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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of New York State and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Gambling Revenue,
Redistricting,
Opportunity for Youth,
Redistricting,
Joint Committees,
Public School Financing
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What programs and actions will you support to protect communities from the negative consequences of the state’s increasing dependence on gambling revenue?
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Answer from Daniel C. West:
We need to support treatment programs for those with gambling addictions, continue to support educational programs through local media, and service organizations, etc.so that the public is aware of the negative fallout of gambling and aware of where to go for help if they or someone they know needs treatment. If we are to realize revenue from gambling, a specific portion of that revenue needs to be dedicated to these types of programs.
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2. Legislative district boundary lines are drawn by the legislators themselves and are tied directly to the advantages of party politics. Would you support the establishment of an independent commission as a more open and ethical way to create districts?
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Answer from Daniel C. West:
Absolutely! It is time for these districts to be drawn in a fair and equitable manner, without considerations for political power! We need to take into consideration the relationships of one community to another, when these boundaries are drawn. (For instance: traffic patterns, school boundaries, etc.) This would ensure that a district would include citizens that would have more common interests for their elected representative to represent.
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3. Amid the recent reports that more and more young people are leaving upstate cities for better opportunities, what would you propose to reverse this trend?
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Answer from Daniel C. West:
I believe we need to revitalize our local economy to offer better paying jobs for the youth and therefore better opportunity for them to stay here. We also must consider ensuring that we offer the "quality of life" so many young want in the neighborhoods: quality educational institutions, arts, entertainment, etc. I would also propose that the state make a committment to offer incentives for students to be educated in this state, by offer more advantageous education loans and grants. We could even offer a reduction to principle or interest if these young graduates were to live and work here in NY for a specified period of time, say five or ten years. This investment would be a great economic development tool as the young well educated will be the ones creating new technology that will creat new industries and as a result new jobs for out region and state.
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4. Legislative districts have been determined on a partisan basis. Would you support establishing an independent commission as a more open and ethical way to create the districts? Please explain.
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Answer from Daniel C. West:
Yes, see previous answer related to legilative districts.
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5. Do you support joint committees to reconcile differences between bills on the same issue passed by both houses of the legislature?
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Answer from Daniel C. West:
Yes, this is an appropriate way to handle the issues where there is a difference in with legislative measures.
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6. New York State Legislators did not address the pending CFE (Campaign for Fiscal Equity) suit during the 2006 session. What would you propose to expedite the resolution of the CFE case?
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Answer from Daniel C. West:
Yes, as an elected representative, it would be my responsiblity to address this issue. What's fair is fair!
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Answers are published as submitted without editing.
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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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
