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Kosiur anything but a
good Assembly choice
   I read with great interest the June 12 article regarding county Legislator Ed Kosiur’s candidacy to replace Assemblyman Paul Tonko. As someone who follows local politics, let me tell you that Ed Kosiur is not someone we want in the Assembly.
   Last year, New York’s Legislature had the distinct honor of being named the most dysfunctional in the country by the Brennan Center for Justice. Fortunately for Ed Kosiur, the center did not rate county legislators through the state — because Schenectady would have also been No. 1 when it comes to being the most dysfunctional!
   As a county legislator, Ed Kosiur has continually voted with the Democratic majority to hike taxes. Our county Legislature has an addiction, and that addiction is spending tax dollars. With only four years on the county Legislature, Ed Kosiur voted to increase property taxes by double digits — giving Schenectady County the eighth-highest tax rate in the nation. Mr. Kosiur also voted with the majority to increase the county sales tax, taxes on cellphones and taxes on gasoline.
   As a Schenectady homeowner and taxpayer, I know that my family and others around me can no longer afford representatives like Ed Kosiur, who raise our taxes without thinking about making cuts in spending. Unfortunately, representatives like Kosiur will only continue to drive our young people from this state and force seniors and families to move to North Carolina and Florida.
   RICHARD KARP
   Rotterdam Junction  

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SCHENECTADY
Kosiur announces Assembly bid
Democrat seeking Tonko’s seat in 105th district
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

   Schenectady County Legislator Edward Kosiur, a Democrat, launched his bid for the 105th Assembly District on Wednesday, saying he will concentrate on creating jobs, protecting children and developing intergovernmental cooperation if elected to the state Legislature.
   Kosiur, 51, faces Republican George Amedore Jr., 38, in a contest for the seat being vacated by 25-year Assemblyman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam. Tonko will resign Saturday to become president and chief executive officer of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
   Gov. Eliot Spitzer will call a special election for Tonko’s seat after the resignation. The election is expected to be held this summer. The winner would serve out Tonko’s remaining term and would have to run in November 2008 for a full two-year term.
   Kosiur announced his bid on the steps of City Hall in Schenectady. He planned a similar announcement later in the day in Amsterdam. Amedore on Wednesday opened his Amsterdam campaign headquarters at the Amsterdam Riverfront Center.
   At his Schenectady announcement, Kosiur surrounded himself with children holding “Kids for Kosiur” signs, local Democratic officials and members of the Carpenters Union, Local 370, and the Service Employees International Union, Local 370, which represents staff at the county-owned Glendale Home.
   Tonko introduced Kosiur, saying he is leaving the state Assembly with the knowledge that “we have an energetic candidate who knows and cares about our working families. Ed has always put family and children first. Ed is about hope.”
   Tonko is well regarded in the 105th, which consists of Montgomery County and the towns of Duanesburg, Princetown, Rotterdam and half of the city of Schenectady. However, he will not be able to campaign with Kosiur after Saturday because of a prohibition on political involvement of state officials.
   Kosiur said his goals are to engage Montgomery County officials in efforts to unify their economic development efforts, promote job growth in both counties and bring property tax relief. He also will work to develop a state law placing residency restrictions on convicted sex offenders, similar to legislation he sponsored in the county Legislature.
   “I will work hard to provide the residents of the 105th with the best service possible,” Kosiur said. “I’m going to need the help of each and every one of you to win the seat.”
   Kosiur said the presence of labor unions at his announcement stems from his City Council work to create an apprentice training program in Schenectady. The program requires contractors who want to bid on certain public works projects to have statecertified apprenticeship programs. “I’ve always had their support all my elections,” he said.
   Kosiur started his political career in 2002 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the City Council when now-Mayor Brian Stratton became a county legislator. Kosiur ran in 2003 to complete Stratton’s term, and in 2004 he ran for the county Legislature in District 2. He chairs the Legislature’s committee on children and families.
   Kosiur is director of teen employment with the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady. He is on leave of absence until Aug. 15. Amedore is on leave from his job as vice president of Amedore Homes.
   Kosiur said he plans to spend every day working on his election bid. “We have to talk to as many residents as we can,” he said. His campaign strategy is to devote about 60 percent of his time in Montgomery County, where he is relatively unknown, and the rest of the time in Schenectady County. “I think Montgomery County will be a very, very important area for me in this campaign,” he said.
   Indeed, the race has already split the ranks of top politicians in Montgomery County. Tom Quackenbush, the Republican supervisor of Minden, is endorsing Kosiur. Tom DiMezza, the Democratic supervisor of the town of Amsterdam and chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, is endorsing Amedore.
   DiMezza said he is friends with Amedore and believes him to be the best candidate for state Assembly. “Politics are here today and gone tomorrow, but friendships last a lifetime. I have been friends with George for many years. My friendship for him is important. He is a businessman, has ties to the area and has invested in the community.”
   Amedore Homes built a senior citizens housing complex in the town of Amsterdam on Wallins Corner Road. Amedore’s mother was born in Amsterdam and he has family there.
   “He turned an eyesore into a beautiful development,” DiMezza said. “I did speak to him prior to his building it. He looked at it as a good investment.”
   Amedore said he plans to devote equal time to both counties during his election bid. “Paul Tonko never favored one county over the other. What it comes down to is serving the people. There are a lot of people in Montgomery and Schenectady counties. There will not be any favoritism of one over another,” he said. “We have a huge support staff who is behind their candidate. We will knock on as many doors as we can in as many places as we can.”