SCHENECTADY COUNTY Lazzari to seek second term Republican not ready to give up Legislature seat BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Republican Carolina Lazzari has decided to seek re-election to the District 4 seat in the Schenectady County Legislature, adding a familiar name and face to a race featuring relative newcomers to county politics. Lazzari, 64, had initially said she would not seek a second term to the Democratic-dominated Legislature, but changed her mind following the contentious vote June 12 by n the Legislature Lazzari to approve residency restrictions on convicted sex offenders. Lazzari was one of three legislators to vote against the measure. Democrats Michael Eidens and Karen Johnson broke with their caucus to vote no while 11 other legislators — nine Democrats and two Republicans — voted yes. Legislator James Buhrmaster, R-Glenville, was absent. “It was a defining moment for me,” Lazzari said. “I am not willing to cede my seat so easily and so quickly to another thoughtless ‘yes’ voter. The odds are that if a Democrat wins, that’s what the people will get.” Lazzari, a certifi ed financial planner, joins fellow Republican Angelo Luca Santabarbara on the ticket. They face Democrats Anthony Jasenski and Robert Godlewski. Holly Velano had planned to run as the second Republican candidate with Santabarbara, but she dropped out of the race on June 11. Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian Quail did not return calls for comment on Monday. Lazzari said residents of District 4, the towns of Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown, “deserve better than that. I felt like I wanted to fight it out on behalf of people who elected me.” Lazzari did not want a second term because she felt discouraged that the “minority caucus is not allowed to contribute. It doesn’t matter what you bring up, it’s poohpoohed.” Two years ago, she offered legislation that would grant volunteer fi refighters special benefits to boost recruitment. Democrats ignored her measure and instead drafted their own, giving the credit to former Majority Leader Kent Grey, D-Rotterdam, and Judith Dagostino, D-Rotterdam, the Republicans said. Another example cited by Republicans was their legislation last year on sex offenders, offered by Joseph Suhrada, R-Rotterdam. Democrats again ignored the Republican proposal and initiated their own this year through Edward Kosiur, D-Schenectady. Kosiur is using sex offender residency restrictions as a platform for a run for the 105th Assembly District seat, to succeed Paul Tonko. “What I found very quickly is that whatever I had to offer was not welcomed. All of us Republicans have run into the same things. We are excluded, which is unfortunate because every single person on the Legislature has something to offer,” Lazzari said. She said the 11-3 vote June 12 on sex offender residency restrictions “was the most important vote in the time I’ve been on the Legislature.” The laws prevent sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of facilities occupied or used by children, and will force all sex offenders thus situated to vacate their apartments and homes by Oct. 1. Town supervisors fear the measures will force sex offenders to relocate to their municipalities, which contain fewer exclusion zones. Lazzari said the vote showed her “there is a value to my vote, even if it does not affect the outcome. I am hoping that people are not fooled into thinking this legislation is an answer and they realize much more needs to be done. Voters are realizing they need to ask more from their legislators rather than their following what they are being told what to do.” Schenectady County Republican County Committee Chairman Tom Buchanan welcomed Lazzari’s decision to seek re-election. “She puts that seat in play. She has always been a strong, strong vote-getter,” he said. Republicans are circulating petitions to put her name on the ballot, he said. Lazzari will run solely on the Republican line; she re-entered the race too late to receive minor party endorsements. Buchanan said this is not as issue, as Lazzari never ran with minor party endorsements for her first bid to the county Legislature or when she ran for Rotterdam Town Board. Lazzari was a town councilwoman from 1998-2001 and is known locally for crafting the town’s ethics law. Santabarbara, 35, is making his first bid for political office. He is an engineer with Chazen Companies and is vice president of the National Society of Professional Engineers in the Capital District. He served in the Army Reserve from 1990 to 1998. Democrats appointed Jasenski, 48, to the Legislature June 11. He replaced Majority Leader Kent Gray, who resigned May 31, to take a job with the state. Jasenski is a former Rotterdam police chief who retired in 2001. He served on the Rotterdam Town Board from 2001 to April 2004, when he left for family reasons, he said. Godlewski, 60, currently serves on the Rotterdam Town Board. His term ends in December. He was elected last year in a special vote to fill the seat vacated when Steve Tommasone was elected supervisor. Godlewski is a retired property control specialist for Lockheed-Martin.
Schenectady County Republican County Committee Chairman Tom Buchanan welcomed Lazzari’s decision to seek re-election. “She puts that seat in play. She has always been a strong, strong vote-getter,” he said.
Okay..so here we have it...the very best Buchanan has is that she is a 'strong vote getter'. That is the same thing he said about Holly Vellano before she backed out. And that is what I'm talkin' about here....is that the entire Republican platform? That is 'all' he bases it on is that they are 'vote getters'.
This republican party better straighten up and fly right. They better start pumping money into their candidates cause in this area, it is evident that the dems are holding the cards with bucks to back them up! And it would just be so helpful that they also build on a platform!
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
Credit those who took action on Marotta dump ROBERT J. GODLEWSKI Rotterdam
Regarding the June 6 letter by Shawn Schultz, from Friends of the Aquifer, thanking a number of people for their part in cleaning up the Marotta junk yard, which sits on top of our precious aquifer. As a member of the Rotterdam Town Board, I know how important the aquifer is to our town and the entire county. Councilwoman Diane Marco and I voted no to putting a town park over the aquifer earlier this year. The quick and decisive response by Schenectady County government was impressive and obviously successful. I want to personally, and on behalf of the citizens of Rotterdam, thank the Schenectady County officials who worked so hard on this situation. I want to particularly recognize Legislator Judy Dagostino for her efforts. Judy is one of those rare people who works quietly, but incredibly effectively, in the background without drawing attention to themselves. Judy was one of the first to recognize the danger that the Marotta junk yard posed to the aquifer and was relentless in her efforts to bring this issue to the attention of those who could do something about it. In addition, even though Legislator Ed Kosiur’s county district does not encompass Rotterdam, he has also worked tirelessly in his role as chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee to deal with this dangerous situation.
Well, this certainly was a one man campaign if I ever read one! So you and Diane Marco voted 'no' against constructing a park on the aquifer. Well, how sweet. (I'm not in favor of a new park ANYWHERE in Rotterdam) But putting that aside...what party was it that allowed the sprawling Rotterdam Square Mall on the aquifer? With 'alleged' kickbacks from the unions? Allowing all the construction work to be done by union employees only, that weren't even from this area? AND promising future new work at the mall to be done by union employees ONLY? Then there is going to be the new development where the old Main Florist use to be. How close to the aquifer is that?
And let us not forget 'turn coat' Dagastino. I won't even go there...it would take too long. But thank God the dems have her now!
So Mr. Godlewski and Ms Marco and the rest of the dems, take all the credit you want for ceasing personal property in Rotterdam Jct. Actually, the reps were handling it just fine, but the dems jumped in, over stepped, like they did with the little league park, just for their own personal political gain. Ya know..."feed the people BS"? So big freakin' deal...all you'se did was handle a problem at a 'residential' level. Let's see ya handle the big items. Oh that's right...where are the sewers for Rotterdam for it's future? Clearly not in the dem's vocabulary. And ya wanna know why...CAUSE SEWERS DON'T GET YA ELECTED!!
People...we can not...again, can not...have Mr. Godlewski on that county legislature. If he is elected...Rotterdam is dead in the water!!!!!!!
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
Ah yes, because our current Republican Majority town board has brought forth so many sucesses. I hope that this "rotterdam info forum" is not just one big Republican Web Site full of one sided views. Bringing up issues or wrong doings by Constantino is a waste of time. Present day dems and/or republicans would both agree that he was wrong, and punished for his actions. Current Issues....current issues.... Mr. Bumblethru you posts are very agressive do not seem objective, why so much hate for the democrats, believe it or not there is not much difference between the parties. A perfect example is the Parisi-Denny alliance...
Patriot, I just ask that you take the time to read through things, and wish that you were around a bit more before this site got re-vamped because so much of it was deleted. While many of us on this website will undoubtedly tell you how much of a staunch Republican base we are, there is nothing, AND I MEAN NOTHING, that would stop us from turning an saying that something needs to be changed. We have called to the town, both Democrats and Republicans when they have done things that we have not agreed with. We have, in fact, called both parties to the mat to make the changes that are needed. If you believe that we are a bumch of Republican just getting together to vent our issues with the Democrats, I hope that over time, you can look and see that we are not, but we are looking to make Rotterdam a better place to live again. Things have not been going right for some time, but it seems that things are starting to turn around. I personally have spoke to many of the Republicans about the fact that just because someone can fill out an application and make sure that it agrees with the law does not mean that it is still the correct thing for anyone in Government to do. In fact, I would like to call the entire zoning board to the carpet. I spoke to one of them after the meeting this past Wednesday night. I would reference the person by name, but at the moment, I can't remember who it is. Well, at this meeting, they approved yet ANOTHER mfrh project right on Mariaville Road. One where the person had to even get approval, as he was changing lo sizes and splitting things up, etc. Well, the one zoning board member stated after the meeting that they figure out in their closed door meeting that this was going to be passed. He stated that the only reason he voted with the rest of the board was because "it was going to pass anyway, but he disagreed with it." Well, to this person (who's name I WILL find), I have this to say. If you're going to sit on ANY town board and just vote along with the board, no matter what your feelings are, why even sit on the board? You need to stand up and show them that you don't agree.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
I would like to thank all those that put their hats into the political arena....the philosophies and platforms are shaky at best when either party "just does it for the party".....both parties will dig a hole to put up their 'flag pole' and then forget why they did it.....none of them have been to my house for barbeque and I have never been to their houses for barbeque....I dont care....just remember the taxes collected go ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL PARTS OF THE TOWN EVENLY....no matter where we live, how expensive our house is or is not, or the percent of taxes paid.....you picked your house and I picked mine....the taxes collected go into a large barrel....YOUR ROAD IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY ROAD AND MY ROAD IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR ROAD.....
There is a person who walks into church dressed to the nines and that person gets escorted to the front pew....there is another person who is dressed in rags and that person gets escorted to the back pew......when in all actuality they should have both been escorted to the middle pews sitting side by side.....
As a town we can either bite the bullet and start putting in sewers or we will all be in the back pew of the county forever.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
What is the Liberal Left and What is its Goal? by TYSK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The liberal left is neither a singular entity nor even a single group or organization. Liberalism is a mindset just as conservatism is a mindset. For the average liberal there is not one "goal" or outcome for which they strive.
I am sure that most individuals afflicted with a liberal mindset would be unable to name any particular goal for their beliefs. It is in many ways like a religion ... a set of pre-defined attitudes and opinions by which they make decisions in life. Most often these attitudes and opinions are not of their own formation or arrived at through considered thought. Instead, they are learned from others' repeated pronouncements of them. Those making these statements often have come to learn them in the same way. Much the same as fables and Bible stories are passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately many of the "proclaimers" are entrenched in the schools and colleges and their views are imbedded in impressionable minds not yet skilled in giving these ideas critical examination.
The key to the successful spread of liberalism is specifically its lack of critical thought on the results of liberal ideas and solutions for society's problems. In fact, to be judgmental or to offer analysis of liberal prescriptions is in itself considered being anti-liberal. Just as a critic of any religious denomination is labeled a heretic, so too critics of liberalism are labeled uninformed or unenlightened. In other words you must take their beliefs and accept them even if they are contradictory or counterproductive.
In order to accept liberalism a person must operate on an emotional level almost exclusively. Persons steeped in logic or the physical sciences are far less likely to be swept into the liberal camp. In addition, as people age and experience the trials of life and reflect on the cause-and-effect relationship of events they tend to become less liberal and more conservative in their thinking.
"Any man under 30 who is not a liberal has no heart, and any man over 30 who is not a conservative has no brains." — Winston Churchill†
Tragically, this means our young are the most vulnerable to liberal indoctrination. Whether by design or happenstance, it is a fact that the teaching profession has a history of attracting persons of a liberal, or leftist, ideology. This places them precisely where they need to be in order to spread their philosophy.
The tenth plank of the Communist Manifesto states, "Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc." — Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels – 1848
While most practitioners of liberalism have no true goals or agendas for their beliefs, those in position to affect public policy often do have such goals. The common liberal is but a pawn in the ongoing struggle between socialism and freedom. Those in power on the left know that our system of representative democracy enables them to pursue their statist agenda by winning over the majority of the voting public to their positions and candidates. They are well aware that most people have little time or inclination to study about or give great thought to important matters of the day. Instead, large numbers of voters cast their ballots based purely on emotional terms ... the very heart of liberalism's appeal.
(One could argue that the average conservative is no less a pawn for those on the right. Yet, by definition, a conservative arrives at his beliefs through the process of critical thought. As such, he is much less likely to be swayed by wrong-headed proposals even should they be offered up as "conservative". Most conservatives will weigh issues and solutions on their individual merits and only then decide if they are worthy of support.)
The true agenda of the left is statism or control of the society by a small elite group. They are a patient lot and willing to achieve their goals over a long period of time through seemingly minor and incremental changes in the laws and attitudes of the nation. Through the constant hammering of emotion driven issues — education, the environment, child safety, gun control, nuclear war, etc. — they gradually affect the laws and policies that govern our society. All the while moving us closer to their goal of a nation of serfs working for the benefit of the powerful few that will control every aspect of a citizen's life.
† There is dispute as to whether Sir Winston is responsible for this quotation.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
believe it or not there is not much difference between the parties. A perfect example is the Parisi-Denny alliance...
Back to this subject...what is the Parisi-Denny alliance? I know that Parisi is the town's attorney and I'm guessing you are referring to Denny the cop. I Don"t have a clue here!
All aside....Mr. Godlewski should not be representing Rotterdam in any fashion. He does nothing for the betterment of this town and never has. I say 'no vote' for him.
And I would also like to tell him that when election time gets closer and all of those mailers start filling our mailboxes...don't waste the democratic stamp to send me any cause they will go in the garbage or sent back with a 'return to sender' on it. (we should all do that)
And don't waste the money with the computer generated calls to my house, cause it will be a waste of money...My self and the other voters in the house will just hang up.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
I don't think that Bob has a chance to win any election that he enters based on what he has done for Rotterdam since he's been on the planning board and town board. A vote for Bob is a vote to do nothing until the next election and we've had enough of that already.
Mr. Godlewski, in my recent memory, has never really done anything for the town of Rotterdam. He appears to me to be overly cautious and afraid of change. Like most of the folks in Rotterdam. That is how he was elected to his present seat anyways. I think that we need someone a little more aggressive than that.
Start gearing up and gather all the info you can...cause this is the next one we don't want representing us! He already had his chance, and has surely done a lousy job! He will not vote for any improvements or updates but you can bet that he will support any government program that comes down the pike. And that's what the dems do!!!
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
Bob is happy with things just the way they are. He doesn't want to spend any money on improvements, infrastructure, fix existing problems created by other administrations, and just wants to stay back in the 20th century where we've been for the last 50 years. We'll never attract businesses to move to Rotterdam and create good jobs as long as we have politicians with that mentality.
Want to know how happy he is with how things are? Have you driven over on Hamburg St. lately? There's at least 1 place over there (and I think that I've seen it somewhere else in town, too, ) where they have cut off the bottom of the signs that Godlewski had for running for Town Council. They put them up again, I guess to remind you that he's only doing half the job? No, that he's running for a new position and they don't want to have it on there for town council.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
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