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The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of New York State and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Economy,
Budget,
Campaign Finance,
Redistricting,
Education
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What measures do you support to save existing jobs and create new jobs in New York State?
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Answer from James Tedisco:
I’m calling for tax credits, breaks and incentives for businesses that hire unemployed New Yorkers and are willing to provide employee health insurance. We also need to provide tax credits for businesses who will agree to maintain and expand jobs for designated periods of times. If we give employees the confidence that they’ll have a job they’ll invest in our economy and then we can start to turn things around. That’s why I authored the first property tax cap legislation this decade, the “New York State Property Taxpayers Protection Act.” I also support workers comp reform and a permanent Power for Jobs program which supports 240,000 jobs in 440 businesses and not-for-profit organizations across NYS. As the sponsor of the Alternative Fuels Incentive plan to invest in long-term, environmentally-friendly solutions to our energy needs and create green jobs.
Answer from BK Keramati:
I would provide larger incentives to homeowners, small businesses, and farmers to install approved renewable energy (solar for heat and electric, wind, etc.) products to reduce our dependence on CO2-generating fuels. I would like to see these technologies spread widely across our state, creating thousands of jobs. These are jobs that cannot be exported! I would provide larger incentives for US-made technologies and products, and would work with Congress to assure that part of the incentives are provided by Federal sources. The incentives need to be large enough so that the customer's investments pay off in a reasonable number of years. I would eliminate unnecessary government regulations and reduce red tape, while assuring that we have sufficient regulations to protect the public and preserve healthy competition. I would invest in broadband access for ALL New Yorkers so businesses can locate anywhere and all families can get on-line.
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2. How do you think New York can best deal with upcoming unsustainable deficit budgets?
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Answer from BK Keramati:
New York is one of the highest taxed states in the country. We waste a lot of money and we make it hard for businesses to start and to grow here. There is much that can be saved in all segments of government (executive, legislative, judicial). We need to aggressively pursue all waste, fraud and abuse at all levels before we explore other options. This is how world-class businesses operate. To me, this is Job 1. When we get to this point, then we would at least have the confidence that we are spending our resources wisely. And when we get to this point, we need to have a tax policy that pays for government, without waste and abuse. To get to this point, we need to make changes in the culture of Albany, starting from the very top. The reforms listed below and others will directly affect government expenditures.
Answer from James Tedisco:
If New York was really committed to fiscal responsibility, we wouldn’t be the second highest taxed state in the nation. That’s why I created the “New York State Tax-Free Budget Pledge.” I’ve asked legislators to put their promises in writing by signing this pledge. We need to curb and cap spending and reduce the size of government. That’s why I authored a truth in borrowing law to inform voters of the total cost of any borrowing the Governor and or Legislature seek. Just like you and I are held accountable for our household budgets, state government needs to be held accountable for their’s. I want to require a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature for significant tax increases and “one shot” expenditures. It’s time to limit state borrowing that pushes more debt onto future generations. And we must seriously go after the billions of dollars of Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse.
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3. What reforms would you propose to address inadequate campaign finance rules and enforcement in New York?
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Answer from James Tedisco:
I’ve authored legislation (A.6652) to end the practice of bundling -- sidestepping individual campaign contribution limits by having an intermediary gather contributions from other individuals and then delivering them all to a candidate in such a way that earns the intermediary the credit for soliciting the funds without counting against his or her personal limit. If campaign finance reform is defined as an effort to limit the influence that money plays in politics, then the discussion cannot be had without addressing the practice of bundling. I’m also calling for full disclosure of political contributions and relationships. We need election law reform so that candidates’ outside income and any relationships they may have with the state are totally transparent and where we have full disclosure of any contributions that are received. This full disclosure and transparency should also apply to attorneys who seek elected office.
Answer from BK Keramati:
We must create a public funding options for all elections in the state. This option is already working in several states with good results. Public-funded candidates are beholden to every New Yorker - we will all become special interests. For candidates who will not opt in to the public option, we must have tighter rules and lower limits and strict enforcement to reduce the corrupting influences of money in our politics. I have been working on this reform personally for the past several years as a citizen activist.
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4. What reforms would you support for the redistricting process?
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Answer from James Tedisco:
Absolutely!! Yes!! I’m the author of redistricting legislation (A.6721) to create legislative districts based on common communities and not political power blocks. Free, fair open and competitive elections are at the heart of the democratic process. In spite of this fact for too long election maps in this state have been drawn up behind closed doors motivated entirely by parochial concerns that have little if anything to do with effective representation for the people of New York State. I’ve also signed New York Uprising’s reform pledges that includes redistricting reform.
Answer from BK Keramati:
We need to have a redistricting process that is not driven by maintaining political control, but by assuring equal and adequate representation for all our citizens. So at the minimum, the process must be non-partisan. I would also avoid splitting up cities, unless the city is just too large, such as New York City. An independent commission could work, but the details are important to assure the public that the redistricting is serving them, not the politicians.
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5. Would you support a cap on property taxes and, if so, how do you think school districts can deal with the decrease in revenue?
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Answer from BK Keramati:
I would support a property tax cap to provide some relief to New Yorkers. However, I see the tax cap as just a band-aid measure. We need to find a way to fund public education that does not rely on property taxes at all. It is unfair to poorer communities, it discourages investments in home improvements (which create jobs), and it forces seniors to move away from the communities in which they lived all their lives because they cannot afford the increased property taxes with their fixed incomes. I believe we should pay for public education based on affordability, using tax based on income. The state wastes too much of our money today. We need reforms to reduce government expenditures. We need to establish New Yorkers' trust that our government departments, agencies, and authorities are using our tax dollars wisely. We need to establish how we are going to achieve these reforms so we can pay for public education without raising taxes.
Answer from James Tedisco:
Yes. In 2007, when I introduced the Property Taxpayers Protection Act (A.2796) to cap property taxes, no one wanted to talk about real property tax reform. Now a tax cap is on the cusp of becoming a reality. The beauty of a tax cap is it enables local voters to override a cap at anytime if they believe it necessary for their schools. A tax cap to put a lid on high property taxes is just a first step -- we need to cut the taxes that are in place via a circuit breaker tax cut to help those who pay high property taxes as a percentage of income. We must eliminate the unfunded state mandates that cause local property taxes to soar. As a former teacher, I know the challenges teachers face and that’s why I will continue to advocate for fair funding for upstate schools. I support reforming the state’s school aid formula to enhance local control of how state money is spent. Right now we have is a one-size fits all approach that ties the hands of our schools.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc.
