By Nick Eaton
Though not spoken of with the fervor of this year’s presidential election, the New York State Senate election is still supremely important. For the first time since 1965 New York Democrats have an opportunity to seize control of the Senate. With the Assembly and Governorship already under their control, the Democrats would be free to write state policy how they wish. The Republicans currently hold a majority of one solitary individual and for many Long Islanders on either side of the party divide, the majority hinges upon New York’s 3rd district.
Caesar Trunzo, incumbent Republican candidate for New York’s 3rd district, has held the office as such since 1973. His challenger, Brian X. Foley, served fourteen years in the Suffolk County legislature and has been Town Supervisor of Brookhaven since 2005. The main political device disputed in this election is a cap on school taxes, which Trunzo supports and Foley will only support in conjunction with a tax reduction (similar to Barack Obama’s) for families earning up to $250,000 annually. Despite sharing a common interest in this prominent issue, each campaign sees this particular race as vastly important for different reasons.
When reached for comment, Nate Marks from the Trunzo campaign expressed concern with the focus of a possible Democratic leadership. Marks believes that Long Island and Upstate interests may be overshadowed by city leadership as established by a Democratic majority in the Senate. The current governor, David Paterson, and Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, both represent New York City constituencies. In the event of a Democratic majority, Malcom Smith of Queens would replace Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre, which Marks believes will tip the scales away from Long Island interests.
Ibrahim Khan, Communications Director of the Foley campaign, argued for the importance of fresh ideas, denouncing what he called the “status quo leadership” of the New York State Senate. Calling Foley “one of a new generation of leaders,” Khan focused on Foley’s record, stating that, as Town Supervisor, he had eliminated waste and corruption by ending no-bid insurance contracts. In essence, Khan presents Foley’s candidacy as a call for change.
In a time of harsh cuts to SUNY schools, it is obvious why this election holds particular importance to voters. This pivotal race has tectonic potential to shift policies in either direction on par with that of the higher profile presidential race.
