This week, both the Albany Times Union and The Saratogian (Saratoga Springs) endorsed Congressman Bill Owens's re-election bid for New York 21st Congressional District, which covers most of the North Country and Adirondack regions of the state.
From Albany Times Union, October 30, 2012:
"Rep. Bill Owens seems to understand how to represent this sprawling district of Rockefeller Republicans and Reagan Democrats. It says something that he's been endorsed in the past by both the association representing upstate hospitals and the state's largest health care union.
Now seeking a second full term, Mr. Owens, an attorney, seems more interested in bridging gaps than picking fights. He reached across party lines to work with Republican Chris Gibson on a Farm Bill. He says the issue needs to be argued on its facts — such as the reality that many beneficiaries of food stamps, are veterans and elderly. And on tax policy, he's willing to move the definition of "high income" to $500,000 if it would help get Congress to back off the looming fiscal cliff.
Mr. Owens' Republican opponent, Matthew Doheny of Watertown, a lawyer and investor, has staked out some ideological positions that don't always square with reality. He wants more drilling for oil, environmental concerns aside, in a nation that is now a net exporter and poised to become the world's largest producer. He objects to government investing in alternative energy and dismisses wind and solar power altogether. He rules out any new taxes on even the most wealthy.
Mr. Doheny also surprised us by all but refusing to state his position on the federal Defense of Marriage Act, claiming the issue has no relevance in New York. In fact, the act was made all the more relevant by the state's passage of gay marriage. While same-sex couples can now legally marry here, DOMA bars them from enjoying the same federal benefits as other married couples. Mr. Doheny grudgingly acknowledged he opposes DOMA's repeal.
Mr. Doheny's combativeness on the issue and his failure, or unwillingness, to see such an obvious impact is troubling beyond gay marriage. It suggests a lack of an essential quality in a representative — an understanding of how government policy affects people — and a temperament ill-suited to the spirit of cooperation we desperately need in Congress."
From
The Saratogian, November 1, 2012:
Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Matthew Doheny are running against each other for Congress for the second time, but this time without a third candidate on the Conservative line to split the Republican vote. And this time, 40 percent of the district is new — although Republicans far outnumber Democrats in the 21st District, which consists of parts of Saratoga and Herkimer counties and all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren and Washington counties. It is a sprawling, rural constituency that includes the Adirondacks.
Owens, with almost three years in Congress under his belt, has proven to be a political moderate who can represent diverse interests and get things done. His support for a renewed federal Farm Bill is a case in point of special interest to the dairy farms in this heavily agricultural district.
Also, Owens, an attorney in Plattsburgh, is well-versed in health care issues and practical about the pluses and minuses of Obamacare. He acknowledges that reduced reimbursements to health care providers will take time to be offset by an increase in the number of people carrying insurance cards.
Doheny is from Watertown (and no relation to the local service stations with the same name).
Also an attorney, he moved into banking early in his career, helping to restructure financially troubled companies. Two years ago he started his own small business, lending start-up money for new businesses. It’s a plus to be personally and professionally knowledgeable about businesses and their challenges. But Doheny’s proclamation that he aims to be “salesman-in-chief” in Congress does not instill confidence in his ability to be an effective legislator.
Voters in the 21st District should keep Owens in Congress.
The Owens endorsement by The Times Union and The Saratogian is significant because both newspapers are the most widely read and most circulated newspapers in Saratoga County, which is now the
second most heavily populated county in the newly reapportioned district. In fact, more voters now live in the densely populated suburbs that wrap around the City of Saratoga Springs than anywhere else in the 21st District. In addition, the two endorsements could also help Owens to gain additional traction and support amongst independents and moderate Republicans, as well as shore up the Democratic base in the largest county of the district's new southeastern corner, the conservative bastion of the district where Owens has significantly trailed his Republican challenger Matt Doheny in two recent
Siena polls.
Additional momentum for Bill Owens in Saratoga County and the southeastern portion of the district will also help to assist other Democrats in several competitive down-ballot races, such as the open 43rd State Senate District where moderate Democrat Robin Andrews is challenging ultra-conservative, Tea Bagging, life-long career politician hack Kathy Marchione (R), as well as the 113th Assembly District, where Democratic businesswoman Carrie Woerner is challenging do-nothing Assemblyman Tony Jordan (R) of Washington County, who has maintained one of the most right-wing voting records in the entire Assembly. In addition, uber-conservative Queensbury Town Supervisior Dan Stec (R), who has long had Congressional aspirations, is running against Glens Falls lawyer Dennis Tarantino for the open 114th Assembly District, which includes parts of northwestern Saratoga County.