Displeasing looks aplenty were cast between candidates during a recent debate for the hotly contested 46th Senate District, as each listened to the opponent’s answers.
Cecilia Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, and George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, met for an Albany County League of Women Voters candidate forum on Wednesday night, Oct. 15, at the Masonic Temple in Altamont.
Cars lined Maple Avenue outside the building as people tried to find some place to park for the forum. Inside, the Masonic Temple was filled to capacity, possibly over, with people standing along the walls of the room and spilling out the door. Even though applause or cheering is discouraged at LWV forums, the crowd couldn’t hold back their enthusiasm at times.
Unlike the previous debate in Schenectady, questions for the opponents were only gathered from attendees. Similar topics were discussed, such as New York Women’s Equality and hydrofracking, but there were some new questions brought forth.
One asked how each candidate would work to create trade jobs, such as electricians and plumbers.
Tkaczyk said many of the jobs needing to be filled today are still open because workers don’t have the necessary skills.
“I support programs that provide training and training on the job. That’s why I think workforce development funding is a good thing,” said Tkaczyk.
She also said schools need to have the resources to provide such educational opportunities. Working with area businesses in the classroom can ensure students are getting those skills.
“Not everyone is going to college,” she said. “Helping those kids that aren’t maybe wanting to go to college to get into a skilled environment is a great thing.”
Amedore said the first thing needed in education was to stop Common Core and allow local teachers to develop a curriculum. Amedore, who owns Amedore Homes, said he also understand the skills children need to learn to enter a trade job.
“It’s too hard to find good people,” said Amedore. “We don’t have a workforce that is properly being trained at an early age. What we need to do is institute, immediately, vocational educational experiences at a young age.”
The candidates were split on the SAFE Act, with Tkaczyk believing reform is the right route while Amedore wants outright repeal. Tkaczyk was not in office when the legislation was passed.
Tkaczyk said there were some positive elements to the SAFE Act such as rules surrounding background checks, which she said could protect people from domestic violence. She also supported the law establishing harsh penalties for people who murder first responders.
“I am open to reforming aspects of it, and I support both revisions that changed the SAFE Act,” she said. “I do not think we should outright repeal it because there are things in there that protect all of us.”
Amedore said he supports fully repealing the law, because it’s a “bad bill,” with parts of it that are not enforceable and unconstitutional.
“This is a complete infringement on our Second Amendment right,” he said. “We need sensible gun control and legislation.”
Many residents within the senate district have likely seen a political ad regarding the race, which each candidate has said is distorting their positions or record. At one point, candidates were asked what they could do to make things “more positive.”
Amedore said the only thing negative in the campaign is Tkaczyk’s voting record.
“We have a representative who has been representing New York City interests 97 percent of the time,” said Amedore. “What I believe we should be doing is having campaigns that are based on their record.”
Tkaczyk countered that she is not being negative; it’s Amedore’s record that’s negative.
“You voted 10 times against women to get equal pay for equal work,” Tkaczyk said to Amedore. “When you look at George’s record it doesn’t fit. He says now he is for women’s equality, but he voted repeatedly against many of these bills time and time again in the Assembly.”
