Uncommon Sense: Pete, repeat. Pete, repeat.

Written by Jeff Morris
Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:00

Last time, I told you about the mess in Albany, and suggested that County Legislator Pete Harckham could provide us with really effective representation in the state Assembly — and give us a fighting chance at straightening out state government.

Normally, I’d let it go at that. But this is a short campaign, with the special election for the 89th Assembly District seat coming up next Tuesday, Feb. 9. So I feel a need to hammer out why it’s important that everyone who knows what a good, decent, effective, fiscally conservative, responsive, independent, ethical, hardworking, spending-cap supporting, reform-minded, forward-thinking representative Mr. Harckham is, actually get out and vote for him next Tuesday.

It’s important because, this being a special election held on short notice in February, odds are not many people are even going to be aware it’s taking place. And with such a small turnout expected, the result will depend on whoever is able to get the most voters to the polls. Unfortunately, that usually means the people with the most anger. The Republicans are counting on a replay of the special election for senator in Massachusetts, and they’ve been pouring money into this race (note that while Mr. Harckham’s mailings say “Paid for by Friends of Pete Harckham,” the Republican candidate’s mailings say “Paid for by New York Republican State Committee”).

One of the clearest indications of the direction the Republicans are going is the push-poll smear campaign they’ve been running. You know what a “push poll” is, right? It’s when you get a call claiming to want your opinion, but then get asked questions that sound sort of like this: “How likely would you be to vote for Pete Harckham if I told you that he was once a member of a violent motorcycle gang?” or, “Would you vote for Pete Harckham if you were told he had been spotted on the grassy knoll in Dallas when President Kennedy was shot?” You’re then given several options to choose from for your answer, “Unlikely” “Not Likely” “Extremely Unlikely” and “Over My Dead Body” being the most likely.

With this being the environment in which we’re living, you can see why I think it’s truly important that everyone who knows what a good, decent, effective, fiscally conservative, responsive, independent, ethical, hardworking, spending-cap supporting, reform-minded, forward-thinking representative Mr. Harckham is, actually get out and vote for him next Tuesday. And speaking of the environment, I’m sure you know how much he’s done to help preserve the quality of our water — not just paying it lip service (which is to be expected with drinking water) but actually securing funding for water protection projects that cost us next to nothing. And that was while he was fighting against increases of millions in county spending and pay raises for county officials — and was successful in doing so, against members of his own party. That’s the kind of leadership we can expect from Mr. Harckham in Albany.

So the point is, this is not a race between an “insider” and an “outsider.” It’s a race that gives us an opportunity to elect someone who has proved himself to be a real reformer, able to work successfully for change from the inside against an entrenched power structure. That’s exactly what we need in order to have any hope of change in the state legislature.

Admittedly, I have a bit of trepidation about endorsing Mr. Harckham, after seeing my endorsements all go down in flames in the last election. I’m going to control the urge to give myself more credit than I’m due, however, and resist assuming my endorsement can single-handedly jinx the electoral outcome. In this case, there are enough people out there who know what a great job Mr. Harckham has done on the county level, and know he is the best choice for the Assembly, that it really comes down to how many of them go out and vote.

That’s why I can’t emphasize strongly enough how important it is that everyone who knows what a good, decent, effective, fiscally conservative, responsive, independent, ethical, hardworking, spending-cap supporting, reform-minded, forward-thinking representative Mr. Harckham is, make it their business to get to the polls next Tuesday. If it’s anger that will motivate you, think how angry you’ll be after the fact if it turns out that he lost because you didn’t show up. Think how angry you’ll be if it turns out that a smear campaign financed outside the district was successful in getting more people to vote than a campaign based on actual accomplishments.

I know that would make me angry. And you do not want to see me angry!

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