We hope state Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno understands what Tuesday's election results mean - especially for the people of the 49th Senate district.
In re-electing state Senator David Valesky, voters in this area spoke loudly this week that they still want change in Albany.
Bruno had pumped about $1 million into the campaign of Valesky's challenger, Jeff Brown, and Valesky still managed to secure nearly 60 percent of the vote.
And while Republicans managed to hold a majority in the Senate, Valesky will continue to be a thorn in Bruno's side.
At stake is meaningful change in the way things get done in Albany.
Both Bruno and state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have too much power, and nothing gets brought to the floor of the Legislature without the OK of one of the two of them. As it stands now, the average legislator has no chance of bringing anything up for a vote without the leaders' blessing. Valesky won his first election on promises to fight for change, and he pledges to continue that struggle.
Unfortunately, it seems that Bruno still fails to hear the will of the people. Tuesday night, he called Republican victories in the state Senate “phenomenal” and insisted his party was taking on the role of “protector” and “guardian.”
The only thing Bruno and Silver can claim to be protecting is a continuation of the back-room, handshake deals they have been making.
Bruno became a state senator in 1976 and has been the Senate leader since 1995. Silver was first elected to the Assembly in 1976 and became speaker in 1994.
Valesky now needs to continue his work as a reformer.
Both he and Brown said during their campaigns that they favored term limits for legislative leaders.
We hope Valesky can help make it happen.
Bruno had pumped about $1 million into the campaign of Valesky's challenger, Jeff Brown, and Valesky still managed to secure nearly 60 percent of the vote.
And while Republicans managed to hold a majority in the Senate, Valesky will continue to be a thorn in Bruno's side.
At stake is meaningful change in the way things get done in Albany.
Both Bruno and state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have too much power, and nothing gets brought to the floor of the Legislature without the OK of one of the two of them. As it stands now, the average legislator has no chance of bringing anything up for a vote without the leaders' blessing. Valesky won his first election on promises to fight for change, and he pledges to continue that struggle.
Unfortunately, it seems that Bruno still fails to hear the will of the people. Tuesday night, he called Republican victories in the state Senate “phenomenal” and insisted his party was taking on the role of “protector” and “guardian.”
The only thing Bruno and Silver can claim to be protecting is a continuation of the back-room, handshake deals they have been making.
Bruno became a state senator in 1976 and has been the Senate leader since 1995. Silver was first elected to the Assembly in 1976 and became speaker in 1994.
Valesky now needs to continue his work as a reformer.
Both he and Brown said during their campaigns that they favored term limits for legislative leaders.
We hope Valesky can help make it happen.
The Citizens' Say
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