In Targeted Race for November, Democrats Prepare for Clash in September
Dahroug says he made Trunzo race competitive, Foley argues his time has passed
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:12:00
Before Democrats get to take on State Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Suffolk) in what they believe is a district where they have one of their best chances to pick up a seat on their way to capturing the majority, they will need to settle the primary between Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian Foley and two-time Senate candidate Jimmy Dahroug.
While Dahroug has been the Democratic nominee the last two elections and held Trunzo to his most narrow win in years in 2006, the Senate Democrats recruited Foley into the race. The county party has remained neutral between the two. But Democrats in Islip, the largest town in the district, have endorsed Dahroug, a staffer for County Executive Steve Levy.
A Senate Democratic insider said Foley was picked for the race because of his higher name recognition and record of reform as town supervisor and a county legislator. They believe Dahroug had his chance to unseat Trunzo-twice-and his time has passed.
Foley is basing much of his campaign on his record as supervisor and in the legislature. He cites programs he created in county government on a smoke-free workplace, community college funding and infrastructure repair. In addition, he cited his work in town government on open space preservation.
Foley said he often thinks about the similarities between his race this year and his campaign for supervisor three years ago.
"There are a lot of real parallels between this race and the one I ran three years ago," Foley said. "I had run against one-party rule for 45 years. One-party rule is damaging."
Though he hopes to help lead to one-party in Albany by winning Trunzo's seat and flipping the Senate majority, Foley said his focus was on bringing a mix into the ranks of local elected officials. After over a century without a Democratic senator from Suffolk, he said a Democratic perspective will help the county's Senate delegation.
In addition to reforming Albany, Foley would like to address property taxes, education and health care in the Senate. He plans on releasing detailed policy proposals in the coming weeks.
Though this is a rare competitive primary for a seat Democrats are hoping to take from the GOP, Foley says he bears no ill will towards Dahroug for challenging him. But he believes he has higher name recognition in the district, and this will be key for winning the general election.
"I mean this sincerely: he's a fine young man and he has a sense of public service," he said. "He has a bright future in politics, but not in this race."
Dahroug said he had sought the support of Senate Democrats, but determined early on that the party would be backing another candidate. Nonetheless, he decided to mount another campaign. His focus has been fiscal issues, particularly addressing the property tax burden. This includes promoting local government reform, by regionalizing some services to deliver savings for local government which can then be passed on to taxpayers.
Knocking on doors daily, he said he has received a good feedback from a number of residents who remember him from his two previous races. To all of them, he has stressed his background in challenging Trunzo twice.
"We put this seat on the map," Dahroug said. "In 2006, we beat Caesar Trunzo Democratic ballots to Republican ballots-the third party ballots saved him. We did the hard work, and are the ones who made Caesar Trunzo vulnerable."
Going past the primary, Senate Democrats plan on putting resources into the race with the belief Foley will win the nomination. They may not be the only ones pouring outside money into the district: A source close to billionaire Tom Golisano said the former gubernatorial candidate is seriously considering backing a Democrat in this district. Both Foley and Dahroug plan to fill out the questionnaire Golisano is distributing to legislative candidates statewide who want his support.
Trunzo spokesman Nathan Marks said the 13-term senator is confident in his reelection and will be making his case to voters on the resources he has secured for the district in his over three decades in the Senate. Marks recited a litany of community groups and agencies which have received member item money from the senator over the years.
A Senate Republican source said that Albany Republicans have been more confident regarding the Trunzo race recently. Marks declined comment on whether Trunzo felt more confident about facing one Foley or Dahroug.
Though there has been concern expressed in some circles about the 82-year-old senator's age and health, Marks said the senator has been doing well in recent months and does not believe either factor will be an issue in November.
As for an argument on the campaign trail, Marks said Trunzo will counter Foley's take on one-party rule, given the Democratic control of both the Assembly and the executive mansion.
"He sees the importance of a two-party system," Marks said. "A two-party system is the best form of government."
While Dahroug has been the Democratic nominee the last two elections and held Trunzo to his most narrow win in years in 2006, the Senate Democrats recruited Foley into the race. The county party has remained neutral between the two. But Democrats in Islip, the largest town in the district, have endorsed Dahroug, a staffer for County Executive Steve Levy.
A Senate Democratic insider said Foley was picked for the race because of his higher name recognition and record of reform as town supervisor and a county legislator. They believe Dahroug had his chance to unseat Trunzo-twice-and his time has passed.
Foley is basing much of his campaign on his record as supervisor and in the legislature. He cites programs he created in county government on a smoke-free workplace, community college funding and infrastructure repair. In addition, he cited his work in town government on open space preservation.
Foley said he often thinks about the similarities between his race this year and his campaign for supervisor three years ago.
"There are a lot of real parallels between this race and the one I ran three years ago," Foley said. "I had run against one-party rule for 45 years. One-party rule is damaging."
Though he hopes to help lead to one-party in Albany by winning Trunzo's seat and flipping the Senate majority, Foley said his focus was on bringing a mix into the ranks of local elected officials. After over a century without a Democratic senator from Suffolk, he said a Democratic perspective will help the county's Senate delegation.
In addition to reforming Albany, Foley would like to address property taxes, education and health care in the Senate. He plans on releasing detailed policy proposals in the coming weeks.
Though this is a rare competitive primary for a seat Democrats are hoping to take from the GOP, Foley says he bears no ill will towards Dahroug for challenging him. But he believes he has higher name recognition in the district, and this will be key for winning the general election.
"I mean this sincerely: he's a fine young man and he has a sense of public service," he said. "He has a bright future in politics, but not in this race."
Dahroug said he had sought the support of Senate Democrats, but determined early on that the party would be backing another candidate. Nonetheless, he decided to mount another campaign. His focus has been fiscal issues, particularly addressing the property tax burden. This includes promoting local government reform, by regionalizing some services to deliver savings for local government which can then be passed on to taxpayers.
Knocking on doors daily, he said he has received a good feedback from a number of residents who remember him from his two previous races. To all of them, he has stressed his background in challenging Trunzo twice.
"We put this seat on the map," Dahroug said. "In 2006, we beat Caesar Trunzo Democratic ballots to Republican ballots-the third party ballots saved him. We did the hard work, and are the ones who made Caesar Trunzo vulnerable."
Going past the primary, Senate Democrats plan on putting resources into the race with the belief Foley will win the nomination. They may not be the only ones pouring outside money into the district: A source close to billionaire Tom Golisano said the former gubernatorial candidate is seriously considering backing a Democrat in this district. Both Foley and Dahroug plan to fill out the questionnaire Golisano is distributing to legislative candidates statewide who want his support.
Trunzo spokesman Nathan Marks said the 13-term senator is confident in his reelection and will be making his case to voters on the resources he has secured for the district in his over three decades in the Senate. Marks recited a litany of community groups and agencies which have received member item money from the senator over the years.
A Senate Republican source said that Albany Republicans have been more confident regarding the Trunzo race recently. Marks declined comment on whether Trunzo felt more confident about facing one Foley or Dahroug.
Though there has been concern expressed in some circles about the 82-year-old senator's age and health, Marks said the senator has been doing well in recent months and does not believe either factor will be an issue in November.
As for an argument on the campaign trail, Marks said Trunzo will counter Foley's take on one-party rule, given the Democratic control of both the Assembly and the executive mansion.
"He sees the importance of a two-party system," Marks said. "A two-party system is the best form of government."
