Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky at the Congregation Beth Sholom dinner with Rabbi Hain, Elisheva and Dr. Neal Feit, Avram Schreiber, Judy and Abe Keehn, and Ben Brafman
Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky at the Congregation Beth Sholom dinner with Rabbi Hain, Elisheva and Dr. Neal Feit, Avram Schreiber, Judy and Abe Keehn, and Ben Brafman
Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky at the Congregation Beth Sholom dinner with Rabbi Hain, Elisheva and Dr. Neal Feit, Avram Schreiber, Judy and Abe Keehn, and Ben Brafman
State Senate candidate Chris McGrath and Binyomin Mayer gear up for an important election
State Senate candidate Chris McGrath and Binyomin Mayer gear up for an important election

By Larry Gordon

During this seemingly endless run for the Democratic and Republican nominations for president of the United States, one can begin to appreciate why so many countries in the world are dictatorial, not lending themselves to the legitimate consensus of the people that a free and
independent election should produce.

They say that democracy is the worst type of government system–that is, except for all the other types that have been tried. The seemingly endless campaign for president is about to reach its East Coast crescendo on April 19, when we are asked to go to the polls and vote for either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, for those who are registered Democrats. Or, for registered Republicans, to vote for Ted Cruz, John Kasich, or Donald Trump.

Here in the Five Towns and the surrounding area, there is the special election to replace the about-to-be-sentenced former State Senate Speaker, Dean Skelos. As the readers of this and other publications know, on the same day of the presidential primary, there will be a faceoff between Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky and Long Island attorney Chris McGrath.

In the aftermath of the downfalls of both Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Mr. Skelos, the political landscape in New York State has shifted greatly. At the same time, the exhaustive primary campaigns for the nomination for the right to run for president have highlighted the extreme philosophical differences between the Republican and Democratic parties on all levels of government.

And that dichotomy inevitably has spilled over to what is perceived to be the close race for the NY State Senate position.

Todd Kaminsky is the first-term assemblyman who represents the greater Five Towns area. By all accounts, he is an outstanding and proficient public servant. He has zeal, a drive, and energy that is rare in politics these days. He’s young, smart, and outspoken and just good at whatever he endeavors to accomplish.

Chris McGrath has had a distinguished career in the private practice of law and is new to politics at a time when it seems that voters are drawn in the direction of businessmen and other professionals who want to bring an innovative and refreshing outlook to politics as we know it today.

As we have seen in the New York legislature as well as in many precincts around the country, professional politicians eventually become worn down and that leads to both a lack of leadership when it is needed and ineffectiveness at the most pivotal times.

The McGrath—Kaminsky race is not about the personalities involved. More than anything, it is about the dynamism and balance as it currently exists in Albany. Even Democrats in the Assembly have confided in us that in their estimation, for the good of New York State, it is vitally important that the State Senate be in Republican control.

These Democrats refuse to allow their names to be used, for obvious reasons, but while they serve in the elected Democratic majority of the Assembly, they feel that New York State overall is best served when there is a political equilibrium in the state’s legislative process.

And the differences between the two parties are clear when it comes to the fundamentals that impact on the everyday life of New Yorkers and on those in particular in the Orthodox Jewish community. And those issues include taxes and aid to private schools in the state, especially our yeshivas.

Some of the accusations hurled by each campaign at the opposing party have had little basis in reality. Mostly, the ad people who come up with these ideas are attempting to exploit the ignorance or disinterest of the average voter. Todd Kaminsky told me the other day that to him the most scurrilous ad was the one that said he had taken campaign money from the leftist activist George Soros.

At the same time, the idea suggested in some ads that Mr. McGrath had defended a display of anti-Semitism by several Rockland County firefighters is just as far-fetched and ridiculous.

What the Kaminsky—McGrath race comes down to is the sharing of power in New York and how that balance will best serve all the citizens of this state. As of today, with the Skelos seat empty, the Senate is evenly divided, 31—31, between Republicans and Democrats. A Democratic win on April 19 gives the Democrats a one-seat majority, and a Republican win not only gives the Republicans control of the body, but widens the Republican majority coalition in which six Democratic senators are, for the most part, currently voting with the Republicans in the chamber.

One of those senators, Simcha Felder, caucuses with the Republicans and usually votes with them. The other Democrats have formed what is known as the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of elected officials who feel that the liberal Democrats in the Senate are far too liberal for them and their constituencies. The IDC often votes with the Republicans on issues of importance to our communities. Felder and others have said that the election of one or two additional Democrats to the Senate would force the IDC members back over to the Democratic side, which would result in a dramatically different way that New York State is governed, as well as a changed legislative agenda.

So for this and other reasons, there are Democrats in both chambers who feel that it is vital that the Senate maintain a Republican majority.

That does not mean that Todd Kaminsky would not be an excellent senator, just as he is a most popular and effective assemblyman at present. Kaminsky has created some excellent relationships throughout the community. Not only is he well liked, but he also loves what he is doing. He has a great future in New York politics and his name is frequently heard when the discussion is about future attorney general or even governor of New York.

The race, which the polls say is close, features two outstanding individuals in Kaminsky and McGrath. Regardless of who wins, the Five Towns and surrounding area will have another good friend in Albany.

Next Tuesday–April 19–it will be your turn to decide.

Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at editor@5tjt.com.

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