Unopposed
The Associated Press just sent this list of unopposed candidates in races for the New York State Senate and Assembly.
I honestly hadn’t rubbed more than two brain cells together on this aspect of Election ’10, so I can’t say what my expectations were. But I can say I didn’t expect a list this long.
Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) is in here. So is Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro). Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is on this list, too, despite all the vituperation and invective hurled at him this year.
Take a look at this list. Any surprises for you?
State Senate – District 10 Shirley Huntley Dem
State Senate – District 23 Diane Savino, Dem
State Senate – District 24 Andrew Lanza, GOP
State Senate – District 45 Elizabeth Little, GOP
State Senate – District 51 James Seward, GOP
State Assembly – District 22 Grace Meng, Dem
State Assembly – District 25 Rory Lancman, Dem
State Assembly – District 27 Nettie Mayersohn, Dem
State Assembly – District 29 William Scarborough, Dem
State Assembly – District 31 Michele Titus, Dem
State Assembly – District 32 Vivian Cook, Dem
State Assembly – District 33 Barbara Clark, Dem
State Assembly – District 34 Michael DenDekker, Dem
State Assembly – District 35 Jeffrion Aubry, Dem
State Assembly – District 36 Aravella Simotas, Dem
State Assembly – District 58 Nick Perry, Dem
State Assembly – District 61 Matthew Titone, Dem
State Assembly – District 63 Michael Cusick, Dem
State Assembly – District 64 Sheldon Silver, Dem
State Assembly – District 65 Micah Kellner, Dem
State Assembly – District 67 Linda Rosenthal, Dem
State Assembly – District 69 Daniel O’Donnell, Dem
State Assembly – District 98 Aileen Gunther, Dem
State Assembly – District 106 Ronald Canestrari, Dem
State Assembly – District 107 Clifford Crouch, GOP
State Assembly – District 112 Tony Jordan, GOP
State Assembly – District 113 Teresa Sayward, GOP
State Assembly – District 115 Claudia Tenney, GOP
State Assembly – District 117 Marc Butler, GOP
State Assembly – District 123 Gary Finch, GOP
State Assembly – District 124 William Barclay, GOP
State Assembly – District 127Peter Lopez, GOP
State Assembly – District 128 Robert Oaks, GOP
State Assembly – District 129 Brian Kolb, GOP
State Assembly – District 133 David Gantt, Dem
State Assembly – District 136 Philip Palmesano, GOP
State Assembly – District 141 Crystal Peoples, Dem
State Assembly – District 142 Jane Corwin, GOP
State Assembly – District 145 Mark Schroeder, Dem
State Assembly – District 147 Daniel Burling, GOP
Tags: election10
There may be a good deal of invective and vituperation hurled at Shelley Silver but I dont much of it eminates from his own district in Lower Manhattan….
My little protest is that I never vote for candidates who run unopposed. I just move on to the next ballot line. I could write in “N.A. Poser” instead, but the vote tallyers have a hard enough job.
Dale Hobson
NCPR Online
Does this mean lacking “major party” opposition or lacking any opposition at all?
I do what Dale does… though one exception for me is Teresa Sayward, who I always vote for as a reward for her courageous votes in favor of apply the equal protection of the law to gays who want to get married. Those rare pols who put what is just and moral ahead of party orthodoxy get my support, even if they’re Republican and running unopposed.
Brian-
“Unopposed” means running without an opponent’s name printed on the ballot.
Jonathan, NCPR
The two major parties have divided the country into “non-opposition” districts in which it is very difficult for the other party to challenge the incumbent.
That was the beauty of Howard Dean’s approach to politics; contesting every race keeps people honest. The trouble is that it has become so expensive to run a campaign that it cuts virtually everyone out of the process.
It’s unfortunate, most of them need to be voted out. Especially Silver.
Why is that a protest Dale? You are punishing someone who is running for office just because no one else wants to step to the plate? Lame
I have a simple policy when it comes to voting. If they are unopposed, even if I like them, I don’t vote for them.
No sense in encouraging these people too much.
Michael Cusick is NOT running unopposed in the 63rd District. I am running against him on the Libertarian line.
There are two on here that are definitely not unopposed. Cusick and Titone from Staten Island, both Democrats, and being challenged by 2 Libertarians, Danny Panzella (AD-63) and Dave Narby (AD-61) respectively.
Jonathan, can you forward that list? Was it faxed, emailed?
–thom
Some of these candidates are NOT running unopposed. Just look at the NY State Board of Elections Candidate list, at http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=Candidat_32 to find:
State Assembly – District 61 Dave Narby, Libertarian
State Assembly – District 63 Danny Panzella, Libertarian
The fact that such information is ignored is not a positive sign for the objectivity or accuracy of the Associated Press.
Rockydog says:
“You are punishing someone who is running for office just because no one else wants to step to the plate?”
My protest is not against the candidates who run unopposed; in many cases I voted for them when they were opposed. My protest is against a system oriented toward creating incumbency security–redistricting plans that create uncompetetive districts, combined with a huge incumbent fundraising advantage. An unopposed candidate is not engaged in election, but coronation. Both parties are equal players in this dance, and me no likey.
Dale Hobson, NCPR
i live in shelly’s district and was happy to write-in for jimmy mcmillan instead.
but as long as he has the les co-ops in his pocket he’ll keep getting reelected no matter how many skeletons are exposed. he may be a scum-bag, but he’s their scum-bag.
sometimes it’s inferred to his locals that sure he’s corrupt, but his corruption benefits his district so wink-wink go along with the program.