She may be on a minor-party line, but Christina Fadden-Fitch isn’t going down without a fight.
The Conservative Party candidate for the 119th District Assembly seat being vacated by Democrat Joan Christensen, Fadden-Fitch has issued a scathing broadside against Democrat front-runner Smilin’ Sam Roberts.
Roberts is expected to coast to victory on the strength of the 119th’s overwhelming Democratic enrollment against Republican John Sharon, Green Party candidate Michael Donnelly, and Fadden-Fitch, who lives in Liverpool. Democratic voters in the 119th outnumber Republicans by a whopping 44 to 27 percent.
High hard ones!
The daughter of late Liverpool attorney Hank Fadden, Chris is playing country hardball with the city slickers now in charge of Albany!
Roberts, she says, has received “significant support” from State Sen. Kevin Parker of Brooklyn. Parker was arrested in 2005 for attacking a traffic officer. He has also been in trouble for an altercation with an aide, says Fadden-Fitch. “There have been civil lawsuits for defamation and assault, and in April of this year he irrationally lashed out in a Senate hearing at State Sen. John DeFrancisco in an ugly incident, accusing him of racism.
“He’s a prime example of Albany dysfunction.”
Fadden-Fitch also ties Roberts to Assemblyman Keith Wright, leader of the New York County Democratic Committee, a closely associate of Speaker Sheldon Silver and Rep. Charlie Rangel.
“Roberts will be taken under Wright’s wing if elected,” Fadden-Fitch said, “and Roberts will be expected to vote with the NYC Democratic block supporting him.”
She admits that Roberts “has a likeable personality, but we can’t be sending representatives to our state legislature based on smiles and friendliness. We have to send them based on their commitment to act independently and decisively for the needs of our district.”
Roberts responds
On Oct. 21, Sam Roberts – a retired General Motors tool-and-die maker – responded to Fadden-Fitch’s charges. He characterized her statements as “the type of antics we can’t afford in this election. I take pride in running a fair campaign, and I’m proud to have been named a ‘Hero of Reform’ by NY Uprising and support Andrew Cuomo’s reform plan. I remain focused on the task at hand – fixing Albany so that we can turn Central New York around and create a better business climate to help grow good-paying jobs, because everyone deserves to earn a decent living.”
If, as a freshman assemblyman, Roberts can deliver on those promises, more power to him.
If, as Fadden-Fitch predicts, Roberts jumps aboard Albany’s Manhattan bandwagon, Upstate New York’s interests will take a backseat to the Big Apple’s.
Pre-election observations
Carl Paladino wants to close the roads leading to the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona. Ray Halbritter could hire helicopters to fly the suckers in over the blockaded highways. Unless Carl also closes the state’s skyways, that is.
For the record, in any showdown between Paladino and Turning Stone, my money’s on the Stone.
…If state Sen. John DeFrancisco is a pit bull, does that make his challenger, Kathleen Joy, a cute kitty?
…Ann Marie Buerkle doesn’t believe in global warming. Dan Maffei doesn’t believe in the tea party movement. It’s up to voters to choose the lesser of two disbeliefs.
The sign police strike again!
Mike Hennigan was cited by the village Codes Enforcement Office for over-filling Nichols’ Supermarket window with too many letters last week when the First Street grocery posted a message thanking its customers for voting it “Best Neighborhood Market” in the annual Syracuse New Times “Best of” contest. Mike decided to delete the 11-letter word “Neighborhood” in order to bring the sign into compliance.
