Why I believe Tenney and Schmitt to be best choice for New York Assembly

Tomorrow is the third and final New York Primary for the 2012 election season and I for one am glad. If I’m tired I cannot begin to imagine what the candidates must feel about right now. This is government at its best; the only true way for the People to have a choice in the selection of who represents them is the Primary, which is why the Establishment abhors them. The more I learn about politics the more I am convinced of this fact. However, if a Party member does not “behave” the Parties will use the primaries to suck from them time, money, and energy by putting up a challenger. It’s ugly.

For the most part, I have stayed clear of voicing my preference of local candidates running in various races. As the Director of the local Tea Party Works Organization, I worked with the Task Force in setting up screening forums and researching the candidates. This information, along with personal and radio show interviews has given me a fairly accurate picture of four candidates in two races.

A couple weeks ago the Tea Party Task Force decided it was time to make a statement about the candidates we had screened. Two candidates were found to be very closely aligned with Tea Party Principles, those being Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney running for re-election in the new 101st and grassroots activist and political consultant Colin Schmitt running for the new Assembly 99th.

With Party endorsements lacking, Schmitt has run a smart, bold, and clean campaign. His impeccable character ,positive attitude in the midst of adversity, and aggressive ground game  are reasons I think he will have a very good show of support at the polling stations. I believe Schmitt to be a true 100% grassroots candidate and therefore deserving of Tea Party support. If the Tea Party chapters do not stand up for those who are truly grassroots what do we stand for?

I am reminded of the speculation about Romney’s pick for VP. Many wondered would he play it safe or go bold. He hedged his bet and went bold and it paid off big with the entire mainstream grassroots movement shifting gears to support the “Comeback” ticket.

I see that kind of confident boldness in the Schmitt campaign. When he could have accepted defeat at the Party conventions he conceded his committee votes but pressed on. When his campaign staff was being harassed he could have taken it but he exposed it. When he realized some of his opponents petition signatures were questionably he challenged them. What others might call foolish political mistakes I call courageous and he has carried on with civility. This is what Albany needs, a true leader with the moral fiber and back bone to not be pushed around by the Party powers.

All three contenders for the Assembly 99^th seat are young and untested for the rigors of Albany but I believe Schmitt is the best person to represent the people of the 99^th and he will be less likely to return to his district as a career “rubber-stamper” politician.

Vote for Colin Schmitt for Assembly 99th, Thursday, September 13th!

Click for: Task Force finds Schmitt more closely aligned with Tea Party Principles

Though Schmitt is young and untested, Claudia Tenney is not.  In the last few days, many acquaintances have emailed t0 ask why I would support a candidate that is not from our area; “the hometown boy”.  Tenney lives nearly four hours from me, Brian Maher lives a mere 20 minutes.

Brian was active in our Tea Party in 2010 helping us with literature drops and sign distribution for gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. I liked and admired Brian then, and I still do. I believe he has been a fine Mayor and a mentor to many youth. While the answer may not be what others want to hear, it is relatively simple to me. I believe Claudia Tenney to be the best person to represent the People of the 101st.

I do not understand why the Orange County Republicans would encourage Maher to challenge Tenney. More to the point, I do not understand why Maher is challenging Tenney. If you are claiming to be grassroots, and Maher’s contrast piece released today, September 12th claims he is,  then why in heavens name would you challenge the most conservative and independent, member of the assembly who ran as a grassroots candidate 24 months ago? Maher should be supporting Tenney’s re-election, not challenging her.

It seems ludicrous to me to challenge a true Republican and conservative woman of Tenney’s stature, credentials, life experiences, and voting record. She has proven to be everything the Republican and Conservative Parties platforms pledge they are! We need a hundred legislators in Albany just like Tenney!  Then maybe we would really see real improvement in this state.

I am personally endorsing Tenney for these additional reasons:

She is and her voting record confirms staunchly pro-life. Being a sitting member of the Assembly with other representatives that are pro-choice does not make her pro-choice by association. That assertion is ridiculous.

She has the highest rating from the NY State Rifle and Pistol Association and the NRA. She is a strong advocate for the 2nd Amendment.  I must say it was shocking to read that Maher was rated an “F” by the NYSRPA. I’m not aware of any Republican that has received an “F”.

She was voted by the NYS Conservative Party as the #1 Most Conservative Assembly member.  Why would any sensible conservative constituent of the new 101st want to take a chance by replacing her?

She was ranked Most Independent Legislator, meaning she votes her convictions and those of her district not lock step with the Party Bosses. She has proven that with her most recent call for Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver to resign because of his part in taxpayer’s money being used to cover a sex scandal involving Vito Lopez.

Tenney is holding multiple jobs at one time, law office, small business owner, and Assembly position. As a small business owner and employer, Tenney is uniquely qualified to get the state’s fiscal mess in order.

When people question whether she truly is an independent legislator, I tell them to ask why a sitting assembly member with Claudia’s A plus Republican, Conservative record would get shafted like she has with the gerrymandered district 101st.  The answer? She is not status quo. She cannot be controlled. Maybe, they figured she would give up and go do something else. No, not the tenacious Tenney.

Ask yourself why the Orange County Republicans and Congressman Nan Hayworth, and retiring Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun would  so publicly endorse Maher and fund his campaign and not endorse a fellow conservative woman? Might they also be part of the more liberal establishment that makes up the New York Republican Party?

After spending time with Claudia Tenney, the forum sponsored by Tea Party Works, several radio interviews, watching her with constituents, her determination to make the best of her new district despite the travel hardship, and her consistently conservative voting record, I believe Tenney is the best person to represent the good people of the new 101st and to be a voice for all disenfranchised conservative and liberty minded New Yorkers.

Click for: Task Force finds Assemblywoman Tenney more closely aligned with Tea Party Principles 

Vote Claudia Tenney for 101st Assembly, September 13th!

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