In order to prepare you as best we can for the upcoming election, we have included the stances of lesser positions that are up for election next Tuesday.
New York representative in the U.S. Senate
Wendy Long - Republican candidate
a Stringently anti-abortion "from conception to natural death" and believes Roe v. Wade was a constitutionally flawed legal decision
a Opposed to gay marriage, saying she believes it should be a union between a man and a woman. She would never attend a same-sex marriage ceremony
a Believes gas prices are rising because the government is researching alternative energy
a Believes instead of subsidizing solar panels, the government should build the Keystone Pipeline
a Believes the Keystone Pipeline delays are because of regulations
a Lifelong shooter, gun owner and gun rights advocate
a Believes ObamaCare will damage the New York economy
Junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - Democratic incumbent
a Supports abortion rights and even has voted in support of federal abortion funding
a Voted for stimulus packages and bailouts and economic regulations
a Voted in favor of the $825 billion economic recover package and the $15 billion dollar bailout of GM and Chrysler
a Supporter of gay marriage who has voted to prevent job discrimination based on sexual orientation and has opposed the amendment to prevent same sex marriage.
a Believes giving small businesses access to capital will create jobs
a Opposes sending job overseas and voted to extend unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks
a Against the privatization of social security and does not want to raise the retirement age
Representative in U.S. Congress 27th District
Chris Collins - Republican candidate
a Wants to help small businesses create jobs
a Created hundreds of jobs during his 30 years as a small businessman
a Plans to put his experience to practice by creating jobs
a Wants to lead the fight to enact energy policy that expands drilling and ends regulations that make gas prices unaffordable
a Will fight to repeal ObamaCare
a Wants to implement health care reforms that "make sense" like patient choice and tort reform
a Wants to cut the deficit and reduce spending
a As an Erie County Executive in 2007, he reduced the county's debt by more than $120 million and kept spending down
a Intends to standup to Obama's "reckless policies" and help get spending under control
Kathy Hochul - Democratic incumbent
a Has fought to ensure seniors will have health care when they retire
a Will fight to close the prescription drug "doughnut hole" to save seniors money
a Is against privatizing Social Security and Medicare
a Has introduced legislation to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare
a Proposes balancing the budget while protecting middle class families and asking millionaires and corporations to pay a fair share
a Wants to close tax loop holes that reward corporations for shipping jobs overseas
a Believes the government does not create jobs, and businesses do
a Has introduced plans to help Western New York through targeted investments in infrastructure, energy, education and small business
a Has worked to create fair tax policies that will encourage companies to grow in the United States
a Believes party cooperation is necessary and has voted across party lines, including to pass small business tax cuts
Representative in Congress - 26th District
Brian Higgins - Democrat incumbent
a Make student loan interest deductible and would expand the deduction to more middle class applicants as well as make room and board a qualified higher education expense that would not be taxable
a Increase federal investments in cancer and biomedical research
a Lower gas prices by investigating and ensuring the Big Oil companies can't take advantage of consumers
a Place a price on carbon emissions to combat climate change
a Fight for the Niagara Power Project - which enabled Buffalo to rise as a major manufacturing center and provides hydropower - to stay in control of Western New York
a Provide infrastructure improvements allowing new small businesses to open up and thrive
a Balance better security at the border with the demand for seamless travel and trade between Western New York and Southern Ontario
Michael H. Madigan - Republican candidate
a Supporter of the individual right to bear arms without restrictions
a Improve education by giving teachers the skills they need to help the children get skilled labor jobs
a Pay for performance for teachers and administrators, end busing and keep neighborhood schools
a Offer parental education classes to parents of students in poorly performing schools
a All-inclusive energy policies that take advantage of coal and natural gas resources in America while exploring clean, safe and cost-effective energy technologies
a Create more American jobs through new energy projects
a Support expanding medical care for veterans and provide assistance for those returning from combat
a To improve small business in America, remove excessive regulations, high taxes and legal hurdles that block new businesses.
a Establish a corporate tax rate that will restore competitiveness in the world market.
State Senator 60th District
Michael Amodeo - Endorsed Democratic Candidate
a Minimum wage increaseto $8.50
a Makefour-year terms in the Senate and set a limit of 12 years for Legislators (three four-year terms)
a Stop corruption and increase transparency
a Fullban on hydrofracking in New York State
a Make public authorities more accountable for their budgets and the fees they impose on taxpayers
a Opposea toll hike for the Thruway and no new Tapanzee Bridge downstate
a Finda solution to community college chargebacks and oppose increases in college tuition at SUNY colleges and universities.
a Liftthe cap on historic rehab tax credits
Mark J. Grisanti - Endorsed Republican Candidate
a Stop excess spending in the Albany
a Create a more accountable public service commission that would be responsible for energy affairs in the Buffalo area by eliminating roughly 150 public authorities, combining others and focusing on creating financial transparency
a Stronger and more robust disclosure of campaign contributions that includes rigorous enforcement of the law
Increases to the penalties for campaign finance law violations.
a Fiscal responsibility and reverse gross overspending and bring money back to promote jobs
a Turn Niagara Falls Airport into a major Northeast cargo/shipping hub, for distribution of goods and services by air and land. Bring international flights to Europe, which will increase tourism and bring more money to business owners in the City of Niagara Falls
Proponent of charter schools
a Support UB 2020 program
a Comprehensive energy program to give an economic boost to businesses and invest in solar/wind power and home retrofitting
a Cut spending in Albany
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
