has gotten huge with nonsense programs! Higher taxes are suzie's ONLY legacy!!
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
What happened to working together works? She keeps boasting about increasing the City tax base when in reality everything she does has a payment in lieu of taxes {give away rate} and it's the homeowners that get ripped. State aid down $200,000 but City deficit $13 MILLION. Maybe try blaming Al?
Here are the pathetic facts on the continuing sales tax decrease in Schenectady County. Compared to the first 6 months of 2009-$41.1 million DOWN .21%. Second quarter compared to first quarter DOWN $20.5 million compared with $20.6. The ONLY area County to be also down second quarter. Is this a State problem too? lol.
Despite all of this, Savage will now claim to be a conservative. The Democrat county employees collected and filed petition signatures for an Opportunity to Ballot for the Conservative line in the 44th Senate District... against Farley.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
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Schenectady is an example alright. The ONLY area county that saw a sales tax decline the second quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter. Where are the jobs Susan? 
