Burhmaster and Tonko duke it out again.
Tonko feels experience is the key,Burhmaster says he works for the people not Washington
Eugenia Cole
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: Congressional debate
Democratic candidate Paul Tonko and Republican candidate Jim Burhmaster pulled no punches in a debate for the seat of 21st Congressional district. Paul Tonko, believes as the experienced politician he will get the job done, while Jim Burhmaster felt he is closer to the public, who works for the people not for Washington.
The hour long debate was televised at the WMHT studios in North Greenbush, featured a panel of journalist along with question that came from district residence and studio audience members.
Burhmaster who is president of the Burhmaster Energy Group, based in Glenville used the debate as a forum to express his concern that assemblyman Paul Tonko was nothing more than a mere 'career politician" whom after 24 years in public office, still hasn't made any significant difference. "The real reason that Washington is falling apart is because of politicians like him" stated Burhmaster. He assured the audience that he was just the man to clean up the mess.
Tonko fired back by stating that Burhmaster is part of the very system he so constantly attacks. Reminding Burhmaster that he has came to him on numerous occasions lobbying for funding and tax breaks in Schenectady County the county where he was County Legislature.
Both candidates spoke excessively about the energy crisis. Burhmaster, who's family business has been a commercial ,as well as residential energy supplier for more than 95 years thinks that the way to seek renewable energy would be to start drilling immediately offshore, build nuclear plants , but also seek alternative energy plans.
Tonko , thinks that offshore drilling should be the country's last resort. Government funding should be given to federal subsidies for efficient research, and use as many alternative steps to find renewable energy resources.
Journalist and UAlbany Prof. Rosemary Armao felt the debate was dragged out and turned into an all out mudslinging match. "Neither candidate fully got their point across without running out of time. I thought it as a sloppy job and they should have been given more time."
The hour long debate was televised at the WMHT studios in North Greenbush, featured a panel of journalist along with question that came from district residence and studio audience members.
Burhmaster who is president of the Burhmaster Energy Group, based in Glenville used the debate as a forum to express his concern that assemblyman Paul Tonko was nothing more than a mere 'career politician" whom after 24 years in public office, still hasn't made any significant difference. "The real reason that Washington is falling apart is because of politicians like him" stated Burhmaster. He assured the audience that he was just the man to clean up the mess.
Tonko fired back by stating that Burhmaster is part of the very system he so constantly attacks. Reminding Burhmaster that he has came to him on numerous occasions lobbying for funding and tax breaks in Schenectady County the county where he was County Legislature.
Both candidates spoke excessively about the energy crisis. Burhmaster, who's family business has been a commercial ,as well as residential energy supplier for more than 95 years thinks that the way to seek renewable energy would be to start drilling immediately offshore, build nuclear plants , but also seek alternative energy plans.
Tonko , thinks that offshore drilling should be the country's last resort. Government funding should be given to federal subsidies for efficient research, and use as many alternative steps to find renewable energy resources.
Journalist and UAlbany Prof. Rosemary Armao felt the debate was dragged out and turned into an all out mudslinging match. "Neither candidate fully got their point across without running out of time. I thought it as a sloppy job and they should have been given more time."
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