Monroerising.com

Did the Democrat political hit machine send this out?  If so, then the Democrats seem to be submerging themselves in political scandals lately.

In true Eliot Spitzer-esque fashion (no, it doesn’t involve hookers), the Democrats may have gone too over the top this time and could be in some serious trouble.

News 10 NBC reported this evening on an “anonymous political attack mailer” (their words, not mine) that targeted Republican state Senator Jim Alesi.  The news report stated that a similar mailer was also mailed into Senator Joe Robach’s district. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, David Koon, InsidePolitics, Jim Alesi, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger by InsidePolitics
3 Comments »

David Koon made it official this morning.  He’s committed to a life of mediocrity — he’s going to try to stay on as the junior member of the Rochester Assembly majority delegation.  According to lowhud.com Koon made it official this morning:

Koon was initially thought to be a tough challenger to Alesi as Democrats seek to win the majority in the state Senate for the first time since 1965. Koon has won re-election in an Assembly seat in the eastern Monroe County suburbs that has a Republican majority.

But Koon said today that he will take a pass.

“I’m going to stay where I am,” he said. “I still have a lot of work to do that I can do in the Assembly. I just want to do a lot more work for Monroe County.”

Actually, Koon helping keep the Senate Republican is probably the best think he could could do for Monroe County — New York State for that matter. [Read more →]

Tags: Cincinnatus, David Koon by Cincinnatus
1 Comment »

The Democrat and Chronicle had a news brief announcing Republican State Senator Jim Alesi is running for re-election.

According to the D&C:

Alesi to seek re-election

Six-term state Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, said this week that he will run for re-election.

“As we move into the next several years, I am committed to serving the community that put its trust in me,” said Alesi, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business.

The Democrats have so far not announced a challenger. “We are talking to several strong and viable candidates,” said Sean Hart, communications director of the Monroe County Democratic Committee. [Read more →]

Tags: Cincinnatus, David Koon, Jim Alesi by Cincinnatus
2 Comments »

The D&C is reporting that the Appellate Division’s Fourth Department found in favor of the Monroe County School Board Association’s lawsuit it brought against the County’s FAIR Plan.  As you know, the intention of the FAIR Plan was to utilize collected sales tax revenues to pay for Monroe County’s increasing Medicaid costs prior to distributing the remaining funding the County shares with local school districts across Monroe County, except for the Rochester City School District, which would not have been impacted by the move. 

The County chose this course of action to pay for mandated welfare costs instead of increasing property taxes on homeowners.  But the Rochester Democratic Assembly Delegation (David Gantt, Susan John, David Koon & Joe Morelle) made it clear they would not allow Monroe County to raise its sales tax a penny to pay these costs.  Their resistance was meant to force Monroe County to raise property taxes on us homeowners instead.

Well, if the local Assembly Dems and democrats in the County Legislature have their way, we property taxpayers will foot the bill for these increased welfare costs.  I don’t know about you, but as a member of middle class I just can’t take another hit.  At least with the sales tax I could control my purchases.  Will my school district retract their huge proposed tax increase now that they don’t need the money?  Doubt it.  They’ll find another reason to need it “for the kids.”

Monroe County says it will appeal.  I hope to God they do or New York is losing two more people who are among the decreasing number helping to foot the bill.

Tags: Articles, David Gantt, David Koon, Democrat and Chronicle, Joe Morelle, Maggie Brooks, Mr. Peabody, Susan John by Mr. Peabody
No Comments »

Rachel Barnhart had a great story a couple of nights ago complete with comments on 13 WHAM’s reporters blog about the Paetec Park debacle.  She played up the campaign contribution aspect of the issue. 

Senator Mike Nozzolio was the main force behind this project.  When the stadium was built he was one of the most powerful men in Albany. Beside Nozzolio receiving the lion’s share of cash — and the fact he declined an on camera interview (a first for any elected official I know), I found it most interesting that David Koon and Susan John received $700 and $650 respectively. It speaks volumes about their clout in Albany — nice job guys!

From Rachel’s blog:

If you’re curious about who got what from the Rhinos and DuRoss (the vast majority of these funds coming from DuRoss), take a look below. The time period covers 2000 to 2007.

• State Senator Mike Nozzolio (R), $36,275
• Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D) $4,450
• State Senator James Alesi (R), $3,600
• State Senator George Maziarz (R), $3,500
• Assemblyman David Gantt (D), $3,050 (The Rhinos hired a lobbyist with ties to Gantt, but Gantt has denied any quid pro quo.)
• State Senator Joseph Robach (R), $1,550 (Some of this money was donated when he was a Democratic assemblyman.)
• Assemblyman David Koon (D), $700
• Assemblywoman Susan John (D), $625
• Assemblyman Bill Reilich (R), $200
• Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R), $200

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, David Koon, Jim Alesi, Joe Morelle, Joe Robach, New York State by Cincinnatus
No Comments »

With the battle to run against Joe Robach on, we at Monroerising.com have turned our attention to the other much anticipated Senate race, Assemblyman David Koon vs. Senator Jim Alesi. As investigative reporter Prudence noted last month, Koon only has about $15,000 in his campaign account and hasn’t been in the media in months (other than defending his goofy son Jason — the guy who was elected Mayor without understanding it takes a majority vote to do anything in local government) — hardly the action of a serious candidate for higher office.

All of this has me thinking.  Maybe David Koon, who was elected to the Assembly almost 12 years ago, likes it there. Maybe the fact that after all of this time he is still the junior member of our Assembly majority delegation doesn’t bother him.  Everyone knows that seniority is the key to stature in the Assembly — how else would you explain David Gantt’s prominence?

If I was David Koon — I would want to leave the Assembly as quickly as I could.  Gantt, Joe Morelle and Susan John are all ahead of him in seniority.  Maybe Koon, who promised to “make a difference” when he was elected, doesn’t care anymore. 

Maybe the Assembly job offers financial security to Koon and his family and after beating his chest last year he has come to his senses.  Who knows, in another 10 years he might accumulate some seniority and be able to accomplish something?

One last point:  where is the D&C when it comes to political reporting?  That’s one of the reasons we created this site.  The D&C does a terrible job on reporting politics, which is probably a good thing for Republicans given their extreme liberal bias.

We would like to hear your thoughts on Koon and/or the D&C. 

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Koon, Democrat and Chronicle by Cincinnatus
8 Comments »

One of the bromides of politics is that serious candidates thinking of challenging incumbents start to show some type of activity after the first of the year. Take a look at the Congressional races, announced opponents for Walsh, Kuhl and Reynolds.

But what about the big names who are thinking about running for State Senate?  David Koon — the gentleman who announced he was going to run against Jim Alesi — he has just under $15,000 in his campaign account.  That’s not enough money to run for county legislature.  Perhaps his son’s actions in East Rochester have effected the elder Koon’s fundraising ability.  Or perhaps Koon realizes voters may start to experience Koon Fatigue and he is having second thoughts.  The son’s conduct may play in well in the Koon’s native West Virginia, but it is beneath the dignity of those of us living on the east-side.

And what about a challenge to Senator Joe Robach? Do you really think the Democrats will wait around for Richard Dollinger — the man who showed his true colors by deserting his party as chairman to realize his personal dream of signing off on traffic infraction plea bargains as a Brighton Town Judge?  We doubt the Democrats are waiting for “The Judge” to make up his mind.  How can they be assured he wouldn’t abandon them as he did as chairman — or how about when he announced twice he has going to run for re-election in 2002 and practically handed the seat to Robach when he announced at the last minute that he didn’t have the fire in the belly? Not to mention the two failed tries for higher judicial office.

I guess that leaves us with perennial candidate for every office Sandy Frankel. As Mr. Peabody posted on the other day, she is up to her usual tricks and pandering to the neighbors in her town.  She reports raising a grand total of $0.00 during the past six months and has a campaign balance of about $25,000 — better than Koon, but still not enough for anything more than running for re-election as Supervisor of the People’s Republic of Brighton.

In the end, the smart bet is that she will not run for Senate.  Or for County Clerk against Cheryl Dinolfo.  As much as she needs to feed the beast that is her ego, that same beast is what will prevent her from running.  A huge defeat would expose her for the paper tiger she is.

We will be waiting anxiously to see what happens in the coming weeks. 

Tags: Articles, David Koon, New York State, Prudence Izguhde, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel by Prudence Izguhde
2 Comments »