Oswego SD 48 Debate

It was political theater at it best last night in Oswego for the third debate of the Senate candidates David Renzi and Darrel Aubertine. It was a standing room only crowd, which was stacked with Aubertine supporters who were well prepped to moan and groan at every response Renzi gave, it was as if they were suffering from constipation. Nonetheless, Renzi maintained his focus on the issues, responded with crisp answer and challenged Aubertine's position on issues, while Aubertine was rather flat.

Highlights on some of the issues discussed.

Medicaid:
Asked how they would rein in the cost of the massive program. Renzi pointed out he would target fraud and waste as a means to reduce the cost of the program while Aubertine mentioned the 3% growth cap for counties instituted by the state and further he stated he favored zero growth to the counties.

That is positive news for the counties but, Aubertine's idea does not reduce the overall cost of the program, it just shifts the cost to the state.

Nuclear Energy:
This is an issue Aubertine seriously misstated his position. He was asked why he had a change of position on nuclear energy and was it for political purposes. His response was seriously flawed. He stated he did have a change of heart and it occurred about 10 years ago.
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WRONG, it is for political purposes. He was still a county legislator 10 years ago in 1998, and probably not even thinking about nuclear energy and in 2000 he stated this to reporter Drew Mangione, who now does all his talking.

Jefferson County Legislator Darrel J. Aubertine on other issues:

Nuclear power plants: I would support a bill that would phase these plants out. One of the things you have to look at is energy conservation, try and cut down the need to use so much electricity and make business more aware of how to be energy conscious.

Gun Control:
The candidates were asked what they would do about protecting gun owner rights. Aubertine response was to do what he has done in the past. The oppressive actions in Assembly were only stopped by the GOP controlled Senate. Renzi used the opportunity to remind people of the importance in keeping the Senate in Republican control because they support gun owner rights. Then he mentioned that rights would be infringed upon if control of the Senate flips and the issue got the crowd moaning when he said, "say goodbye to your guns if Democrats get control." He was being candidly correct, it will be more difficult to own them, more costly to own them and much more difficult to use guns.

Ethics:
This was the biggie of the night! Aubertine stated was preparing to repay the money earned by his sister when he illegally hired her. You may say this is good and it is, BUT it took months to occur and only after a political opponent called it out during a debate, and aired it on a TV commercial. This was an admission of guilt but he continues to display ethical lapses and poor judgment by being forced to have to pay the money back.

There were more issues that will be highlighted in other posts.

"He Has A Way Of Bending The Truth"

That is the comment from an ATV enthusiast in the Oswego County newspaper Valley News.

Darrel Aubertine and staff are frantically attempting to win back the supporters of the ATV clubs in a letter dump to the clubs and their members. He is seeking to atone for his "no fan of ATV's" position that was laid out last week to club members in a confidential memo by DEC Regional Director Judy Drabicki, who is the wife of Aubertine staff member Lee Willbanks.

Making the comments in the memo even more inferior, Drabicki said to the media last "the memo was never intended to be made public." Really!

Aubertine is not having much luck making his case and winning their support back. Steve Cronk, president of the 1,200 member Oswego County ATV club told the Valley News that club members are not 'buying into' Aubertine's claims and further went on to say "He (Aubertine) has a way of bending the truth."

Cronk, last week described a meeting he had scheduled with Aubertine, similar to the guy from Carthage who blasted Aubertine for missing his meeting, but this time Aubertine's staff at the last minute, unknown to Cronk, shoved him into a meeting with another group of people and Cronk was never able to get his club's views out.

Cronk believes Aubertine is just pandering to club members now and it is reported in the Valley News the Oswego Club has endorsed Renzi for Senate.