Renzi Campaign Media Release

OSWEGO SENATE DEBATE:
VOTERS HIT AUBERTINE ON ETHICS, EFFECTIVESS, EXCUSES
Breaking the law to hire a relative shows Darrel's not 'one of us'

OSWEGO, N.Y., Oct. 2  —  Darrel Aubertine was forced to defend his choice of putting a relative on the taxpayer-funded state payroll -- even though that move violated the new state ethics law that Aubertine sponsored and bragged about supporting.

Voters at a Town Hall debate in Oswego grilled Aubertine about the hiring, which violates the state Public Officers Law prohibition against nepotism.

"I did it. I did hire my sister," Aubertine said.

Aubertine also had to explain his failure to pass critical legislation to protect jobs and help local Oswego County communities, failures which contributed to his record-low legislative rating by a good government group.

"Like me, Oswego County voters are dissatisfied with my opponent's lack of accomplishments," said Senate candidate Dave Renzi. "But mostly, we're disappointed by his failure to follow the very laws he sponsors and votes for."
"Hardworking men and women wouldn't think of using their position to give taxpayer-paid jobs to friends and relatives, but in one of his very first acts in office, that's exactly what Darrel Aubertine did," said Renzi.

"But that's not all. He failed to keep his promise to fight for our jobs, and failed to do his job to pass key legislation for our communities," said Renzi. "That's why he's earned a failing grade from good government watchdogs, and that's why we need to restore ethics and effectiveness to Albany."

Aubertine has admitted he put his sister on the payroll, after sponsoring and voting for the ethics law that prohibits it. He even bragged about his support for the law in taxpayer-paid mailings to voters last year.

"You can count on me to continue the fight for the reform we need to rebuild confidence in our government," Aubertine gushed. 

On energy, Aubertine had to explain his reversal on nuclear power, which he earlier condemned, urging that all of Oswego's nuclear plants be closed.
"On issue after issue, Oswego voters are learning that my opponent is not 'one of us,' but instead one of those who have forgotten the needs and concerns of the voters who elected him," Renzi said.

The Oswego debate is the third in a series of Town Hall meetings proposed by Renzi to be held throughout Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties..



Official: DaveRenziforSenate.com