Quoted Text

Candidates hesitant to mention unions
MARV CERMAK COVERING SCHENECTADY
Published: 12:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Each year at election time, I get turned off over endless candidate campaign mailings packed with self-serving information and irrelevant photos. The literature from some candidates for state office this year seems especially stupid.

One candidate's mailing shows him in a school graduation gown. There is also a wedding photo of him and his wife. In a separate mailing, this candidate's mom is shown holding a huge bowl of chicken cacciatore while serving family dinner.

Another candidate is pictured wearing a construction hard hat and hugging his wife and three kids in a separate photo. Then, there is the candidate shown officiating at a new business ribbon cutting.

Pictures in other literature connects a candidate with recent downtown construction including the new Center City building and Bow-Tie Cinemas. The brochure doesn't show the numerous vacant and boarded-up Schenectady storefronts.

Clearly, none of these photos and messages have anything to do with how to extract the state from its staggering financial mess. Instead, their messages brag about past records in office and some involve mudslinging at opponents.

Most candidates pledge to create new jobs, attract new businesses and cap spending. How many years in a row have we heard that same worn-out bull?

None of the incumbents or challengers goes near the state's fiscal nightmare. The bloated cost of the state work force -- mounting wages, health insurance, pensions and retiree health benefits -- is the hippopotamus in the room.

Both the incumbents and the wannabes are scared to death of the public employee unions. Let the taxpayer be damned, they'll let the state go under before they touch that issue.................>>>>.............................>>>>............................http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Candidates-hesitant-to-mention-unions-712345.php#page-1

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......it's the French-Greek elephant in the room.......can we poach it?????