Why I Am Endorsing Craig Johnson

From The Albany Project

I would imagine, the easy speculation as to why Craig is getting my support, time, effort and some money, is that he is a Democrat running for the State Senate, something I just did myself. But that would be selling Craig (and me) a bit short.

First of all, I have met Craig and find him to be engaging, energetic and passionate about his job (serving the people of his county legislative district), and, quite frankly, I think he would make a good State Senator for the people in the 7th District. But, what sold me is the fact that he is passionate about reforming the absolute mess in Albany.

In preparation for the TAP Book Club with Seymour Lachman, I am reading “Three Men In A Room.” I’m hoping that everyone does the same and joins us for the discussion at The Albany Project on January 29th, but, by doing so, you’ll understand why Craig Johnson is getting my full support.

Lachman is very detailed in outlining the dysfunction in Albany, and he has pointed out that there is enough blame to go around for Democrats and Republicans alike. It’s not really a partisan problem, it’s an incumbency problem.

Presently, our State Government is playing the old blame game. Each of the three branches of government in Albany has a foil against which they rail. It’s the Democratic Assembly’s fault, or the Republican Senate’s fault, or the Governor’s fault, and the real winner is the status quo. In Albany, the status quo stinks…of corruption, payola and patronage. BUT, as Lachman points out, the status quo is also everybody’s friend…the lobbyist’s, big money’s, the legislator’s, the Governor’s. Because of that, here is no impetus or desire to change the matrix.

This has been going on for decades, and the last election, didn’t help. Nothing changed. It was a huge victory for the status quo at the expense of the citizens of New York. The Same Old, Same Old Party won…we all lost.

So, why Johnson and the Senate? Why not the Assembly? Quite simply, because there is an election on February 6th that has the potential of completely shaking things up. If the Democrats win this seat, speculation has it that the days of the Republican Majority in the Senate are numbered…and may not even make it to the next election (through retirement and party switching…don’t get me started about that)…and if the Senate changes hands, the path will finally be clear for the beginnings of reform.

The game won’t be the same. The status quo will be forced to the back bench. You see, the Assembly will no longer be able play pretend…pass reform legislation knowing it’s going nowhere and say, “I tried. I’m a reformer. It’s Bruno’s fault!” They will have to cast votes that will –gasp– actually count. And the Democratic Senators will be in the same boat. They will have no excuses anymore. They will control the rules committee, the redistricting process, the budget process and can call for a Constitutional Convention which is what we really need to give us all, Republicans and Democrats alike, our state government back…because, at the moment, it doesn’t belong to anyone except the Albany insiders and those Three Men. No more blame game. No more play pretend. Our legislators will be forced to either reform this mess and become true representatives, or be seen as self-serving opportunists who are there to protect the status quo and get re-elected.

It’s time take a roll call. Are you a reformer, or do you just play one on TV?

So, that’s why I’m supporting Craig Johnson. He is, through chance and choice, at the crossroads of reform of our State Government. If you want to shake things up, I am encouraging you to endorse him as well. Keep checking The Albany Project for ways and opportunities to do just that.