Schodack Democrats cleaned Miller Road this weekend.

Schodack Democrats Laura Jordan, Linda Underwood and Jen Sober, were joined by Shaun Francis, candidate for NYS 43 Senate District, to clean up Miller Road on Oct. 31. After cleaning up, candidates Underwood and Sober went door-to-door.

This weekend, Schodack Democrats were out cleaning up Miller Road, which is their Adopt-a-Highway project.

As we were busy picking up trash, the GOP assembled their supporters - mostly town employees - to hand out literature.

The most striking thing about their literature is they have no record to run on. Their accomplishments are either state-mandated - like keeping tax increases below 2 percent, or things they did years ago - like earning an Eagle Scout badge, working on Freedom Tower, or building a playground almost a decade ago.

What have their done recently? What have their down for the people of Schodack? What is their record?

Why should anyone vote for them?
Even they can't answer that last one.

So, while the incumbents were going door-to-door trying to convince residents that being in the top 20 highest taxed municipalities in the capital district is "holding the line" on taxes, that mediocre services are "strong", and Project Red was handled "openly and honestly" - Schodack Democrats were actually working to make Schodack a better place to live.

Send this do-nothing board a message. Tell them it is time for a change and for real open, honest and responsive government.


That, in a nutshell, is why we are asking for your vote on Row A on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

What have they done for you lately?

I recently saw Schodack Republicans' campaign literature and a story in The Advertiser about the two incumbent town board members up for re-election this year.

I thought it was strange that the GOP "borrowed" the Schodack Democrats' longtime webpage motto: "Democrats: the people who give you good government." Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I suppose. But it is more likely that they are out of campaign slogans just as they are out of ideas on how to improve the lives of Schodack residents.

I was also struck by the fact that the candidate statements were almost identical. Clearly, the candidates are not speaking for themselves, but are merely parroting what their political cronies tell them to say.

The incumbents are running on their alleged record of "lower taxes," "protecting our quality of life," and "strong services." It is hard to pick which of those claims is the most preposterous.

Schodack's taxes rank in the top 20 for highest taxes in the eight-county Capital District and we have precious little to show for them. Do the incumbents think that just saying these things will make people believe them? Do they think Schodack residents were born yesterday?

How can they claim to be the "good government team" when they routinely meet and take action on various projects in secret, which is a violation of the state Open Meetings Law?

In what country is making secret deals with connected developers -- like the current Project Red scandal -- anything like the "good government" we are supposed to have in America?

How is secretly negotiating not one but two massive warehouse projects next to a residential neighborhood in an area not zoned for warehouses "protecting our quality of life"?

How can they say they have provided "strong services" when a look around at nearby towns finds more and better services -- water and sewer, libraries, beaches, pools, parks, etc. -- at a much lower tax rate? They seem to think that hiring more patronage employees at town hall equals "strong services," when that has never been true.

Finally, the incumbents' alleged "accomplishments" were either mandated by state law -- like keeping annual property tax hikes below 2 percent -- or were things that happened more than five years ago. So they essentially admit that they have accomplished nothing in the four years since they were elected.

It is time to move Schodack forward by electing people who will represent them, not political bosses, campaign donors, and connected developers. The incumbents' approach of high taxes and mediocre services has been a failure for everyone except the relatively few who have profited from it.

It is time to end one-party, good-old-boy misrule in Schodack and vote for open, honest, responsive, and efficient government.

On Nov. 3, Vote for Linda Underwood and Tracey Rex for Schodack Town Board on Row A.

Have you had enough of secret, back-room wheeling and dealing?

It is possible Schodack Town officials broke the Open Meetings Law when they torpedoed the DOT traffic calming project (Town Center Project) as well as with the secrecy surrounding Project Red.

If you have had enough of the secrecy, nepotism, and cronyism in Schodack government, vote to open the doors and let the sunshine in!

Elect Linda Underwood and Tracey Rex for Schodack Town Board.

Help us get the word out - come to our fundraiser!

Join us at a fundraiser in support of Tracey Rex

Primary Day - Please vote!

Today is Primary Day and for the first time in years, members of the Working Families and Independence parties have the opportunity to vote for candidates who really reflect the ideals of those parties.

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I am a true progressive. Operative word: PROGRESS. That is something the Town of Schodack hasn't had in decades. Our town officials block real progress and promote projects that benefit their friends, family members, and contributors at the expense of residential neighborhoods. For them, government is about power, money, and getting jobs for their friends and family members.

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I am a true independent. I don't do things because someone tell me to do them - I do things because they are the right thing to do.

The first step to bringing true representation to Schodack is voting for me and my running mates - Tracey Rex for Town Board and Jen Sober for Town Justice - in today's primary.

And as that old adage says, the longest journey begins with a single step.

Take that journey with us.

Happy Labor Day!

I know many people don't like labor unions these days. They forget how people fought and died for the working conditions we now take for granted - a 40-hour work week, paid leave, the end to child labor laws, and safer working conditions.

When labor unions strike for higher wages and get them, all pay goes up.

When labor unions strike for better, safer working conditions, the working conditions of all workers get safer.

Here in Schodack, town employees enjoy the working conditions earned through the blood, sweat, and lives of union workers.

But Schodack residents don't all have an equal chance at those good jobs.

You have to register to vote in the Republican party - but that isn't enough - you have to be related to someone who is powerful in the Republican party.

This is one of the things I will try to change when I am elected.

The best, most qualified person should get the job, regardless of party affiliation or family relationship.

It is the right thing to do.