ROTTERDAM Santabarbara looking at run for Assembly seat held by Amedore BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Schenectady County Legislator Angelo Santabarbara, a recent Democratic convert, may run for the state Assembly’s 105th District, a seat now occupied by Republican George Amedore. The District 4 legislator recently met with party leaders from the Montgomery County Democratic Committee and expressed interest in the seat, which the Democrats had a lock on for two decades with the popular Paul Tonko. Likewise, Santabarbara’s name has been mentioned as a favorable candidate among members of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, though chairman Brian Quail said the party hasn’t made any defi nitive choice. “Angelo is a very accomplished county legislator and someone the party should take a close look at as a candidate,” he said this week. “He clearly has the requisite experience to be a candidate for state Assembly, and he deserves careful consideration by the party.” Montgomery County Democratic Chairwoman Bethany Schumann agreed that Santabarbara would make a fine candidate to challenge for the 105th. She said he’s the only Democrat to indicate a willingness to run for the seat and she views him as someone who could pose a serious challenge to the incumbent. “I think he’d be a good candidate,” she said. “He absolutely brings a ton of strengths to the table in a race against George Amedore.” Santabarbara acknowledged that he’s interested in running for the seat but said he hasn’t reached a final decision. Ultimately, he said, his decision would hinge on where he perceives himself as being most effective for his constituents. “I want to put myself in the best position to do the most for the people I represent,” he said Friday. “And if that position is in the Assembly, I’ll do it.” The Rotterdam native works as a project engineer with Chazen Cos. He was enrolled as a Republican and endorsed by the Conservative Party when he was first elected to the county Legislature in 2007. But two months ago, on New Year’s Eve, Santabarbara announced that he was switching his enrollment to join the county Legislature’s Democratic majority. He attributed the switch to his positive work with the Democrats and his belief that he could be more effective as a member of the majority. The switch shocked members of the dwindling Republican minority. Some speculated that he made the change as a precursor to a challenge for Amedore’s seat. “He is looking for other places to go,” commented Republican Legislator James Burhmaster, one of two remaining Republicans on the Legislature after Santabarbara made the switch in January. “He is not going to stay a county legislator.” So far, Republican committee chairmen in both counties have offered support for Amedore, who has expressed interest in a third campaign for the Assembly. However, with seats in the state Senate and U.S. Congress in play this fall, there’s a chance he may seek higher office himself. “It’s something I have given thought to,” Amedore said. “There are a lot of people who would like me to run for a lot of things.” There’s also a chance Amedore could face a challenge within his own party. Some members of the Rotterdam Republican Committee have circulated a petition calling for a meeting to discuss the nomination. Town Board member Gerard Parisi’s name has surfaced as a candidate to either wage a primary against Amedore or run in his place if he seeks higher office. However, the chairmen from both the Montgomery County and Schenectady County committees insist that Amedore is the favored candidate. And that’s fine with the Democrats. Quail views Amedore as a vulnerable candidate because he’s failed to show a record of accomplishment. In contrast, Quail said Santabarbara has excelled as a county legislator and demonstrated a bipartisan appeal. He said these are favorable qualities the Democratic committee will be searching for when a decision is made later in the spring. “The issues are who he is as a person, what his record is as a legislator and what are the values he brings to the race,” he said. “If those things are compatible, I think there’s an outstanding chance he’d be supported by the committee.”
“The issues are who he is as a person, what his record is as a legislator and what are the values he brings to the race,”
the term "Flip flopper" comes to mind. He'll move to the most advantaguous position to further his own goals (He attributed the switch to his positive work with the Democrats and his belief that he could be more effective as a member of the majority)
My favorite part in all of this is the several Rotterdam GOP committee people who are ready to help GP attempt to screw their own party some more. LOL. Are these committee people really that gullible?
Worst kept secret? When did you know about this, Benny?! You must have an "in."
I think it was pretty apparent after he switched parties what his intentions were. Why would you switch party affiliation with two years left in your term? Hmmmmm....Here's an equation - The 105th is up for election in 2010 + Angelo's a Republican + The seat is currently held by Republican (George Amedore) + Angelo switches party affiliation to Democrat = Angelo's running for the 105th as a Democrat.
That would be a double winner for the Democrats. I assume the majority party picks Angelo's replacement should he win the 105th race, so they are in a win win position. Couple that with the Rotterdam Republicans purposely imploding and splitting the party, and Angelo should walk right in, arm in arm with GP.
Why does everyone say GP is doing this to help AS? It's absurd! GP is qualified and interested, why shouldnt he be considered? Because he went to high school with AS? Didn't another thread already point out that GA AS and GP all went to school together? Maybe AS and GP are really doing this to help their high school buddy GA... Absurd, right? So is saying there is a conspiracy between GP and AS.
Maybe they need a Mohonasen person to take away all that conflict of interest that the Schalmont connection brings! ENDORSE A MOHON WARRIOR AND THIS WHOLE THING WILL BE SOLVED!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
GP and the local republicans have PUBLICLY spoken ill toward their fellow republicans like Mertz and now Amedore, and I have yet to hear a public statement from GP and the Republicans about Angelo switching parties. Angelo announces he is switching parties on 12/31/09 and swears in Gerard on 1/1/10. Nobody finds that odd? BTW, what did Angelo do to help the Republicans in the last election? Besides networking within the Democrat party, and rubbing elbows with up-Chuck Shumer.
Quoted Text
Parisi sworn in as new board member January 1, 2010 Parisi was then sworn in by Republican County Legislature and Chair of the Rotterdam IDA Angelo Santabarbara. Parisi will join the incoming town board who will be sworn in on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Rotterdam Town Hall.
Quoted Text
Santabarbara joins Democrats
Now, Angelo Santabarbara, elected two years ago as a Republican representing Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown, has switched parties, announcing Thursday(December 31, 2009) he was changing his enrollment to Democratic
My favorite part in all of this is the several Rotterdam GOP committee people who are ready to help GP attempt to screw their own party some more. LOL. Are these committee people really that gullible?
Yes-or just plain stunad. The day ANG switched many here including GB stated the obvious-he's running for Assembly. Why else would he switch-because of Sue Savage's brilliant leadership? They stuck him in some unwinable race. Some deal?
Because the reps are jumping ship and now they are looking for love in all the wrong places! I'm a Dem and I want my party to stop taking in Reps! If they didn't have a dem philosophy before, how did you get one so quickly?
Logged
The worst kept secret in the County. This also explains the alleged REP primary.
