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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
Priority,
Public Authorities,
Gerrymandering
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. The New York State Attorney General is the chief prosecutor for the state and the defender of the people. For which aspect of the job do you think you are most qualified; on which aspect would you personally focus?*
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Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo:
I will lead the fight to get illegal guns off our streets, clean up the corruption in Albany, protect pensions and health benefit rights, and stop corporate pollution of our air and water. I will work closely with Governor Spitzer, as I did with President Clinton and D.A. Morgenthau.
Answer from Martin Koppel:
The Attorney General's office, like the cops, the courts, and the rest of the capitalist government, does not represent all the "people," but represents the wealthy against working people. My party stands in defense of workers against the continuing offensive by the employers and their parties --the Democrats and Republicans.
Answer from Christopher B. Garvey:
Legislative and administrative corruption is difficult for individuals to remedy. Libertarian, and not beholden to an incumbent party, I can attack such corruption. Between government power and individual rights, I favor individual rights. NY's Attorney General is elected, with primary loyalty to the people, rather than to other government branches.
Answer from Jeanine Pirro:
For 30 years as a prosecutor, judge and District Attorney, not only did I gain experience and achieve results, unique in this race, as a prosecutor; I also represented just one client: The People of the State of New York. A prosecutor both seeks justice and protects the people.
Answer from Rachel Treichler:
As Attorney General I will defend the rights of the people of the State of New York to vote in free and fair elections and to have democratic local self-government. Without these rights, governmental decisions are made without input from and contrary to the interests of most people.
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2. Would you target or investigate public authorities, and how would you slow down (or stop) their loophole borrowing?*
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Answer from Christopher B. Garvey:
Yes.
- New litigation, to overturn: Schulz v. NY, in which a NY Court wrongfully sustained unconstitutional backdoor borrowing.
- Investigate any spending or give-away, that hints of self-dealing, by public authorities.
Answer from Jeanine Pirro:
I will investigate allegations of fraud or corruption wherever they arise, including in New York's public authorities; and I will scrutinize bonds issued by public authorities to ensure that their purpose is consistent with the authority's statutory scope of responsibility.
Answer from Martin Koppel:
That public authorities such as the Metropolitan Transit Authority are nests of fiscal abuse is no secret to workers. I would focus on supporting struggles to organize trade unions, use and extend union power against the bosses' assaults; backing fights against cop brutality, for immigrants' rights, and against the death penalty.
Answer from Rachel Treichler:
Public authorities were created for the invalid purpose of getting around the state constitution and borrowing money without legislative approval. They operate exempt from public scrutiny. The Public Authority Reform Bill enacted last year is an unworkable attempt to manage a rotten system. Public authorities need to be eliminated.
Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo:
As Attorney General, I will investigate the activities of public authorities to discover any fraud or other illegalities. I will fight for legislation to force prior review and approval of public authority debt and for public authorities to be required to make available on-line full financial disclosure of their activities.
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3. What should be the role of the Attorney General in ending gerrymandering in New York State?*
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Answer from Christopher B. Garvey:
Careful scrutiny of re-districting, backed up by willingness to litigate. Litigation against unconstitutional election laws, and unconstitutional administration of election laws.
Answer from Rachel Treichler:
Gerrymandering is anti-democratic. The attorney general should push for New York to adopt larger, multi-member legislative districts. Studies show that districts with at least five seats are effectively immune from gerrymandering. With large, multi-member districts and proportional voting, how district lines are drawn makes no difference.
Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo:
As Attorney General, I will draft and fight for legislation to establish an independent redistricting commission, as other states have done. Currently, the majority parties in both houses of the State Legislature redraw district lines every ten years, permitting those in power to maintain the status quo.
Answer from Martin Koppel:
The elections are designed so that only the wealthy and their servants can be elected. Working-class candidates like me are excluded from debates and media coverage. We support extension of the right to vote and be represented to workers and oppressed nationalities, including those who have been in prison.
Answer from Jeanine Pirro:
As it is the responsibility of the Attorney General to defend any redistricting plan in court, the Attorney General should assume the further responsibility of providing sound advice to the Legislature, while it is formulating this plan, to ensure that it is fair and appropriate under the law.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
- Original answers for a published Voters Guide
were limited to 50 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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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
