By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Friday, June 15, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- In contrast to the fanfare earlier this week for Mayor Brian U. Stratton's formal re-election kickoff, Republicans endorsed their city chairman to challenge the incumbent during a low-key meeting Thursday night. "I've discussed it with my family, my employer, and many other advisers that would be involved, and I'm happy they all agree that I should throw my hat in the ring," Michael Cuevas said to applause from the dozen committee members assembled in the meeting room of Boulevard Bowl.
Meanwhile, Schenectady Republicans formally endorsed former city mayor Albert P. Jurczynski for a seat in the County Legislature as another candidate, Vince Riggi, dropped out of the race for another spot.
Cuevas wasted little time in taking off the gloves. In the first two years of the Stratton administration, he said, federal statistics show crime has risen 20 percent and violent crime jumped by 30 percent in the Electric City.
"Since Stratton has become mayor, crime has skyrocketed," he said.
In response, Stratton contends he is combating violence by bringing former State Police Superintendent Wayne Bennett in as his police commissioner and through assorted other crime-fighting measures.
"It is a statewide and regional problem and we're harnessing every available resource," he said.
Cuevas, an attorney, slammed Stratton for imposing a garbage tax that the challenger branded as "the most regressive form of tax" that causes hardships for seniors and the needy.
Stratton said he inherited a financial mess from the previous Republican administration and that the garbage tax was difficult but necessary.
Like his opponent, Cuevas has name recognition.
From 1987 to 1992, the Republican served as assistant county public defender, and then as Schenectady's corporation counsel from January 1992 to October 1995.
He was then appointed chairman of the New York State Public Employment Relations Board by Gov. George Pataki. From there, Cuevas was promoted to the same post with the Public Employment Relations board.
But as they were celebrating Cuevas' decision, the GOP suffered a setback.
In a letter obtained by the Times Union, Riggi withdrew his name as a GOP candidate for a county legislative seat in District 1.
"It would not be fair to your committee members nor to myself to continue as a Republican county (Legislature) candidate with such a strong philosophical opposition to your city council candidate," the letter states, a reference to the selection Monday night of retired Schenectady police officer Richard DiCaprio for City Council. Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.
Seeking office as a vehicle of change Schenectady mayoral hopeful sees Stratton's city-owned SUV as symbol of waste
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
SCHENECTADY The first thing that's going is the Grand Cherokee, Mike Cuevas says. If elected mayor in November, the Schenectady Republican says he'd waste no time ditching the city-owned, gas-guzzling, sport utility vehicle that Mayor Brian U. Stratton has driven since shortly after taking office in January 2004.
Cuevas, the city Republican chairman, said he would take a look at the entire city fleet of vehicles, cross-train municipal workers, and scrutinize expenses for any potential cost savings.
But the veteran attorney and one-time appointee of former Gov. George Pataki is expected to focus heavily on quality-of-life issues and crime as he tries to defeat the first-term Democrat.
"What affirmative steps has this administration taken to combat crime?" he asked during a recent interview at the Times Union office, noting efforts to rehabilitate downtown could all be for naught if visitors don't feel safe.
Cuevas, who has lived in the city since 1979, emerged from obscurity earlier this year to challenge Stratton after several Republicans, including the man who nearly beat Stratton, Peter J. Guidarelli, declined to run against Stratton, who has turned into a potent fundraiser since taking office.
Stratton responded by saying crime has dropped dramatically in 2006 and that he has steered the city out of a financial crisis he inherited from Mayor Albert P. Jurczynski, the last Republican to hold the mayor's office.
While he might be a relative unknown to voters, Cuevas is no stranger at City Hall. He was the city's top attorney, or corporation counsel, under Republican Mayor Frank Duci from January 1992 to October 1995. Cuevas, 53, also served as mayor pro tempore when Duci was ill or out of town.
If elected, Cuevas, who lives with his wife, Judith, on Grand Boulevard and presently works as chief counsel with the Assembly minority conference, says he would adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward nuisance and property crimes.
"When people see people being busted for minor crimes, then they think twice about the larger crimes," he said, adding he would also consider redeploying some police officers and hiring support staff to free others saddled by administrative duties. "The problem with not dealing with it (crime) is that it spreads everywhere."
Cuevas lists taxes and the neglect of certain neighborhoods as other hot-button issue in this 10.8-square mile city of 61,560 people.
When it comes to taxes, he concedes there is no easy answer.
Still, he favors more transparency by providing residents with a detailed tax bill that shows where their money is going and encouraging more open and honest dialogue.
Cuevas says working in key municipal and state government jobs prepared him to tackle these and other problems in the Electric City.
Stratton responded to Cuevas's words by noting that crime in the city dropped 19.1 percent in the first six months of 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. He also said 16 new police officers will be on the street by next year, thanks in part to federal funding.
He said Cuevas's remarks about the city's finances are off the mark.
I don't know where he's coming from," Stratton said. He noted that when he took office in 2004, the city's bond rating, similar to a credit score, was the lowest in New York state. In the last three years, it has been upgraded four times, he said. Stratton cut taxes 1 percent in this year's budget and is expected to announce a further cut later this summer.
Former mayor Duci said Cuevas had a knack for trimming fat from budgets without hurting municipal services.
"He was the type of person who understood what economy and government meant," Duci said.
After working for Duci, Cuevas went to Albany, where he landed with the Pataki administration from October 1995 to December 2006, first as chairman of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board and then in a similar capacity with the Public Employment Relations Board. That legal experience is an asset in Schenectady, he said.
"We wouldn't need to rely on outside counsel as much as they ( city of Schenectady) do now, and I have an intimate knowledge of collective bargaining," he added. He bemoans what he sees as the labor unrest in his hometown, chiefly with the Police Department.
"It's not supposed to be a game of gotcha, because labor and management need to work together cooperatively for the city to move forward," adding labor strife ultimately has an adverse impact on morale and productivity. Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.
But the veteran attorney and one-time appointee of former Gov. George Pataki is expected to focus heavily on quality-of-life issues and crime as he tries to defeat the first-term Democrat.
Has the Times Union already put Stratton back in office for a second term??? Usually, wouldn't he be considered the incumbent? This just seems they're trying to point out which term of his the work is being done in.
Well BK it's simple here. Your assessment is correct. And why? Stratton is a liberal democrat and so is the media. What else would you expect...FAIRNESS?
The media is an absolute joke! They are so slanted that they would fall over if they could walk upright!
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
I agree with that Bumble, the papers, most TV channels, and most radio stations are leaning way left. Thank goodness for fox and conservative radio stations what few there are.
I certainly hope that the republican political machine puts as much effort into Cuevas' campaign like they are Amedore's! They are clearly pulling out all the stops for Amedore....they better get moving for Cuevas!!!
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
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
Even though I don't live in the city, I'll take a lawn sign for him. I'm sure people who live in Schenectady would drive by and see it...too bad they'll be going much over the posted speed limit and not have much time to read it!
SCHENECTADY Cuevas out as city GOP chairman BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Mayoral candidate Michael Cuevas has given up his position as city Republican committee chairman. He said Monday that he decided not to compete for the position when the committee held its annual organizational meeting. “It’s a release,” he said. “It’s good to have someone else running it. It may be an opportunity to concentrate on the campaign.” As leader of the committee, Cuevas had difficulty recruiting candidates and ended up running for mayor himself. He has just one candidate running for City Council and one for county Legislature, against eight Democrats. When the candidates were announced, county Republican committee Chairman Thomas Buchanan bluntly said the party was “dying” in the city. Cuevas said the leadership change might help win over voters for his mayoral bid. “There may be voters that think if you’re a political party leader, you can’t see past party lines,” he said. But he did not announce the move until a month after the decision was made. He explained the situation after the Daily Gazette described his position incorrectly in an ad for the Oct. 24 mayoral debate. He said Michael Brockbank became the committee’s new chairman in September. Brockbank was the city’s corporation counsel under Mayor Al Jurczynski. Cuevas didn’t fight Brockbank for the position. He said that if he wins the election, he’d have to give up the post anyway. “It’s more prudent to do it ahead of time,” he said. But he said the main issue is one of time. If he doesn’t win the election, his job may keep him too busy to effectively run the committee, he said. “I have a lot of new responsibilities as chief counsel (to the state Assembly minority),” he said. “I do have to put in a full day’s work. With things going on, issues with the governor’s policies, that’s kept me busy.” He still finds time to campaign. He goes to work early so he can leave by 4 p.m., and he’s usually going door-to-door by 5 p.m. “We get out on weekends also. We’re not slacking off in that regard,” he said.
But he did not announce the move until a month after the decision was made. He explained the situation after the Daily Gazette described his position incorrectly in an ad for the Oct. 24 mayoral debate.
OH...what a surprise...the liberal gazette printing incorrect information about a 'non-liberal'. No surprise here!
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
Republican defends mayoral bid Schenectady challenger says incumbent falsely described his candidacy
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published: Thursday, November 1, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- Republican mayoral candidate Michael Cuevas labeled as false a statement by incumbent Brian U. Stratton's campaign that he's running because no one else will. Cuevas, who met with the Times Union editorial board Wednesday as part of election endorsement interviews, responded to Stratton's claim that Cuevas is essentially a place holder on the ballot Tuesday.
"I'm not running because I'm a political chairman and we couldn't find anyone else," the Democratic Stratton said at his own Times Union endorsement meeting Tuesday.
Cuevas said he was only interim chairman of the city's Republican committee from January to September this year. He said while he has been a lifelong Republican, he couldn't hold positions in the party for about 12 years while he worked for the state Department of Labor and the Public Employment Relations Board.
"That's political rhetoric," Cuevas said about the charges. "If I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it because I believe in it."
Cuevas' quest for City Hall has been an uphill one, nevertheless, considering he is facing an incumbent who has raised about 10 times more money. Stratton's camp raised $64,650 as of a month before the election. Cuevas said he has raised about $7,000. But he said the state is having trouble posting the information to its campaign finance disclosure Web site, which is why the information does not show there.
Cuevas has run a quiet, house-to-house campaign.
"Very little of that matters," Cuevas said about the name recognition of the incumbent. "They want to know what ideas you have."
Cuevas, who is employed as chief counsel to the Assembly's minority conference, also talked a lot about Schenectady's Police Department at Wednesday's meeting, just as Stratton did the day before.
Cuevas says he wants to fill the department's vacancies. Tuesday, Stratton said at least 16 new police officers should be suited up by sometime next year under his watch. Lauren Stanforth can be reached at 454-5697 or by e-mail at lstanforth@timesunion.com.
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