GOP Chairman Tom Buchanan comments on Paul Tonko's announcement for Congress

FOR RELEASE: May 20, 2008

STATEMENT FROM SCHENECTADY COUNTY GOP CHAIRMAN TOM BUCHANAN:

"As a 24-year incumbent in the state Assembly with an agonizingly long public record of voting for higher taxes, wasteful spending, including using $4 million in taxpayer dollars for a 'bridge to nowhere,' I'd say Paul Tonko is a perfect fit for a do-nothing Democrat Congress and our broken government in Washington. In fact, based on Tonko's complete inability to do anything about record-high gas prices as New York's energy czar, the Democrats would probably fast track him to a committee chairmanship. Tonko's experience is just what we don't need in our next Congressman. To some, Tonko's running for Congress might be seen as a logical next step in the long career of a career politician. Now, he says he wants to be our Congressman; but not even a year ago, he said he wanted to go to his ‘dream job’ as head of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). But, for the people who know him, Tonko's ambition is viewed much differently, as people are treated as pawns and public office becomes a mere stepping-stone in an unending personal pursuit of political power. He caused taxpayers unnecessary expense for a special election to replace him in the Assembly seat; now he has worked for not even a year and has no accomplishment to mention in his brief tenure at NYSERDA. He did of course boost up his final average salary insuring that he can collect a fat state pension, which he hopes to supplement with a $165,000 Congressional salary. Maybe Paul thought his long, grueling 11-months as President of NYSERDA were too strenuous and he grew wistful of all those lobbyist fundraisers. I think it is utterly amazing that this guy can try and say with a straight face that he believes in public service after having abandoned two public offices in less than two years. God forbid if Hillary's Senate seat opens up – he might try and go three-for-three. If Paul Tonko does to taxpayers of the 21st Congressional District what he did to them as a Member of the Assembly, voters had better hang onto their wallets. If voters want more of the same, they should stick with a career politician like Tonko. If they want real change and someone with a proven record of creating jobs and solving problems in the private sector, they should vote for a businessman like Jim Buhrmaster for Congress. People of the 21st District need a Congressman who is not a career politician; someone who has run a small business, actually employing people and creating opportunity here in the Capital Region. Jim Buhrmaster represents the views and values of average citizens; he is much more in tune with the real needs of our area than someone like Paul Tonko.”