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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Schenectady County Legislator Angelo Santabarbara announces his candidacy for the state assembly's new 111th district.

Santabarbara made the announcement at Proctor's Theatre Sunday. As a democrat, he has served as a legislator for Schenectady County since 2008. Santabarbara said his priorities as an assemblyman would be economic development, job creation and lowering taxes for everyone in the newly outlined district,

That new district will cover Montgomery County, parts of Schenectady County, and the Albany County towns of Berne and Knox.

Santabarbara said he has fought to bring millions of dollars in private investments to Schenectady County, creating job growth.

Congressman Paul Tonko said Santabarbara has the skill set to do the job.

"Here's an engineer well trained in science and technology. We are one of the fastest growing regions in the country for high tech, clean energy innovation jobs. We need someone technically savvy to carry on with the lobbying and advocacy and the resource networking in Albany. That person is none other than Angelo Santabarbara,” said Tonko.

Santabarbara ran two years ago and lost to republican George Amedore. Amedore announced he'll run for the State Senate in November.

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Dear Friends, Committee Members, Residents of the NYS 111st Assembly District and Media,

I am announcing my intention to run for the NYS 111st Assembly District seat challenging our 22 year incumbent and career politician, Assemblyman Bill Magee.

My campaign will be about ideas, solutions and the desire to change the priorities, process and accountability of our state government. I desire to be your representative promoting these principles sorely needed in our legislature.

Some of my greatest joy in life has come from serving others or making them successful. It starts with my wife and three kids we home school, then my church, community organizations and customers. All my businesses I’ve had were geared toward that very thing. Serving others and making them successful. That’s what servant leaders do. That’s why I have been successfully self employed all my life. Running for the assembly is simply an extension of serving others in this district and the great state of NY. Also, the farmer in me wants to till up some weeds in Albany and plant some seeds of common sense priorities.

I am a local and reputable employer in Madison County now stewarding a 4th generation family, multi million dollar business, insuring many living in Madison County and surrounding areas. I have no desire to leave the family business to make a career in Albany. Besides managing the family business that has tripled in size since my return back in 2001, I served as President of Ruritan in DeRuyter and current member since 2002; served as President of the Greater Sullivan Area Chamber of Commerce and current member of, as well as 3 other chambers in Madison and Onondaga county. I serve as one of the cub scout leaders of Pack 54 in New Woodstock, and a member of Eastern Hills Bible Church.

I was raised to have a strong multi generational vision be it my family, community or business. As with many of you, I am concerned about this area’s future with a state government becoming seemingly more hostile to families, communities and businesses.

I can assure you that my multi generational vision of government doesn’t include mortgaging my children’s future to the special interests groups or our state’s spending addiction with misplaced priorities.

That multigenerational vision includes a favorable business environment with a new tax and regulatory code. We have some of the highest energy costs, workers compensation costs, property and franchise taxes, and the most mandated and regulatory environment nationwide. These issues are the same issues that businesses were complaining about 22 years ago. The only thing that hasn’t changed are career politicians like Assemblyman Magee. Respectfully, after 22 years Assemblyman Magee, too little too late.

That multigenerational vision includes less spending, taxes and debt. It includes balancing the NYS checkbook without accounting gimmicks, using the 1000+ public authorities like credit cards or unrealistic revenue projections. It encompasses a smaller state government consolidating public authorities and agencies. I believe that you the individual knows better how to spend your money and not sending more of it to a few elite in Albany deciding how to spend it for you.

That multigenerational vision means not voting for the same Assembly majority leader, Sheldon Silver. Continuing to do so will not bring the reform needed to change Albany politics but only emboldens the downstate power base that currently exists. This is why we have such gross discrepancies in the distribution of educational funding for downstate schools vs. upstate schools that are more dependent upon state aid.

Bill supporting Sheldon is the reason in the past two decades why the tax burden has shifted less to income and more to property which penalizes upstate more than downstate.

Bill’s support for Sheldon is the reason why NY unions are the strongest in the nation killing business growth and labor costs for projects are double due to prevailing wages.

Bill supporting Sheldon is the reason for unsustainable pensions where many are being padded based on the last 3 years of employment with excessive overtime.

Bill’s support of Sheldon Silver is the reason for burdensome regulatory laws like the Wicks Law and increasing the minimum wage that only creates higher unemployment for young people already leaving the state in droves.

That multigenerational vision does not include career politicians double dipping by collecting their retirement pension at 65 and yet still collect their paycheck for the very same job they supposedly retired from. If they want to keep working, go find a job in the private sector to pay for the public sector jobs so we don’t have to support one job with 2 paychecks for the same person.

For decades, we have had a medicaid and retirement benefit program that is unsustainable. Our medicaid cost is 3x that of the 3 largest neighboring states! The state has unfairly put much of that burden on upstate counties and towns that consumes 90% or more of their budgets resulting in the highest property taxes in the nation. Higher property taxes only reinforces who really owns your land and home. Why would people want to come to this state and rent from a landlord(NYS) whose rent(property taxes) are the highest in the nation. It’s one of the reasons why people and businesses are leaving NYS and not coming to it to live. Unable to vote many of the career politicians out, people are voting with their feet moving to neighboring states or south. We have to ask if our interests for upstate NY are being adequately represented in Albany. Respectfully, after 22 years Assemblyman Magee, too little too late.

That multigenerational vision does not include using my private sector occupation accepting a job from the county knowing it was not being bidded out to the free market and then charge such absorbent fees each year auctioning foreclosed county properties earning $27,000 for 3 hours work! Respectfully Asssemblyman Magee, after more than a decade of doing this year after year fleecing the Madison County taxpayers, it’s not too little too late, but too much and shame on you.

That multigenerational vision includes term limits being 6 years for the assembly and 8 for the senate. Term limits will attract candidates who are more focused and results oriented. Government would be more responsive to the people serving them rather than people feeling like they are serving their government and officials looking to make a quick buck at the expense of the taxpayers. If it was good enough for George Washington and our founding fathers, it’s good enough for me.

I envision a state that is just for all, not free for some or where the government picks winners and losers in the free market.

I envision free market solutions, not a socialist revolution where the state grants your liberties and provides for most of your needs.

I envision the cutting of spending, taxes and debts, not sweet heart deals for those willing to fill your campaign coffers.

I envision private sector jobs far outpacing public sector jobs. Ten years ago, NYS had over 2 million manufacturing jobs. We now have less than 500,000 because we have failed to adapt our archaic tax and regulatory code to a global market.

I envision political districts that make logical sense, not political sense. Voters should pick their representatives, not the other way around by gerrymandering.

I know Bill Magee to be a nice person. He’s just not the right person for Albany and Sheldon Silver. His staff is excellent with constituency service, and I would look to retain many of them to insure a smooth transition and the excellent service they provide. We just need a stronger and more energetic advocate in Albany whose votes will better serve this district and state.

We need a stronger and more energetic voice for conservative and republican values.

We need a stronger and more energetic influence to change the priorities, process and accountability of government.

I am that individual motivated to try and do just that.
Thank you for your time, and I am asking for your support.

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That’s why I have been successfully self employed all my life.

Quoted from littlesal

No way this is a jello