Incumbent state Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R) is being challenged by Noah Sargent (D) for Assembly District 129.
“I'm somebody that came from very humble beginnings,” Kolb said. “I've worked hard for everything I've done in life. I'm a regular guy that's been blessed.”
Kolb sees himself as energetic and disciplined, qualities that led to his success as a businessman. But he knows he didn't do it on his own. Other people helped him along the way.
“I think it's a combination of things,” he said. “When I started in business, I worked with my partners, but the people that joined us helped. There would be no success without the help of employees and partners. You can't do it in a vacuum.”
Kolb said he went to night school and worked a couple of jobs to support his family. His personal drive, discipline and work ethic helped him achieve success, he said. He uses a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Even though businesses and individual Americans now face a looming economic crisis, Kolb is optimistic.
“The American people are very resilient,” he said. “They always respond well to a crisis.” He said he believes that faith, optimism and energy along with a certain amount of “thinking out of the box” minimizes life's troubles.
“We can't control the Federal Government,” he said, “but we can come up with creative ideas in dealing with the state budget crisis.”
One way to help trim the budget is retirement incentives for state workers, he said. “Retirement is better than layoffs.”
Kolb said he tries to do what's best based on the majority of his constituents' needs.
“I listen to people to find out what's on their mind. On any given issue or legislation, someone can disagree.”
Because his principles and values are based on serving others, Kolb said it makes it easier for him to focus.
“When I go to bed I feel like I've made a difference in somebody's life every day,” he said.
Communication is key, Kolb said. Ever since he was first elected, he has held town meetings in every town he represents during the course of a year. He sends out invitations and says he really has no agenda but to listen and hear questions.
“That's all about getting out into the public and being accessible,” he said.
Kolb said he has tried hard to be good about responding to his constituents' e-mails and uses a straightforward, direct approach. He has ongoing surveys and mailings to stay in touch with people. He said it is challenging to represent five counties, so he works extra hard.
“My focus is always just the people,” he said. “I talk about my record and ask for their faith and support, but I've never been comfortable patting myself on the back.”
Kolb said his office does many things without fanfare, and people often forget what he's done.
“People have told me that I don't come across as a politician. I talk straight from the heart,” he said.
People are programmed to think all politicians are the same, Kolb said, but he believes that once they get to know him they realize he's different.
Noah Sargent grew up an army brat. His father joined the U.S. Army and took the family abroad.
“I've been all over the world,” Sargent said. Based in Germany, Sargent traveled to Italy, France, Belgium, England and Holland.
While he lived in Wurtzberg in West Germany, Sargent visited a museum in Berlin that showed how the communists lived in East Germany.
Sargent, engaged and planning to marry in December, will revisit Europe with his new wife, probably spending time in France.
“I'm a man who works hard,” he said.
Besides being a chiropractor, he is a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
“My creed is 'no one is more professional than I, a leader,'” he said. Besides hoping to lead the constituents of the Assembly district, he operates his own business and pays his employees a livable wage, he said.
“I see the glass as half full,” he said. “I believe that New York can have a more productive government.”
Sargent said all of his contributions have come from individuals, so he's not under the thumb of any special-interest groups.
“As a Democratic Assemblyman my voice will be heard louder and stronger,” he said.
He indicated that being in the majority party would give him more to bring back to his district for public health, welfare and safety.
He is critical of some legislators who send out mailings - paid for by the taxpayers - right before elections. He advocates that such privileges be curtailed by a prescribed date before elections.
He also underscores what he sees as the inequity of a tax system that takes too much out of the pockets of the people who can least afford to lose it.
“If people kept more of their own money, they might take care of themselves instead of relying on the state,” he said.
While he sees the need to reduce social programs, he said he had no idea how to pay for health care.
“The biggest opponents of unified health care like to call it 'socialized medicine,'” he said, “yet the military go to Walter Reed for their care. One thing I would do as assemblyman is make it legal to buy medicine elsewhere. I just believe things can be better. Do no harm - that's me.”
Sargent has served on the Fayette Town Council. While in office, he changed parties, he said, when he realized his ideas were more in line with the Democrats. Sargent has since re-enlisted in the Army Reserve for 2009.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The candidates
Name: Brian Kolb
Age: 56
Occupation: Adjunct Professor of Adult and Graduate Education at Roberts Wesleyan College. Business consultant, entrepreneur and chief executive officer of a variety of small and large technology based businesses
Education: B.S and M.S. in Management, Roberts Wesleyan College; A.A. from St. Petersburg Jr. College
Family: Married to wife Lauren. Father of three
Elected office experience: New York State's 129th Assembly District in a special election February 2000. Consecutively re-elected in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006
Name: Noah Sargent
Age: 37
Occupation: Radiology Technologist at Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic; also practices CAT-Scan and angiography. Sergeant in the U.S. Army, assigned to Mattydale as a retention NCO
Education: Graduated from Rome Free Academy. Attended Mohawk Valley Community College. Attended U.S. Army's Academy of Health Sciences for Radiology Technologist
Family: Divorced, two daughters, fiancee Jessica Campbell
Elected office experience: Councilman, town of Fayette, 1998-2005. Chairman of water, insurance and assessments
The issues
Where do you stand on a statewide property tax cap?
Kolb: I support the Suozzi Commission's recommendations for property tax cap, circuit breaker and elimination of all unfunded mandates to school districts, local and county governments.
Sargent: I support the Circuit Breaker on property tax. The circuit breaker relates to providing a tax credit against personal income taxes equal to a percentage of excess real property taxes.
Where should the state look to cut spending?
Kolb: State hiring freeze. Provide early-retirement incentives to reduce workforce. Eliminate funding for Lt. Governor's office. Eliminate funding for capital defender office. Eliminate funding for all commissions that have finished their required studies and reports. Implement zero-based budget planning process for 2009-2010
Sargent: Once I take office, I will sit with every municipality in the 129th Assembly District and every agency that depends on state funding so they can tell me personally what cuts they can handle and still serve their communities effectively. I will take the collected information to Albany so I can do my part of the budget showing what/where we can cut spending, and ensure that my district will not do with less than it can afford.
What changes would you make to the member-items system in the state Legislature, which allocates most legislator-sponsored grants to lawmakers in majority parties?
Kolb: Either eliminate member-item spending all together or change the member-item allotment based on the population of each district. As a result, each Senator/Assembly member regardless of party affiliation would receive an equal member-item allocation based on the number of constituents they represent.
Sargent: I would use member-items to support public health and safety, and support unfunded mandates. I also would use member-items for total community benefit. I will not use member-items as political IOU's for re-election.
Should state legislators get a pay raise?
Kolb: Absolutely not.
Sargent: No. I feel that the current pay, $79,500, is at a good place. If it's too low, only the wealthy could afford to hold office, and if it's too high, the cost of running for office will again be out of reach for the average New Yorker, allowing again the wealthy only to run for office.
Kolb sees himself as energetic and disciplined, qualities that led to his success as a businessman. But he knows he didn't do it on his own. Other people helped him along the way.
“I think it's a combination of things,” he said. “When I started in business, I worked with my partners, but the people that joined us helped. There would be no success without the help of employees and partners. You can't do it in a vacuum.”
Kolb said he went to night school and worked a couple of jobs to support his family. His personal drive, discipline and work ethic helped him achieve success, he said. He uses a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Even though businesses and individual Americans now face a looming economic crisis, Kolb is optimistic.
“The American people are very resilient,” he said. “They always respond well to a crisis.” He said he believes that faith, optimism and energy along with a certain amount of “thinking out of the box” minimizes life's troubles.
“We can't control the Federal Government,” he said, “but we can come up with creative ideas in dealing with the state budget crisis.”
One way to help trim the budget is retirement incentives for state workers, he said. “Retirement is better than layoffs.”
Kolb said he tries to do what's best based on the majority of his constituents' needs.
“I listen to people to find out what's on their mind. On any given issue or legislation, someone can disagree.”
Because his principles and values are based on serving others, Kolb said it makes it easier for him to focus.
“When I go to bed I feel like I've made a difference in somebody's life every day,” he said.
Communication is key, Kolb said. Ever since he was first elected, he has held town meetings in every town he represents during the course of a year. He sends out invitations and says he really has no agenda but to listen and hear questions.
“That's all about getting out into the public and being accessible,” he said.
Kolb said he has tried hard to be good about responding to his constituents' e-mails and uses a straightforward, direct approach. He has ongoing surveys and mailings to stay in touch with people. He said it is challenging to represent five counties, so he works extra hard.
“My focus is always just the people,” he said. “I talk about my record and ask for their faith and support, but I've never been comfortable patting myself on the back.”
Kolb said his office does many things without fanfare, and people often forget what he's done.
“People have told me that I don't come across as a politician. I talk straight from the heart,” he said.
People are programmed to think all politicians are the same, Kolb said, but he believes that once they get to know him they realize he's different.
Noah Sargent grew up an army brat. His father joined the U.S. Army and took the family abroad.
“I've been all over the world,” Sargent said. Based in Germany, Sargent traveled to Italy, France, Belgium, England and Holland.
While he lived in Wurtzberg in West Germany, Sargent visited a museum in Berlin that showed how the communists lived in East Germany.
Sargent, engaged and planning to marry in December, will revisit Europe with his new wife, probably spending time in France.
“I'm a man who works hard,” he said.
Besides being a chiropractor, he is a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
“My creed is 'no one is more professional than I, a leader,'” he said. Besides hoping to lead the constituents of the Assembly district, he operates his own business and pays his employees a livable wage, he said.
“I see the glass as half full,” he said. “I believe that New York can have a more productive government.”
Sargent said all of his contributions have come from individuals, so he's not under the thumb of any special-interest groups.
“As a Democratic Assemblyman my voice will be heard louder and stronger,” he said.
He indicated that being in the majority party would give him more to bring back to his district for public health, welfare and safety.
He is critical of some legislators who send out mailings - paid for by the taxpayers - right before elections. He advocates that such privileges be curtailed by a prescribed date before elections.
He also underscores what he sees as the inequity of a tax system that takes too much out of the pockets of the people who can least afford to lose it.
“If people kept more of their own money, they might take care of themselves instead of relying on the state,” he said.
While he sees the need to reduce social programs, he said he had no idea how to pay for health care.
“The biggest opponents of unified health care like to call it 'socialized medicine,'” he said, “yet the military go to Walter Reed for their care. One thing I would do as assemblyman is make it legal to buy medicine elsewhere. I just believe things can be better. Do no harm - that's me.”
Sargent has served on the Fayette Town Council. While in office, he changed parties, he said, when he realized his ideas were more in line with the Democrats. Sargent has since re-enlisted in the Army Reserve for 2009.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The candidates
Name: Brian Kolb
Age: 56
Occupation: Adjunct Professor of Adult and Graduate Education at Roberts Wesleyan College. Business consultant, entrepreneur and chief executive officer of a variety of small and large technology based businesses
Education: B.S and M.S. in Management, Roberts Wesleyan College; A.A. from St. Petersburg Jr. College
Family: Married to wife Lauren. Father of three
Elected office experience: New York State's 129th Assembly District in a special election February 2000. Consecutively re-elected in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006
Name: Noah Sargent
Age: 37
Occupation: Radiology Technologist at Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic; also practices CAT-Scan and angiography. Sergeant in the U.S. Army, assigned to Mattydale as a retention NCO
Education: Graduated from Rome Free Academy. Attended Mohawk Valley Community College. Attended U.S. Army's Academy of Health Sciences for Radiology Technologist
Family: Divorced, two daughters, fiancee Jessica Campbell
Elected office experience: Councilman, town of Fayette, 1998-2005. Chairman of water, insurance and assessments
The issues
Where do you stand on a statewide property tax cap?
Kolb: I support the Suozzi Commission's recommendations for property tax cap, circuit breaker and elimination of all unfunded mandates to school districts, local and county governments.
Sargent: I support the Circuit Breaker on property tax. The circuit breaker relates to providing a tax credit against personal income taxes equal to a percentage of excess real property taxes.
Where should the state look to cut spending?
Kolb: State hiring freeze. Provide early-retirement incentives to reduce workforce. Eliminate funding for Lt. Governor's office. Eliminate funding for capital defender office. Eliminate funding for all commissions that have finished their required studies and reports. Implement zero-based budget planning process for 2009-2010
Sargent: Once I take office, I will sit with every municipality in the 129th Assembly District and every agency that depends on state funding so they can tell me personally what cuts they can handle and still serve their communities effectively. I will take the collected information to Albany so I can do my part of the budget showing what/where we can cut spending, and ensure that my district will not do with less than it can afford.
What changes would you make to the member-items system in the state Legislature, which allocates most legislator-sponsored grants to lawmakers in majority parties?
Kolb: Either eliminate member-item spending all together or change the member-item allotment based on the population of each district. As a result, each Senator/Assembly member regardless of party affiliation would receive an equal member-item allocation based on the number of constituents they represent.
Sargent: I would use member-items to support public health and safety, and support unfunded mandates. I also would use member-items for total community benefit. I will not use member-items as political IOU's for re-election.
Should state legislators get a pay raise?
Kolb: Absolutely not.
Sargent: No. I feel that the current pay, $79,500, is at a good place. If it's too low, only the wealthy could afford to hold office, and if it's too high, the cost of running for office will again be out of reach for the average New Yorker, allowing again the wealthy only to run for office.
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