Editor, The Spotlight,
When I first ran for the county legislature, I promised to thoughtfully speak my mind for our town. That includes speaking out and voting against wrong-headed proposals advanced by my own party, as I recently did when a sham county charter “reform” proposal was put before us that cut the heart out of true charter reform.
But speaking my mind also includes speaking out for what I think is right. More than a year ago, and several times since, I have stood on the floor of the legislature to support true charter reform, as was proposed by the blue ribbon Charter Revision Commission. These citizen volunteers — legal and governmental experts — worked hard for over a year to overhaul our county’s charter. Their recommendations were roundly supported by the League of Women Voters. The Commission got it right, including reducing the size of the county legislature. But the legislature’s city-dominated leadership and their political cronies warped and twisted the reform commission’s proposal to fit their own self-dealing culture.
If we don’t defeat the insider’s new county charter in this November’s referendum, we will be forever deprived of our right to decide the county legislature’s size, because that decision will be taken out of the hands of the voters and put solely in the hands of county legislators!
This same charter “reform” would also leave the drawing of future county legislative district lines, including the legislative districts drawn for Bethlehem, in the hands of partisan puppet masters instead of in the hands of a new independent redistricting commission, as recommended by the Charter Review Commission. This “same old, same old”, politics as usual, sham reform will just result in future expensive lawsuits which will be paid for with our tax dollars. And Bethlehem will continue to be short-changed and underrepresented in the county legislature.
We need real change that’s fair. I need your support to continue my fight to overhaul the Albany County Legislature and to protect your say in how our legislature is run. I know the county seems remote from our town, but what it does is critical and affects the taxes we pay for our public safety and the quality of our community. Without the millions shared by the county from its sales tax collections and other revenues with our town, our town’s property taxes would skyrocket. I am proud that our county has spear-headed ongoing projects like the Rail Trail, Vista, and Advanced Life Support services.
But I only have one vote. So while I ask for your support for my own re-election, I also ask for your help in reforming our county legislature by electing highly qualified newcomers Joanne Cunningham (34th), Matt Miller (36th), and sitting town board member Bill Reinhardt (33rd). Thank you.
Charles Dawson
Albany County Legislator (35th)
Glenmont and Delmar
