Assembly Candidates Abinanti and Bock Debate the Economy, Jobs and Albany Reform

The issues are the same: financial struggles, unemployment and corruption in Albany. But 92^nd State Assembly District candidates Tom Abinanti and Tom Bock propose plans to correct them that could not be more different.

The 92^nd District—which includes the villages of Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow—has been represented by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky since 1982. Brodsky stepped down to wage an unsuccessful campaign for State Attorney General and Abinanti and Bock will be vying for his seat on Nov. 2.

Representing the Democratic Party, Abinanti is a lawyer currently serving his tenth term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. He served on the Greenburgh Town Council and has been legislative counsel to a number of politicians. Abinanti claims his political savvy and record make him the right choice to represent the district's interests.

A Republican, Bock entered politics last year citing the ineffectiveness of career politicians as the root of the New York legislative issues, losing a bid for the 8th District county legislative seat. He has served as Chief of the Elmsford Fire Department and co-founded of the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team. Professionally, Bock has overseen computer networks for major companies. He hopes to represent the interests of small business owners.

On the Economy:

Patch: What do you see as the most effective way state legislators can help put money back in the pockets of 92^nd District residents?

Abinanti

According to Abinanti, the biggest "drag" on the economy in this district is taxation.

"School property taxes are the biggest issue facing residents here," Abinanti said. "As a state legislator, I would force the state to reassume much of the obligation for the cost of education."

He noted that, whereas the state once paid between 20 and 30 percent of the cost of education it now only pays 10 percent or less.

"The state needs to resort a more progressive tax system," he said. "They must rearrange priorities to make education of utmost importance."

Asked if this was a realistic goal, he responded: "Yes. The discussion has been ongoing in Albany to shift the cost of schools from the Real Property Tax. They should now be ready to tackle the issue."

Bock

The major issue is that we're being "nickled and dimed to death," Bock said. "With this latest budget debacle, we've seen $14 million in new taxes and $10 million in new fees. These costs add up."

From his background as a small print shop owner in Dobbs Ferry, Bock said he knew what it was like to "skip paying your own paycheck to pay your employees. The government is anxious to help big businesses but not small business owners."

He hopes to reinstitute the STAR program to give relief to seniors—because "taxes are draining what little money they have left"—and repeal the MTA tax.

On Jobs:

Patch: What can be done by state legislators to put locals back to work?

Abinanti

Abinanti has a three-point approach to jobs: "1) Capitalize on strengths of the district. 2) Develop green technology and 3) Reinvest in infrastructure."

"We need to direct additional resources to enhance already successful biotech, medical and education industries thriving in our community and producing jobs at every economic level," Abinanti said.

Next, he wants to "solicit and encourage development of green jobs using energy-conserving technology and recycling."

Thirdly, he said he would "reinvest in our infrastructure to preserve what we have spent so many dollars building."

Asked to describe the changing face of the unemployed, Abinanti said he has never before witnessed a recession in which professionals in every industry were put out of work. "The problem is that the government sector is laying off employees and contributing to the problem. They should be acting as the employer of last resort."

Bock

According to Bock, the key to stimulating employment "is getting government off of businesses' backs."

He says the number of government regulations and mandates imposed on business owners must be streamlined and ultimately reduced.

Bock also cited "quality education" as a must for keeping people employed.

"You have to have a skill that's in demand," he said. "Part of the problem with the current education system is that everyone has to go to college. There should be more technical programs like the BOCES program and an increased emphasis on the business management aspect in those programs."

If elected to the state Assembly, Bock said he would direct people to the programs already in place to help them secure the funds they need to go into business for themselves.

On Albany Politics:

Patch: What does it mean when people say, "Albany is broken?" How will your presence there help turn things around?

Abinanti

"Most of the dysfunction comes from fierce competition for very limited resources by three distinct regions in New York State: the urban, suburban and rural areas," Abinanti said.

Abinanti's goal is to take the lead and force the assembly to work together. "I want to create a suburban caucus to interface with New York City and rural areas. We need to work out solutions in which we share resource rather than obstruct the flow of resources to the other areas."

He believes the system worked until recent financial stress "left legislators without the resources necessary to provide for their constituents. Nobody wanted to give up what they had been getting."

"Everyone must remember the government is just as much a victim of the financial sector over-extending itself and collapsing," he said.

Bock

Bock believes excessive spending is the greatest issue in Albany. "There is a lot of waste in government," he said. "All spending in Albany must be put on the table and legislators must consider what is truly necessary. There are at least 20 to 25 major expenditures I would work hard to cut." 

On Why He Trumps His Opponent:

Abinanti

"Experience counts. I have the record of using government to meet the needs of the community, even if that means taking on powerful interests," he said.

Responding to Bock's accusation that career politicians are the root of the problem, Abinanti said, "Since when did experience and success become things to be shunned? I don't believe he has the political know-how to get things done."

Bock

"[Abinanti] does nothing but raise taxes and blame economic issues on school taxes," Bock said. "He says it is easy to cut excessive government spending, but as a career politician, these are things he should have been doing but has not done." 

We'll run our second piece with Tom Abinanti and Tom Bock in two weeks. Please send your questions for the candidates to elizabeh@patch.com.