21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Banker plans bid against Tonko BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
A Scotia banker is seeking to foreclose on U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko’s political career. Republican Bob Dieterich, chief financial officer of the First National Bank of Scotia, is expected to announce his candidacy at 3 p.m. Wednesday at a news conference at the Glen Sanders Mansion. Tonko, D-Amsterdam, is seeking his third two-year term. Dieterich would not confi rm his candidacy Monday, saying only in an email that “I have invited my friends and family to join me this Wednesday for an important announcement regarding the future of the 21st Congressional District.” But Schenectady County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster, chairman of the Schenectady County Republican Committee, confi rmed that Dieterich is running. “It’s a great candidate — very conservative. I think he represents the views of this district,” he said. Buhrmaster, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2008, said the Democrats’ message then was “hope and change” but it has not worked. “Our debt is larger; government is out of control. We don’t seem to understand that the public doesn’t have the funds anymore to pay for what we have created,” he said. Buhrmaster criticized Tonko for spending the vast majority of his career working in government. Tonko served in the Assembly from 1983 to 2007 and then served as president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority before being elected to Congress in 2008. “We think it will give the public a real clear choice between a career politician and a family person and a small businessman,” he said. Buhrmaster said Dieterich was interested in running two years ago, but the GOP committees gave the nod to Ted Danz, founder of Family Danz Heating and Air Conditioning in Albany. Buhrmaster speculated that Danz’s Albany roots swayed the committees, which were weighted heavily toward Albany County. Buhrmaster isn’t aware of any other potential challengers this year. Glenville Supervisor Chris Koetzle also praised Dieterich, who serves on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. “He’s well-respected and wellliked in the community and he is always involved in trying to make his community a better place to live,” said Koetzle, also a Republican. He said he and Dieterich share similar concerns about the country’s deficit and its overall fi scal health. “This president and our current congressman are mortgaging the future of our children and that’s got to stop,” Koetzle said. Dieterich has worked for the bank since 1993, according to his Facebook profile. He graduated from Scotia-Glenville High School in 1986 and then studied at SUNY Delhi and SUNY Plattsburgh, where he graduated in the class of 1991. In addition, Dieterich served in the New York Air National Guard from 1988 to 2009. He lists “No American Debt” as among his interests. Dieterich has not filed with the Federal Elections Commission to form a fundraising committee. Tonko had $374,421 in cash on hand at the end of 2011, according to his year-end FEC fi ling. Tonko’s offi ce had little to say about the GOP challenger. “There’s plenty of time to campaign this fall,” said Tonko spokesman Clinton Britt. “There’s a lot of work to be done in the meantime.” Britt said Tonko’s top priorities remain assisting Schoharie County in rebuilding from the fl ooding from tropical storms Irene and Lee, protecting Social Security and Medicare, improving urban areas along the waterfront and growing the economy through job creation, especially in the clean-energy sector. In 2010, Tonko cruised to reelection over Danz with 59 percent of the vote. Tonko was fi rst elected in 2008 with 62 percent of the vote over Buhrmaster and Independent Phillip Steck. The exact makeup of the 21st Congressional District is still being determined. Because of declining population, New York is losing two congressional seats, so boundaries of the districts are changing. ...................>>>>..............................>>>>.........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00904&AppName=1
Mr. Tonko is one of the finest members of Congress ALIVE.. while I wish Mr. Dietrich luck in his endeavors -- I certainly don't believe he can carry Paul Tonko's bags..
"We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society." ---Angela Davis
"When you put a tiny and despised minority up for a popular vote, the minority usually loses." ---Andrew Sullivan
Mr. Tonko is one of the finest members of Congress ALIVE.. while I wish Mr. Dietrich luck in his endeavors -- I certainly don't believe he can carry Paul Tonko's bags..
Ham, tell us HOW Tonko has reduced taxes in the city and county.
Tell us HOW Tonko has increased property values in the city and county.
Tell us HOW Tonko has increased the TAXABLE tax base in the city and county.
Can you answer those questions?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Taxin Tonko's shtick is wearing very thin. We need a Congress person that represents the district and not a partisan puppet of the failed Obama agenda. Tonko is a double dipper and his sole legislative accomplishment is the Bridge to Nowhere -Amsterdam edition. Dietrich wanted to run 2 years ago but stepped aside for Danz.
A tool of the "cradle to grave society" concept that pols try to push on people along with the lie that we can actually pay for it.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
It will be an interesting contest considering the new district lines -- especially if the ones put forth by the Federal Judge stand which takes Schoharie County and part of Montgomery County out of the district -- and replace it with a chunk of Saratoga and Green Counties. I don't believe it will be an easy campaign for Mr. Tonko.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Tonko's new district is heavily democrat, just like the judge who designed it.
"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."
It shouldn't be an easy campaign for Taxin Tonko since he still grades Obama an A-. One of the worst Congressmen in Washington. A banker plays right into the hands of the DEMS. Expect more 1% soak the rich nonsense. Ted Danz is a better opponent who got over 40% last time with no finacial support.
We still have to see what the final district lines will look like -- the State Legislature still has until the end of next week to pass new district lines or the Federal Court Judge's lines will be the ones used.
As for the difficulty of the race, there was really no way to redraw the district's lines without adding more Republican voters -- and that is one factor that will make the race more difficult. Taking all of Schoharie County and parts of Fulton and Montgomery Counties out .. would seem to make the race a bit more difficult .. since even though those areas had more GOP voters -- Mr. Tonko has represented them for over a quarter of century one way or the other.
On the favorable side - they did not have to throw Congressman Gibson and Congressman Tonko into the same district --- this mainly because Maurice Hinchey's retirement allowed his district to be carved up.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
"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."
Mr. Tonko is one of the finest members of Congress ALIVE.. while I wish Mr. Dietrich luck in his endeavors -- I certainly don't believe he can carry Paul Tonko's bags..
Re March 6 article, “Banker plans bid against Tonko”: I was amused to read that Bob Dieterich is running for the 21st Congressional District. The Republicans always try to line up someone to run against Tonko and, may I say, to no avail (21 and 0). You would think the Repubs would know better by now; Mr. Tonko does an excellent job for his constituents. What is even more amusing is that they are running a banker. I don’t think the people of the 21st need another banker, Wall Streeter or 1 percenter in office. I don’t think people are happy that Mr. Dieterich’s banker friends are paying 16 percent tax (if any) and the rest of us (99 percenters) are paying 28 percent. When asked by the Gazette on March 6 if he was running for offi ce, Mr. Dieterich would not give the newspaper a straight answer. And that was the first question of the campaign. I don’t think the 21st district or country needs those types of answers to solve our problems. I would like to thank Mr. Dieterich for his service in the National Guard, which I feel will be the only way Mr. Dieterich will serve our country.
Re March 18 letter, “GOP will have to do better to beat Tonko”: Roy Dimond implies that it is futile for anyone to oppose Mr. [Rep. Paul] Tonko because he has won the last 21 elections. Although that in itself is an impressive feat, 42 years in political offi ce hardly qualifies anyone to solve the problems this country is currently facing. To the contrary, it shows that he may be more a part of the problem than the solution. I understand the perception among some that Mr. Tonko is unbeatable. I disagree. It is time we stop electing the best campaigners and begin hiring people with the skills to get the real job done. If you would like to know more about me, my vision and my plan to accomplish it, please visit my website http://www.dieterichforcongress.com or feel free to contact me directly so we can honestly discuss some of the vital issues this nation is facing.
Being in office for 42 years has taught Tonko how to spend and waste taxpayer money with the best of the politicians. He also voted for the massive Health-Care Law that he never even read and we should re-elect him why?
Logged
Taxin Tonko's shtick is wearing very thin. We need a Congress person that represents the district and not a partisan puppet of the failed Obama agenda. Tonko is a double dipper and his sole legislative accomplishment is the Bridge to Nowhere -Amsterdam edition. Dietrich wanted to run 2 years ago but stepped aside for Danz. 
