Slant endorses Elaine Phillips, Sara Niccoli for state Senate

Arguably the most important decision New York voters will make when they head to the polls on Nov. 8 is who they choose as their state Senate representative. Their votes will impact which party has control of the chamber, which in turn influences the policies and budget decisions made in Albany that have a significant effect on the lives of all residents.

As an editorial board we considered endorsing a specific party to control the chamber. We understand that for many voters this is the most important criteria in choosing a candidate. But in our calculation, no matter what happens on Election Day, the balance of power likely will not be so clear-cut that partisanship will matter more than the talent and effectiveness of the legislators in the chamber.

This was our guiding principle as we vetted the candidates in two specific races we feel will be particularly close and could sway the balance of power. Our focus was on who has the best interests of the district in mind and who would be most effective in getting things accomplished.

Phillips’ environmental record sets her apart in 7th Senate District.

The 7th state Senate District has long been an extension of Nassau County’s seesawing politics. The seat has swapped hands between Democrats and the GOP – Republican Michael Balboni was replaced by Democrat Craig Johnson, who subsequently lost a tight race to the district’s current senator, Republican Jack Martins, who is running for Congress – and has come to be defined less by partisanship and more by the representative’s ability to deliver on the issues that matter most to constituents, be it high tax rates, uneven school funding or failing infrastructure.

With party politics less of a factor in this district, it is significantly harder to find daylight between the two candidates vying to replace Martins: Republican Elaine Phillips, the mayor of the Village of Flower Hill, and Democrat  Adam Haber, a businessman. Both have resumes and reputations that certainly qualify them to serve in the state Legislature, but Phillips’ philosophy of balancing her political principles to deliver for her constituents makes her the better choice.  

Phillips and Haber are in lockstep on a number of positions, including their support for the state’s property tax cap and opposition to the imbalanced formula for public school funding. On ethics reform, both do not support a legislative pay raise, and while only Haber supports banning outside income, both agree on imposing term limits and pension forfeiture for corrupt legislators.

What sets Phillips apart is her commitment to the environment. In a district that includes many waterfront communities on the Long Island Sound, Phillips made a convincing case that she would call for greater investment in infrastructure resiliency to protect her district from future storms and flooding. Phillips has also been vocal about protecting the state’s drinking water, and the tree-planting program she instituted as mayor drew acclaim from the League of Conservation Voters for helping to combat erosion and groundwater pollution in the area. At a time when the world is facing its greatest existential crisis in the form of global climate change, the state could use more legislators like Phillips who will make protecting the environment a focal point of their public service.

But perhaps most importantly, as far as the machinations of governing the state are concerned, Phillips has also demonstrated a better temperament in terms of her willingness to work across the aisle, a key quality in what is likely to be a razor-thin majority for either Senate Republicans or Democrats after Election Day. Albany could use less partisanship and more cooperation when it comes to delivering for New Yorkers.

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Niccoli the better choice in 46th Senate District

The 46th state Senate District is sprawling, stretching from Poughkeepsie all the way to Montgomery County. It includes pockets of poverty in its southern edge, wealthier suburbs outside of Albany, and rural areas and small villages in between. It has also switched party hands over the last few elections since it was created in redistricting in 2012. While both candidates vying to represent this district are capable, with thoughtful proposals and the necessary experience for the job, we believe the challenger, Sara Niccoli, is the better choice.

Tax and regulatory burdens on small businesses, farmers and property owners concern many in the district. Both candidates prioritize creating economic opportunity – whether by supporting collective bargaining rights for all workers in Niccoli’s case, or addressing unfunded mandates that get passed down to residents via heavier property tax burdens in incumbent George Amedore’s view. The two approach these issues from different perspectives. Niccoli has more of a populist perspective framed by the struggles of small farmers and managing town politics. Amedore draws on his experience as an assemblyman and a state senator, and skills gained while running a family-owned construction company.

Another key issue to voters is the need for significant ethics reform, and here the candidates differ widely. Amedore is in favor of legislators earning outside income in order to encourage citizen representatives who have experience navigating state bureaucracies and who possess fiscal discipline gained from managing private and commercial businesses. Niccoli favors limiting outside income so that legislators can stay focused on the business of the people. She also places an emphasis on closing the LLC loophole to keep special interest money out of political campaigns.

On these issues and many others, Amedore’s convictions are strong, and that is honorable. However, regardless of how the balance of power shakes out in Albany, the winning candidate’s ability to legislate effectively will depend on whether he or she can work across the aisle and craft bipartisan solutions. In this area, we believe Niccoli has the edge, and we give her our endorsement. Her experience as Palatine town supervisor and director of the state Labor-Religion Coalition shows her ability to bring varied voices to the table, and her positions contain a nuance that lends itself to collaborative decision-making and potentially stronger outcomes for her constituents.

Corrrection: A previous version of this editorial incorrectly stated that Democrat Craig Johnson ousted Republican Michael Balboni in the 7th Senate District. Balboni resigned in 2006 and Johnson won the seat in the ensuing special election.