(Long Island, NY) In response to former-Assemblyman George Amedore’s campaign announcement, local leaders, elected officials, business owners and advocate groups all lined up to declare their support for first term State Senator, Cecilia Tkaczyk. These stakeholders in the 46th Senate District also announced their opposition to George Amedore’s extremist views and voting record.
Josh Cherwin, Executive Director of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, said, “The residents of the 46th District already rejected anti-choice and anti-woman George Amedore once, and they will do so again this November. Amedore’s values are entirely out-of-step with the attitudes of Albany, Greene, Montgomery, Schenectady and Ulster county residents. George Amedore should be ashamed of his three terms in the Assembly in which he consistently voted against equal pay for women, rejected raising the minimum wage and opposed stronger protections against domestic violence. Amedore was not able to buy his way into the State Senate last time and he won’t be able to this time.”
Andrea Miller, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, said, “George Amedore’s extreme, anti-women positions have no place in the State Senate. Amedore, who opposes a woman’s right to choose and voted against the Fair Pay Act five times, is out of touch with the values of our state. With the Senate leadership blocking the Women’s Equality Act, it’s important to send a strong message that New Yorkers expect their Senators to protect women’s health and promote equality for all.”
M. Tracey Brooks, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, said, “Nothing has changed since Assemblyman Amedore lost the 2012 election by not standing up for legislation critical to women’s health and well-being. Failure to represent the interests of women and families in his district, and our state, will not be forgotten at the ballot box.”
Judith Simon, Vice President of TelecomDataService, said, “In her first term in office, Senator Tkaczyk has proven her expertise and dedication to the issues that are most important to her constituents; she has made us her sole priority. As a small business owner I appreciate that Cecilia Tkaczyk is a full time public servant who is therefore always available to listen to and address my concerns.”
Janine Bennett and Ken Landin, Owners of Crossroads Brewing Company in Athens, said, “For our business to grow and prosper, we need common sense solutions and support from state government, and that is what we have received from Senator Tkaczyk during her first term in office. Ms. Tkaczyk understands the issues facing entrepreneurs and small business owners and as a full-time public servant is always available to discuss, and resolve our concerns.”
Schenectady County Legislature Chairman Tony Jasenski said, “Having a full-time public servant as our State Senator means that day or night, when I need Cece Tkaczyk, I know she will be available to address my concerns. Senator Tkaczyk understands the concerns, and shares the values, of upstate families and has used her experience to provide the residents of Schenectady County with real leadership in the State Senate.”
Greene County Legislator Kevin Lennon said, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve crossed paths with CeCe at a public event and she asks “How can I help? What can I do?” She doesn’t show up at “photo ops” like other politicians… It’s like she’s come to do business and the microphones are just props. I’d be surprised if any Senator keeps a tougher schedule. She has a huge district, but she gets a lot done because she knows how to work with local representatives. It’s like she’s one of us, only she’s in the State Senate.”
Schenectady County Democratic Chair Brian Quail said, “Mr. Amedore spent his Assembly career standing against middle class families and staunchly opposing Fair Pay legislation and a woman’s right to choose. The voters of Schenectady County, and the 46th Senate District, stood against extremist George Amedore in 2012, and I am confident they will stand against him again this November.”
Greene County Democratic Chair Doreen Parsley Davis said, “In 2012, George Amedore suddenly appeared in Greene County, claiming that he was the candidate best positioned to help people of the 46th Senate District. But after he lost that race by a narrow margin to an unheralded woman farmer, he completely disappeared; just fell off the map. Meanwhile, that farmer proved as good as her word by standing up for the people of Greene County on the issues that we care about. Now, two years later, Comet Amedore has suddenly reappeared in the skies over Greene County, claiming he’s the candidate best positioned to help people of the 46th Senate District. What more can I say?”
Ulster County Democratic Chair Frank Cardinale said, “The people of Ulster County backed Cece Tkaczyk from almost the day she announced her candidacy. We believed she would be a smart, active, involved and consistent voice for us. As Senator Tkaczyk, she has done that, and more. As far as George Amedore, we barely heard from him during the 2012 campaign, and the last we heard from him was when he falsely took the oath of office over a year ago.”
Montgomery County Democratic Chair Bethany Schumann-McGhee, Esq. said, “The people in Montgomery, Schenectady, Albany, Greene, and Ulster counties DO need a leader in the Senate with a strong voice—and we have one, Cecilia Tkazcyk. She’s been a tremendous asset in the Senate—fighting for fair funding in education, which our schools desperately need. When my county suffered devastating floods last year, Senator Tkaczyk was there—not just for the cameras, but working side by side with the volunteers for weeks. Senator Tkazcyk is exactly what we need in Albany—a down to earth, responsive leader, who shares our concerns, because she’s lived them with us.”
