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LWV League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation

Smart Voter
Orange, Rockland County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Member of the State Assembly; District 96


The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Rockland County and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Joint Committees, Education Financing, Indian Point

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. Do you support joint committees to reconcile differences between bills on the same issue passed by both houses of the legislature?*

Answer from Nancy Calhoun:

I totally support Joint Conference Committees and have served on the Assembly and Senate Mental Health Budget Committees for the past 2 years. They are successfully being utilized on both legislation and budget.

Answer from Richard Randazzo:

I fully support joint committees to reconcile differences between bills on the same issue. Given that a bill has passed each house, joint committee can work out details and differences to successfully pass the bill and move it on to the Governor for signing. This would streamline the legislative process and speed up action on important bills.


2. What methods would you support to ensure equity in funding public education?*

Answer from Richard Randazzo:

This issue is the cornerstone of my campaign. We must reform the way we fund public education, as property owners can no longer afford to pay skyrocketing school taxes. The State must raise the revenue to fund education and assure every child a basic education. The fairest system is one that is already in place and raises $16 billion for state aid and that is through broad-based taxes and general revenues.

Answer from Nancy Calhoun:

Regional cost factors affect Rockland County and our region, and should be adjusted upward. Seniors should have school taxes frozen at age 65 and STAR should be increased through use of surpluses. Unfunded mandates must either be eliminated or fully funded by state and federal aid reform of our current school tax method should move toward greater state funding of all basic education cost.


3. If Indian Point nuclear power facility licenses are not renewed, how do you propose to ensure adequate electric power for the region?*

Answer from Nancy Calhoun:

The expired Article 10 regulations for siting new electric generating facilities must be renewed. NYS should consider utilizing wind power as does California. Also federal and state grants for solar panels would make this "free" electric source affordable. With greater demand for electric power, Indian Point permits may be renewed; The federal government should find a location for spent rods to be stored.

Answer from Richard Randazzo:

It is my understanding that excess power exists in the power grid system for our State. If Indian Point has to be shut down back up plans would have to be implemented. We should be working on alternate energy sources and energy conservation to assure electric power in the future. The State has an obligation to make certain that utility companies fulfill that obligation to our residents and businesses, their customers.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 
  • Original answers for a published Voters Guide were limited to 30 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.


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Created: January 4, 2007 09:46 PST
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