Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his 2017 State of the State speech in Buffalo on Jan. 9, 2017. (image from New York Governor’s Office)

ALBANY – An investigative report from the Albany Times-Union is revealing that the recently convicted aid to Gov. Andrew Cuomo allegedly used tax-payer funded phone lines while working on the governor’s reelection campaign.

According to the report, longtime Cuomo Aide Joe Percoco left the state payroll for eight months to work for the governor’s reelection effort in 2014.

However, records show the taxpayer-funded phone line in Percoco’s former government office was used 68 times to call the Cuomo campaign office in Manhattan.

Percoco’s attorney said Percoco never made campaign-related calls on the government phone and that others may have used the phone for that purpose.

State Law prohibits the use of “property, services or other resources of the state” for political campaigns.

The law is intended to prevent incumbent politicians from using taxpayer funds to gain political advantage over electoral opponents.

Cuomo has said he believed that during the nearly eight months Percoco was his 2014 campaign manager, Percoco was simply doing work in his former office to transition out of his former position as the governor’s executive deputy secretary.

Percoco was recently convicted in federal court on bribery and corruption charges.

Image from www.facebook.com/andrewcuomo

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo will remain in office for four more years.

That after voters across New York went to the polls on Tuesday to vote for the top office in New York State – along with several other statewide, regional and local offices.

With nearly all election precincts reporting by the end of Election Day, Cuomo had collected about 54 percent of the statewide vote, with Republican challenger Rob Astorino of Westchester County picking up 41 percent and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins coming in a distant third with just over 5 percent.

Shortly after the close of the polls on Tuesday, the Associated Press declared Cuomo the winner. During his victory speech, the governor focused on his campaign’s rhetoric – playing up his accomplishments of the last four years, which include legislation involving property tax assistance, new jobs and on-time budgets. The governor also promised those in attendance that he was just getting started and that New Yorkers “ain’t seen nothing yet.”

The governor said during the next four years he will focus on raising the minimum wage, improving public education, fighting the local property tax burden, passing the Women’s Equality Act and passing the DREAM Act.

Schneiderman, DiNapoli Win Re-Election

In addition to Cuomo’s victory, the two other state-wide office holder also picked up re election wins for their respective offices. Both Democratic Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli will serve four more years in Albany following wins on Election night.

Schneiderman defeated Republican opponent John Cahill 58-39 percent, while DiNapoli bested his Republican opponent Robert Antonacci, 61-36 percent. It was the first re-election for both Democrats.

Reed Cruises to Third Congressional Term

Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) with his family following news that he won re-election on Election Night, 2014. (photo from www.Twitter.com/TomReedCongress)

Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) will remain in office for at least two more years. The two-term Republican from Corning easily defeated his lone challenger – Martha Robertson (D-Dryden) from Dryden New York – by a margin of nearly 63 to 37 percent. The unofficial Election Night total from CNN had Reed picking up more than 105,000 votes across the 23^rd Congressional District, while Robertson was able to pick up just over 63,000.

Reed fared especially well in the western section of his district, which includes Chautauqua County. He picked up an estimated 40,600 votes in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties compared to the 20,000 that Robertson Received. The only county Robertson won was her home of Tompkins County – where she received over 14,000 votes compared to just 5,700 for Reed.

GOP Retakes State Senate

While Republicans were unable to win any of the three statewide offices, the GOP did find some success in the state’s upper legislative chamber.

It appears that Republicans will once again have sole control of the state Senate with candidates picking up enough wins to attain the required 32-vote majority.

Statewide, there were enough GOP victories rolling in around 11 p.m. on Election Night for Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos to declare in a statement that “New Yorkers have chosen balance and bipartisanship over an entire state government made up of Democrats from New York City, and placed their trust in Republicans to lead the Senate.”

Democrats later conceded that they weren’t going to win the majority.

It remained unclear whether members of the Independent Democratic Conference, led by Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein, would once again join forces with the Republicans, as they have for the past two years, or ally with their minority-conference Democratic colleagues.

Locally, Senator Cathy Young (R-Olean) picked up her fifth term in office after running unopposed.

In the State Assembly, the Demcrats picked up a seat and increase their majority with 99 of the 150 seats.

Goodell, Gerace and Piazza win County-Wide Races

Assemblyman Andy Goodell (R-Chautauqua) and Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace (D-Jamestown) both won re-election, while Jeffrey Piazza was a four-way race to be the county’s new Family Court Judge.

In the Local elections here in Chautauqua County, it was a big night for the two candidates who hold county wide offices.

Assemblyman Andy Goodell, who’s 150^th district covers all of and only Chautauqua County, cruised to a third term in office after easily defeating democratic challenger Barrie Yochim. With all districts in the county reporting, Goodell picked up 75 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace cruised to a sixth term in office, defeating Republican Challenger Russell Payne from Frewsburg by a margin of 63 to 37 percent.

In the race for the newly created second Chautauqua County Family Court Judge position, republican Jeffrey A. Piazza of Jamestown easily defeated his three opponents. Piazza picked up 59 percent of the votes throughout the county. In addition to running as a Republican, Piazza also ran on Conservative and Independence party lines.

Democrat Sally Jaroszynski, picked up 28.5 percent of the vote, Fredonia Republican Michael J. Sullivan, who ran on the Green Party line, picked up 6.6 percent of the vote while Working Families candidate James J. Spann, received 5.81 percent of the vote.

Rankin Defeats Kresge in District 12 Special Election

The Chautauqua County Legislature will have a new member serving on the panel. Republican Elisabeth Rankin won the special election for the District 12 seat which cover the north side of Jamestown, picking up nearly 52 percent of the votes. Rankin was challenging Democrat Beth Kresge – who was appointed to the seat earlier this year after it was vacated by Fred Larson, who had to step down after being appointed as the new Jamestown city court judge.

Rankin picked up an unofficial election night total of 746 votes, compared to Kresge’s 691.

All Three State Propositions Pass

State voters were supporting all three ballot propositions, according to unofficial returns on Tuesday night.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1 – the amendment that would retool the state’s redistricting practice, the once-a-decade redrawing of the state’s political districts.

And Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Smart Schools Bond Act, Proposal 3, which would generate $2 billion to improve classroom technology and other elements of educational infrastructure, also saw approval, as did Proposal 2, the constitutional amendment that would eliminate the need for legislative bills to be printed and supplied to every lawmaker before being considered.

State Assembly Candidate Barrie Yochim of Jamestown Stands in front of a ‘zombie property’ on Weeks St. in Jamestown. Yochim said that unlike his opponent Andy Goodell, if elected he would support a measure that addresses the growing problem of zombie properties in New York State.

JAMESTOWN – The Democratic challenger for the local State Assembly seat is drawing attention to the need to address zombie properties in areas across New York State, including here in Chautauqua County.

New York State Assembly candidate Barrie Yochim of Jamestown is challenging incumbent Andy Goodell (R-Chautauqua) for the 150th Assembly seat that covers all of Chautauqua County. On Tuesday, Yochim said that unlike his opponent, he’s in favor of a recently announced plan to fight back at the growing number of zombie properties in New York State, known as the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act. It was presented in May by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Schneiderman’s proposal requires that banks clearly notify homeowners who’ve fallen behind in mortgage payments that they are still allowed to live in the home during the foreclosure process and they should also be given any opportunity possible to catch up on mortgage payments. If the homeowner abandons the property before the foreclosure is completed, the bank would then become immediately responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the property. Schneiderman’s plan would also require a statewide registry of properties that are in the foreclosure process, making it easier for residents and local municipalities to identify who is responsible for the upkeep when the property becomes blighted.

Currently there is no law that requires a bank to follow through on the upkeep of a property during the foreclosure process- which often times results in the property falling into neglect and disrepair, becoming what is known as a “zombie property.”

Earlier this year Goodell had said he does not support the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act, on the grounds that it could result in higher interest rates and liability costs for all property owners, due to banks having to be financially responsible for any property going through the foreclosure process (which can take months and sometimes even years to take place).

Instead, Goodell would rather see changes to the current foreclosure law, making it easier and, as a result, faster for banks to foreclose on properties. He believes a more efficient process would result in the banks getting the property back on the market sooner and thus preventing it from falling into disrepair.

Yochim, however, says that’s taking an approach that is in the bank’s best interest, and not in the property owner’s or neighborhood’s best interest. Yochim says Goodell’s suggestion could actually make it easier for banks to foreclose on properties by taking away certain rights and mechanisms that currently exist for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage, but still want to work to keep their property.

Yochim said that if elected to the Assembly, he’d support Schniederman’s measure because it looks out for both property owners who may fall behind on mortgages and also for homeowners who have to live next to our nearby a zombie property.

The city of Jamestown has also come out in support of Schneiderman’s zombie property bill, approving a motion of support in the summer.

Yochim and Goodell are the only two candidates that will appear on the ballot in this year’s 150^th Assembly district election, which takes place next Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The 2014 candidates for 23rd Congressional District of New York: Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) and challenger Martha Robertson (D-Ithaca).

JAMESTOWN – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) has picked up an endorsement from two local newspapers.  Reed, who is running for reelection against Martha Robertson (D-Tompkins County) in the 23rd Congressional District, was endorsed this past weekend by both the Post-Journal and the Dunkirk Observer – both of which are considered Conservative newspapers and are owned by the Ogden Newspapers, Inc., based in Wheeling, WV.

In the Post-Journal, Robertson was criticized for taking a hard stance on the issues of free trade and natural gas exploration. However, the paper applauded Reed for “showing the flexibility needed when handling important issues.” The editorial also said that Reed has “shown his willingness to take local issues to Washington.”

Reed was not endorsed by the Buffalo News, (owned by Berkshire Hathaway) which said in a recent editorial that it could endorse neither candidate in the 23rd Congressional District race.

The News’ editorial called the campaign “a depressing race” and took Reed to task on several issues, including his support of a government shutdown last year and voting against raising the country’s debt limit. The editorial also mentioned Reed’s failure to remove his name from a law firm after joining congress (required by law) and also using campaign finance money to pay his personal property taxes. The article went as far to say that Reed has voted in ways that should automatically disqualify him from the office.

The editorial also criticized Robertson’s for running a what it called a weak campaign and for being to far left of many of the voters that live throughout the districts. Read the full text below:

THE BUFFALO NEWS
Portion of an editorial printed Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

“This is a depressing race. Neither candidate seems up to what is the serious and complex task of representing the 23rd Congressional District or leading the nation in a responsible way.

“The incumbent Republican, Tom Reed of Corning, is a pleasant and engaging man, but one who has voted in ways that should automatically disqualify him from this office. Specifically, he supported a bill that he knew would close the government, then voted again to continue the shutdown – a vote that fortunately failed – and, perhaps worst of all, he voted in January to oppose raising the debt limit, which would have had the disastrous consequence of forcing the world’s premier democracy to default on its debts.

“Reed was also shown to have used campaign funds to pay a county tax bill – accidentally, he said – and has allowed his Corning law office to operate under his name while he has been serving in Congress, despite House ethics and American Bar Association rules that bar that practice.

“Yet, Reed’s Democratic opponent, Tompkins County Legislator Martha Robertson, has run a weak campaign, so weak that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee canceled plans to spend $465,000 on TV ads. Her approach to government appears to be significantly to the left of most of the district, perhaps explaining why she seems tentative in her approach to this campaign.

“In the end, voters of the district don’t have great choices. Reed seems likely to win and, if so, we can only hope that he moves back toward a responsible brand of conservatism – a place he told voters he wanted to be when he ran two years ago. In the meantime, we’re not endorsing either candidate.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo (left) and his Republican Opponent Rob Astorino.

BUFFALO – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo squared off Wednesday night against three of his opponents in this year’s election, including Rob Astorino – the Republican County Executive from Westchester County.

The only debate to feature four of the five candidates that will appear on the ballot on Nov. 4 took place in Buffalo and was televised on PBS and also broadcast on several public radio stations across the state.

Joining Cuomo and Astorino were Libertarian Michael McDermott and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins. The other person who will appear on the Ballot – Steven Cohn from the Sapient Party – did not attend the debate.

Cuomo and Astorino spent much of the debate attacking each others record. Astorino explained that Cuomo is connected to corruption in Albany and uses his business tax break policy to secure sweet heart deals with companies that will support him and his campaign. Cuomo, meanwhile, noted that Rob Astorino’s views are too conservative to lead New York state. He also pointed out that during Astorino’s time as County Executive, Westchester County has seen this highest property tax increase in all of new York state and currently has the highest property tax rate in the nation.

McDermott – the libertarian candidate – used his time to criticize the major-party candidates and urged voters to carefully consider their options. He also said his focus will be on less government involvement for residents and businesses across the state.

Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins voiced opposition to hydraulic fracturing and said the state needs to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Astorino supports hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, while Cuomo has said he wants to wait for a study on fracking’s health effects before deciding whether to allow the drilling practice.

Polls show Cuomo leads Astorino and the three other candidates by double digits.

Chautauqua County Legislature Chairman Jay Gould reads a commendation as Jamestown legislator Paula DeJoy looks on. DeJoy announced Wednesday night that she would be resigning from the panel because she’ll be moving out of District 11 in Jamestown.

MAYVILLE – A member of the Chautauqua County Legislature announced Wednesday night that she would be resigning from her position on the panel.

Jamestown Democrat Paula DeJoy – who had represented District 13 for nearly five years – told lawmakers that she was stepping down because she and her family are moving out of the district.

DeJoy was first elected to the panel in 2009. During that time she served on both the Public Facilities and Administrative Services committees.

DeJoy tells WRFA that one of the things she’s most proud of during her time on the legislature is that she’s worked well with other representatives, regardless of political affiliation or geographic location. Earlier this year, DeJoy was one of the majority of legislators that approved the sale of the Chautauqua County Home. She says that the sale was for the good of the entire county and another accomplishment she was proud of.

Following her announcement on Wednesday night, Legislature Chairman Jay Gould presented DeJoy with a commendation for her service on the panel and she received a standing round of applause form her colleagues.

It will now be up to the county Democratic Committee to select DeJoy’s replacement, who will serve out the remainder of the current term until a general election takes place in November 2015.

Meanwhile, DeJoy said that she may get involved in local politics again. She’ll be moving to the west side of Jamestown and into Legislative District 13, which is currently represented by Republican David Wilfong. She said that she hasn’t decided yet whether she run for office in 2015 but will most like come to a decision by January of next year.

DeJoy’s announcement is the second resignation from a Jamestown Legislator this year. In the spring, Democrat Fred Larson announced his resignation after being appointed as Jamestown city court Judge. He was eventually replaced by appointee Beth Kresge, who is now running for election to fill out the remainder of that term. She is facing Jamestown Republican Elisabeth Rankin in the Nov. 4 general election.

Attending the forum were the two candidates for State Assembly, the four candidates for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge and the two candidates for Chautauqua County Legislature’s District 12 special election. In addition, County Sheriff Joseph Gerace was in attendance although his opponent, Republican Russell Payne, backed out of the event citing a busy schedule.

GOODELL & YOCHIM

The 2014 candidates for 150th NY Assembly District, which covers all of Chautauqua County, incumbent Andy Goodell (R, C) and challenger Barrie Yochim (D, WF).

The first 45 minutes of the event were devoted to the Assembly Candidates – incumbent Andy Goodell (R-Chautauqua) and challenger Barrie Yochim (D-Jamestown). Both said the most important issue in the campaign is working to making the 150^th assembly district more competitive for business.

Goodell said to accomplish that goal, he would focus on welfare reform, lifting onerous business regulations and providing more tax cats to businesses and individuals. In addition to focusing on improving the business climate, he said he’s also focused on addressing the problems in public education – mainly the common core teaching standards.

Yochim said he’d also focus on improving the business climate by addressing the shortage of a skilled workforce in the area. He noted that while there are many people who need jobs in the area, they currently don’t have the skills and qualifications necessary to get the jobs that are available. He also said he wants to focus on improving public education by reducing class sizes in many of our public schools.

While both Goodell and Yochim shared similar views on several issues, the most noted difference between the two was their view on horizontal hydrolic fracking – which is currently under moratorium in New York State. Goodell said he is in favor of lifting the moratorium – explaining that the process, which requires a large volume of water, is safe under current state regulations. He also said that if the moratorium was lifted it would have a major economic upside for the region.

However, Yochim said that he is concerned with the chemicals that are put in the water as part of the process, which could pose a serious threat to public and environmental health if they were to make their way into the water table. As a result, he said he is not in favor of lifting the moratorium and would only support a lift if the chemicals were no longer a part of the process.

A recap of the other candidates’ comments along with complete audio will be provided later this week and also will be available on this week’s Community Matters program (Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at Noon).

The election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4. For a complete list of candidates, visit our WRFA 2014 Election Page.

The Chautauqua County League of Women Voters is sponsoring its Meet the Candidates Forum Tuesday at the Robert H. Jackson Center. It’s one of two forums the organization is hosting for the community. A second forum is set for this Thursday night in the north county in the Fredonia Village Hall. Both forums begin at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

According to organizers, several candidates will be on hand for Tuesday’s forum. They include:

• Candidates for State Assembly: Republican incumbent Andy Goodell and Democratic challenger Barrie Yochim;
• Candidates for Chautauqua County Sheriff: Democratic incumbent Joseph Gerace and Republican challenger Russell Payne;
• Candidates for the county legislature’s 12th district special election: Democratic incumbent Beth Kresge (appointed earlier this year) and Republican challenger Elisabeth Rankin;
• And the four candidates for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge: Sally A. Jaroszynski; Jeffrey A. Piazza; James J. Spann, Jr. and Michael J. Sullivan.

The two candidates for Congress – Republican incumbent Tom Reed and Democratic challenger Martha Robertson – will not be in attendance.

WRFA will be on hand to cover Tuesday’s forum and will broadcast the portions of forum during this week’s Community Matter’s program on Thursday at 6 p.m. Audio from the forum will also be available at our website www.WRFALP.com.

IN addition, WRFA will be hosting one-on-one interviews with both Congressman Tom Reed and challenger Martha Robertson – which will air next week during our Oct. 30 Community Matters Program.

The Board of Elections, 7 North Erie St., Mayville, is usually open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  In addition, the office will have 9 a.m. to Noon hours the next two Saturdays – Oct. 25th and Nov. 1st – and will remain open until 7 p.m. Tuesdays Oct. 21st and 28th and Wednesdays Oct. 22nd and 29th.

To Qualify for an absentee ballot, a registered voter must be:

• Absent from the county on Election Day;
• Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability; or due to being a primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled;
• Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

Information and absentee ballot applications are available at www.votechautauqua.com or by calling 753-4580.