Candidates offer views at forum
BY KERRY McAVOY , The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
FORT PLAIN - The seven candidates for the 21st congressional seat being vacated by Michael McNulty expressed their views on a variety of regional and national topics Wednesday.
About 65 people came out to listen to a forum organized by the Mohawk Valley and Sharon Springs Rotary clubs at the Fort Plain Senior Center.
In the Democratic primary race, former New York State Assemblyman Paul Tonko from Amsterdam, Tracey Brooks, former regional director for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's office, Albany area attorneys Darius Shahinfar and Phil Steck, and retired Navy Capt. Joe Sullivan will compete for their party's nomination.
On the Republican side, Buhrmaster Energy Group President Jim Buhrmaster and Steven Vasquez, the owner of digital home audio business ReQuest, are seeking their party's nomination.
The candidates had 90 seconds to respond to questions from moderator Virginia Michalik.
The group ended up in agreement on their support of the right to bear arms. The group agreed Congress should stop raiding Social Security to pay for government operations.
The candidates also agreed more needs to be done to make trade fairer between the United States and countries such as Mexico and China.
The candidates differed in opinions on other topics.
The group had opposing views on what should be done to stop the growing influx of illegal immigrants.
Tonko said he would like to see the Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
work with businesses to cut through red tape to help immigrants become legal U.S. citizens faster.
Vasquez said he does not believe the country should give amnesty to illegal immigrants. Vasquez, the son of legal Colombian immigrants, said it's impossible to send all illegal immigrants back to their home countries, but he feels the government should do something with the illegal immigrant prison population.
The candidates were split on what to do to solve the oil shortage and how to investigate alternative energy.
Tonko said he would like to see more research into alternative energy sources. Tonko, former head of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, supports alternative energy sources.
Tonko said he didn't like the idea of more national drilling because the oil probably won't stay in the United States, but rather be added the global market.
"We have to be careful about quick-fix solutions," Tonko said.
Buhrmaster said he was part of a recent truck-driver rally from Fultonville to Albany that called attention to high diesel prices. He supports the idea of drilling for oil on U.S. shores.
"We needed to do it yesterday," Buhrmaster said, referring to Alaskan and off-shore drilling.
Buhrmaster said he would like to see the country invest more money into nuclear energy and end the corn-based ethanol "disaster."
Sullivan said the country should look for oil in the United States to help solve the fuel-price problem.
"I support drilling wherever we can find it as long as it is done safely," said Sullivan.
Steck said even though 70 percent of the public is in favor of drilling in Alaska and off U.S. shores, he doesn't support it.
Steck said if the country drilled for oil in those areas, none of it would be on the market for at least 10 years.
He said the country should focus on developing alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power.
What to do to fix the country's health care system was another hot topic for the candidates.
Shahinfar said he believes in universal coverage for every American.
He said giving coverage to every American would help lower property tax rates. He said such a plan would mean property taxes wouldn't go to pay high insurance costs for government employees and Medicare.
"National care will knock off 15 percent of property taxes," Shahinfar said.
Shahinfar said if he's elected, he will not accept the congressional health coverage until every American is insured.
Buhrmaster said he likes the idea of everyone having health care, but such plans aren't possible.
He said the government is too big and would waste money.
Buhrmaster said one way to lower the cost would be to lower liability insurance costs for doctors and hospitals.
Brooks said she would like to see a national health care system.
Brooks said American citizens are spending too much on health care costs. She said the United States is spending about 6 percent more of the gross domestic product on health care than countries that have national coverage.
She said not only should everyone have complete coverage, but the system should be streamlined to work more efficiently.
Brooks said she would like to see more doctors, specialists and hospitals work in tandem to better serve patients and lower costs.
The primaries will take place Sept. 9 from noon to 9 p.m.
Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.
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StopTheFraud
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08-22-08 1:11 PM
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Vote for anyone besides Tonko. My goodness write in Charlie Brown if you have to.
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RageoftheDay
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08-22-08 8:19 AM
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What is more amazing to me, Discolbulous, is the fact that you are the only one to comment on this article and there haev been HUNDREDS of comments to the murder in Gville. Here we are given the chance to have a stake in the condidate we choose to represent us and appearently you (and I) are the only ones who seem to give a crap. Freedom must be away on vacation, because he usaully comment son this stuff. My comment - I only see on candidate with ANY public service experience (at least any reported in the article) And we have all seen what happens when you have someone with no governing experience try to govern. No offense to the other candidates, but, running an oil delivery company is far different from running government. It has to be. Government cannot run itself like a business and vice versa.
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Discobulous
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08-21-08 12:28 PM
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Gun rights is at the core of our freedom and the whole bunch of them ought to have the brains to chase after other social imperfections. We don't need any more 'feel good' restrictions from anyone.
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