Tedisco v. Murphy Stumpin’ in Saratoga
Congressional candidates Scott Murphy and James Tedisco both canvassed a corner of the county today.
Tedisco, the Republican and Conservative party candidate from Glenville, visited a half-dozen stores on Broadway in Saratoga Springs this morning, accompanied by city Finance Commissioner and fellow Republican Kenneth Ivins.
The visit included pit stops at the Lyrical Ballad used book store – where owner John Demarco said he was a Democrat but didn’t have a problem seeing a Republican as a Congressman – n. Fox Jewelers, Saratoga Guitar – where Tedisco spoke with former city Finance Commissioner Matt McCabe - Mrs. London’s bakery and the Menges & Curtis pharmacy, where business owner (and former city mayor) Michael Lenz expressed his support of Tedisco.
Lenz, by the way, contributed $250 to Tedisco’s campaign, according to financial disclosure records.
Other contributors include current city mayor Scott Johnson and wife Julie (who contributed the max. amount of $2,400 each), Price Chopper’s Neil and Jane Golub (ditto the $4,800 combined), Alfio Bonacio, John Hendrickson, a number of members of the Dake Family (indeed the Stewart’s stores family combine for about $10,000 in contributions to the Tedisco campaign), and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Joe Dalton, who contributed $1,000.
Tedisco spent the morning addressing the needs of small business owners on Broadway (aka “Main Street”) and hammering Murphy over the AIG bonuses (aka “Wall Street”).
Funny line of the morning: Tedisco at the counter of N. Fox Jewelers.
“How much is your most expensive Rolex?” the Assembly Minority Leader asked.
$20,000,” came the reply.
“My first house didn’t cost $20,000,” said Tedisco. “My whole town didn’t even cost $20,000.”
On the other side of the campaign trail, Democratic, Independence, and Working Families party candidate Scott Murphy visited with lunch hour patrons at the Malta Diner on Route 9. The Glens Falls venture capitalist was joined by Saratoga Springs Supervisor - and fellow Democrat - Joanne Yepsen.
Murphy touted his experience – “I’ve been working with small businesses for 15 years and created 1,000 jobs across the state,” he said - talked of his support of the stimulus plan and tried to deflect Tedisco’s tying murphy to the AIG bonuses by calling those payouts “ridiculous” and “reprehensible.”
Notable city residents who have contributed to Murphy’s campaign include Elliott Maise (of the Masie Center in Saratoga Springs) and former mayoral candidate Gordon Boyd.
John Franck, the city’s commissioner of accounts, is Murphy’s campaign treasurer.
Curious contributor’s note: Geoff Rodkey, of Greenwich Village, NY, has also contributed to Murphy’s campaign. Rodkey is the screenwriter behind the film “Daddy Day Care,” and was recognized for his work on the show “Politically Incorrect,” with Bill Maher.
The candidates will debate one another at 7 p.m. tonight. The debate will be broadcast live on WNYT-TV NewsChannel 13.
– Thomas Dimopoulos
Tags: saratoga springs, scott murphy, Tedisco
