One of the excuses New York’s legislators give for the abysmal way they operate is that the Assembly is run by Democrats and the Senate by Republicans. If one side wants X. The other wants Y. And Zero happens.
This year voters can take away that excuse since a Democrat is in the governor’s office and the Republicans hold the Senate by one seat. Real campaign finance reform and fixing the lobbying and ethics commission are a must. But the most important reform is to create a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission that would draw legislative districts fairly, rather than ensure the re-election of incumbents.
Reform will take real leadership, which neither Gov. David Paterson nor Sheldon Silver, the Democratic speaker of the Assembly, have shown in this area. But running in close downstate races this year are three Democrats who are committed to the kind of change that Albany needs, including a truly independent redistricting commission.
Third State Senate District on Long Island: Voters have a good choice in the Democratic challenger, Brian Foley, the town supervisor of Brookhaven. Mr. Foley has managed to restore the town’s good name after decades of rotten Republican rule. The incumbent, Caesar Trunzo, was elected in the Nixon era. His core argument for re-election has boiled down to his pride in being a major conduit for pork. Long ago, he became a living monument to the inertia in Albany. We endorse Brian Foley.
State Senate District 11 in Queens: Frank Padavan, a veteran Republican who has served in this district since 1972, has done some good in all those years. He has opposed gambling, for example, and human trafficking. But his views on women’s reproductive rights and immigration are backward, even dangerous. James Gennaro, a member of City Council, offers a passionate contrast, not only on those issues but on the environment. He has been fighting to protect New York City’s reservoirs. We endorse James Gennaro.
State Senate District 15 in Queens: Serphin Maltese, the incumbent Republican, is a well-established Albany hand who has routed plenty of money to his mostly Democratic district. After 20 years, however, it is time for someone like Joseph Addabbo to try his hand. Mr. Addabbo, a member of City Council, has said that if Democrats take over, they will not force the same Draconian rules on Republicans that now exist to punish Democrats. That is a good start. We endorse Mr. Addabbo.
