Andrew Cuomo Visits Glens Falls on his Campaign Tour

Last week, Warren County welcomed democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo to Glens Falls. On Wednesday, Cuomo and his daughters made a stop at the Charles R. Wood Theater as part of his 11-day “Drive for a New NY” campaign tour.

Coumo’s daughter Michaela introduced her father with warmth saying, “My dad works with effectiveness, sincerity, fairness, determination, and he’s a champion at ping-pong.”

Cuomo then had an opportunity to tell the audience how he would live up to his daughter’s glowing appraisal. The crowd of nearly 100 people responded positively as he outlined various aspects of his campaign platform, expressing their support with a standing ovation. Glens Falls mayor, John “Jack” Diamond, also recently endorsed Cuomo’s candidacy, supporting the idea of consolidating local municipal governments and his plan to get things done in Albany.

These “things” include punishing corruption and establishing an independent commission to redraw legislative lines. His plan also includes getting the fiscal house in order with an emergency financial plan. He proposes putting a cap on state spending and a one-year freeze of state public employee’s salaries, as well as reducing the number of state agencies, giving businesses tax credits for each unemployed New Yorker they hire and instituting a property tax cap.

On Wednesday, Cuomo acknowledged that a governor alone cannot effect all the needed changes and urged constituents to initiate a grassroots movement to demand change in Albany. He said that in order to end the dysfunction of the Legislature and to stop businesses from leaving the state, the people need to band together and demand the discontinuation of lobbyist-influenced government.

“We have to start by cleaning it up—end the corruption, bring transparency and accountability, and bring light to Albany,” he told the crowd.

Cuomo also supports marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws, a woman’s right to choose, regulation of Wall Street and green energy.

But supporters weren’t the only ones who attended the candidate’s stop. A man dressed as a duck stood outside the theater holding a sign that said, “Cuomo ducks Obama Care.” The bird, nicknamed “Mario, Jr.” will be trailing Cuomo through the rest of his RV tour on behalf of rival Carl Paladino’s campaign. Paladino, a Tea Party activist from Buffalo, has criticized Cuomo for ducking questions about the health care system.

Republican candidate Rick Lazio has also criticized Cuomo for his support of the proposed mosque at the site of the World Trade Center. Cuomo believes that it’s not a question of legality but one regarding freedom of religion. For this reason, he doesn’t believe government should intervene.

“This is a mosque and people don’t like a mosque. Some days maybe people won’t like Catholics, or maybe people won’t like Jewish people. Freedom of religion is a sacrosanct principle in this state and in this country. As Attorney General I am going to adhere to that principle,” said Cuomo (who originally planned to run for a second term as Attorney General but switched to the gubernatorial race in May).

Right now, it looks like Cuomo has a good chance of making it to Albany to implement his plans. A poll released by Siena College on July 15 showed Cuomo well ahead of his competition with a more than 30-point lead over Lazio and a more than 40-point lead over Paladino. Cuomo has recently picked up support from the Machinists Union, the NYS Pipe Trades Association, the NYS Council of Sheet Metal Workers, the NYS Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Independence Party.

“He’s a great choice to lead the state,” Michaela told listeners. “I have lived with this man my whole life and through these years I’ve concluded he loves New York and will fight for you.”

–Sarah Evans is an Assistant Editor of The Free George. 

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