|
Editorial
Primary endorsement
When offering its endorsements in primaries and general elections, the Times looks for the best person; not who has the best chance to win. Concerning the governor's race, there is something disconcerting about Eliot Spitzer. We're not sure if it's his refusal to engage in public debates in favor of slick public relations personnel spinning his ideas, or his lack of substance. Similar to John Kerry, Spitzer is long on snappy answers and short on substance and explanations.
Spitzer is endorsed by more than 120 New York State legislators, many of whom have turned Albany into the mess that it is in today, and that's only on the Democratic side; there are Republicans who equally share blame in our state's capital.
One of Spitzer's answers to rising school taxes is to provide more STAR relief. This places a heavier burden on those who don't qualify; people who have their own struggles to worry about without the additional burden of subsidizing others. If this is what Eliot Spitzer has to offer, then heaven help us, because Spitzer is out of touch with Upstate New York, the small business person and those who rely on small businesses for their own survival. The Times endorses Tom Suozzi. Suozzi is personable and has a firm grasp on what ails upstate- and Western- New York.
For Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, son of former Governor Mario Cuomo- who sent New York State deep into debt- faces new allegations of wrongdoings during the time he headed the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. It appears that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The Times endorses Mark Green for his sparkling record as an attorney.
An update: In last week's editorial the Times wondered why Eliot Spitzer is keeping $50,000 in campaign contributions received in 2003 from New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. The electric power company hopes to run electrical transmission lines through Central New York to New York City, but the project is a sore point with many Central New Yorkers. Our question was based on information from an article published by the Associated Press, which later issued its members a "kill" advisory (telling them to remove the article) because Spitzer received the contribution from New York Interconnect, a different company. The Times is not an Associated Press member.
We apologize for the mix-up, but what remains interesting was a Spitzer campaign spokesperson stating that the contribution was made "well before" Spitzer became involved in the power company's proceedings. This explanation should not justify keeping the money if the contribution had indeed been from NY Regional Interconnect.
The issue was only a small part of our overall perception of Spitzer, therefore the Times stands firmly behind its August 31 editorial.
| 
