To the Editor:

I attended the Oct. 15 debate in Altamont between Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk and Mr. George Amadore. I believe that those in attendance at the event are grateful, as am I, to the folks at the Masonic Lodge for making the facility available, as well as to the folks at the League of Women Voters who both outlined and enforced a set of simple, common-sense rules that kept the proceeding reasonably civil and informative, and that kept a potentially loud audience in check.

The debate offered voters a clear look at two very different candidates. In a race that is hotly contested, where voters are being barraged with both print and broadcast pitches for and against the respective candidates, there is nothing like a face-to-face interaction to provide an interested audience with the opportunity to see who the candidates really are and what they stand for.

Mr. Amedore was very direct on a couple of hot-button issues. He said that he would vote to repeal the NY SAFE [New York Secure Ammunition and firearms Enforcement] Act and Common Core. Sadly, he provided no information as to what he would do in the alternative to keep firearms out of the hands of people who should not be carrying them, and he provided no specifics about what he would support as an alternative to Common Core as a way to provide the more rigorous standards our young people need to successfully compete in a globally competitive environment.

Beyond those two issues, Mr. Amedore was not clear or specific on any of the issues that the candidates were called on to address. He also did not deny that he has a history of votes in the Assembly for measures that would provide women with equal pay for equal work, and that would eliminate tax benefits for companies that send American jobs overseas.

Senator Tkaczyk, by way of contrast, offered clear and specific information on her views on the SAFE Act and Common Core, detailing aspects of both that she felt were worthy of retention and that needed revision or elimination. She also provided those in attendance with specifics on initiatives she supports to enhance the governmental environment in New York for small businesses and agriculture, and clearly communicated her passion for changing the current system of school funding in New York that fails to provide school districts in areas like the 46th Senate District an equitable portion of state funding.

Mr. Amedore is in charge of what appears to be a reasonably successful local family business. If elected, he would be a part-time legislator, as he was in the Assembly, at a salary of $79,500 plus benefits. Senator Tkaczyk is a full-time legislator, who has driven tens of thousands of miles since her 2012 election to make herself known and accessible throughout this far-flung district.

Based on what was said — or not said — at last week’s debate, and based on the record of hard work and constant accessibility displayed by Senator Tkaczyk, I believe that the choice on Nov. 4 is quite clear, and that Senator Tkaczyk is worthy of re-election.

Donald Csaposs
Guilderland