news's blog

Video of Brian's Remarks at John Hall Rally With Hillary Clinton

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 10:45:56 -0500

Brian spoke at a rally for John Hall on Wednesday that also featured an appearance by Senator Hillary Clinton. Senator Clinton, who has endorsed Brian, had this to say about Brian's candidacy:

"Brian Keeler is a rising star in the New York State Democratic Party, and Dutchess and Columbia Counties will be well served in Albany by his vision, energy and ideas," Senator Clinton said. "We look forward to partnering with Brian in the years ahead to bring open government, accountability and fiscal responsibility to Albany and Washington."

Here's video of his speech:

Video of Hopewell Junction Citizens For Clean Water Endorsement.

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:31:51 -0500

On Tuesday October 24, 2006, Brian received the endorsement of Hopewell Junction Citizens For Clean Water. This was the statement issued by Debra Hall, a founder of the organization and concerned resident of the Hopewell Precision Superfund Site:

By Debra Hall, Hopewell Junction Citizens for Clean Water

www.Hopewell-Junction-Citizens-for-Clean-Water.org

Hopewell resident, Brian Keeler is running for State Senator against the 26 year Republican incumbent, Steven Saland. When elected, Mr. Keeler will be an effective Senator, representing our interests rather than protecting special interests and corporate contributors.

Every New Yorker should be guaranteed clean, safe, potable water. We need a Senator that will protect this most basic human health issue and Brian Keeler supports mandatory well water testing, “We cannot afford to have a well water policy dependent on people becoming sick before the problem is investigated. The safety of our drinking water should not be optional.”

Twenty-five local and statewide environmental groups wrote to Saland, asking him to support a State wide well water testing bill similar to the bill which passed unanimously in the Assembly. Saland would not, instead, opting for a voluntary testing program. In Saland’s plan only the neighborhoods with contaminated water would require testing.

The rest of the statement and video of the press conference can be found in the extended entry

Video of the Keeler-Saland Debate Parts 3 and 4

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 14:48:15 -0400

Brian debated Incumbent state senator Steve Saland on Cablevision October 16, 2006. Here are the last two parts of excerpts from that debate.

Brian Speaks at Rally for Kirsten Gillibrand

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 12:20:47 -0400

Brian spoke on Thursday at a rally for the Congressional candidate from New York's 20th Congressional District Kirsten Gillibrand that also featured former President of the United States, Bill Clinton.

Brian addressed the raucous crowd of over 500 in Albany and asked them to come join the team of Kirsten Gillibrand, Elliot Spitzer, Hillary Clinton and himself to build a NEW New York. Here is video of Brian's remarks.

Cablevision Coverage of F.A.S.T. Pledge

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:26:23 -0400

Here's the Cablevision coverage of Brian and Mike Kaplowitz signing the F.A.S.T. (Fix Albany School Tax) pledge.

Brian Makes F.A.S.T Pledge

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 09:49:17 -0400

Brian held a press conference in front of 18th century one room schoolhouse in Lagrange on Monday with fellow State Senate candidate Mike Kaplowitz to introduce and sign the F.A.S.T. Pledge (Fix Albany School Tax). Brian and Mike pledge to make real, meaningful and comprehensive school tax reform their top priority in the 2007 legislative session and to F.A.S.T.-track efforts to fix this pressing problem right away.

"I will present to you, the people in my district, by April 15 of 2007, my first draft school tax reform bill, founded on the principles of my FAST pledge to you today. And those principles are: securing school funding based on the ability to pay, fair and equitable funding that provides a quality education to every child in the state and protecting our seniors and families from forced relocation due to the crushing burden of school taxes." Brian said.

"And by April 15, I will hold my first forum, in the 41st district, where I will ask for your input on my bill and other proposals that represent the spirit of my FAST pledge. I will hold other forums across the state asking people to participate in a new process of open government where we solve problems together, and where I, as your elected representative, will reach across the aisle in Albany, and bring your solutions, consolidated in my bill, to the floor for a vote. And by the end of the 2007 legislative session we, in the legislature, together with Eliot Spitzer will pass a school funding reform bill founded on the principles of my FAST pledge that I have made to you today.

I challenge the rest of the legislature to follow my lead in creating a new way of doing business in Albany that is problem-solving and participatory, based on a transparent and open government."

New TV Ads!

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:43:55 -0400

Brian's new TV ads start running throughout the 41st District today! Check 'em out!

Brian Attends H.A.L.T. Forum on School Taxes at Arlington High School

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 11:45:07 -0400

Brian attended a forum on school taxes wednesday night at Arlington High School.

The forum, which was sponsored by H.A.L.T. (Help Arlington Lower Taxes) was attended by well over 200 taxpayers for across the 41st District who are concerned about the school tax crisis and what is to be done about it.

From the Poughkeepsie Journal: Taxpayers, teachers call for school funding reform

Thursday, October 19, 2006 By Erikah Haavie
Poughkeepsie Journal

FREEDOM PLAINS —Dawn Babiker came to Arlington High School Wednesday with a question in her mind, "Why are taxes so high?"

She described the taxes on her Town of LaGrange home as astronomical. "I want to see what they're going to do about taxes in our community," Babiker said. The topic of school taxes brought about 200 school board members, district staff and community members together for a meeting in the high school auditorium.

The Help Arlington Lower Taxes committee sponsored the informational meeting to discuss the complexities of school funding and what proposals are out there to fix the school funding system.
....
"There is a problem. We don't have one fix," said Michael Shields, a Town of Poughkeepsie resident and co-chairman of Help Arlington Lower Taxes.
Shields said he'd like to see more community discussion and more action by local legislators on school funding.

The following is video of taxpayers who attended the event. Brian was there to listen to (and share) their concerns.

Buying the vote and with no real relief

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 10:02:39 -0400

Modest rebates miss the mark
...this refund is clearly designed also to curry favor with voters, by legislators running for re-election Nov. 7 and a governor eyeing the White House in 2008. If there was ever any doubt that was the case, it was erased when the state Department of Taxation and Finance destroyed 200,000 of the rebate checks because they didn't give credit to Gov. George Pataki, as the New York Post recently reported.

Spitzer Endorses Keeler

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 17:45:23 -0400

For Immediate Release

Spitzer Endorses Keeler for New York State Senate

(June 22, 2006, Hopewell Junction, New York)

Today, the Keeler2006 campaign announced that Eliot Spitzer, Democratic candidate for Governor of New York, endorsed Brian Keeler in his race for the New York State Senate in the 41st District, which includes most of utchess and all of Columbia County.

“I look forward to working with Brian in Albany,” Spitzer said. “From day one of our administration, the Spitzer/Paterson/Keeler team will work for real reform; transforming state government for the better every step of the way.”

“We are pleased to be working with Eliot,” Keeler said. “Together we can create a NEW Team, for a NEW vision of the future, for a NEW sense of hope and a NEW New York.”

For more information, please contact Audrey Molsky at (914) 489-9961.
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Senator Clinton Endorses Brian Keeler

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:31:30 -0400

Senator Clinton Endorses Keeler for New York State Senate

Senator Hillary Clinton endorsed Brian Keeler in his race for the New York State Senate in the 41st District, which includes most of Dutchess and all of Columbia County.

"Brian Keeler is a rising star in the New York State Democratic Party, and Dutchess and Columbia Counties will be well served in Albany by his vision, energy and ideas," Senator Clinton said. "We look forward to partnering with Brian in the years ahead to bring open government, accountability and fiscal responsibility to Albany and Washington."

"We are thrilled to receive this important endorsement," Keeler said. "Senator Clinton has been a wonderful advocate for the people of New York in Washington. I intend to be the same kind of advocate in Albany for people of the 41st District."

Democrat mounts challenge in state Senate race

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 21:46:37 -0400

Democrat mounts challenge in state Senate race

By RICHARD ROTH

HILLSDALE—Brian Keeler, the Democratic candidate for the 41st district state Senate seat held by Republican Steve Saland for the past 16 years, says he can’t outspend the incumbent, but he will have a “well-funded, well-supported” campaign.

“We will give [Mr. Saland] something he hasn’t had, which is a serious race here in the Hudson Valley,” says Mr. Keeler. “Steve Saland has, at last report, $300,000 in the bank from years gone by. But we can run an effective campaign with the budget we have.”

Mr. Keeler says Mr. Saland, as chairman of the Senate Education Committee, is “more responsible for the property tax crisis than any other senator in Albany, period.”

NYC Keeler Blog-Raiser: The Video

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:48:18 -0400

On July 10, 2006, the blogosphere did something brand new. On line friends of Brian Keeler held a "Blog-Raiser" in New York CIty for the Keeler2006 campaign. Not only was it attended live by over 150 people, but hundreds attended on line at DailyKos due to the live blogging efforts done by "lipris" and "Night Bird."

The evening was a huge success. John Hall, congressional candidate from the 19th District, stopped by to endorse Brian in his race for the State Senate. Democratic Senate Minority Leader, David Paterson, Deputy Minority Leader, Eric Schneiderman, and Liz Krueger, State Senator from the upper east side of Manhattan all came by to lend their support.

For those of you who missed the event, you can get a good idea of what it was all about by clicking on the "play arrow" below to see the video.

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Video shot and edited by Mark Bowllan. Thanks, Mark.

If you didn't have a chance to attend that night and you want to contribute to the campaign, click the contribute button in the upper left of the home page.

Come join our NEW team. So we can create a NEW vision of the future, have a NEW sense of hope and a build a NEW New York.

Howie Klein’s Blue America: Brian Keeler, NY-41

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 23:38:54 -0400

Howie Klein’s Blue America: Brian Keeler, NY-41

By Howie Klein

(It’s a pleasure to have one of our own, Brian Keeler, running for Congress. Brian will also be joining us in the comments today, so stop by and have a chat. — JH)

When people stood and cheered the inspirational candidate asking for their support at Yearly Kos in Las Vegas last weekend — or listened to Sam Seder interviewing him on Air America — there was more than a little pride. This was one candidate everyone — the Russ Feingold backers, the Mark Warner backers, the Gore and Clark hopefuls and even supporters of DLC candidates like Biden and Bayh — could agree on. But this candidate isn’t running for president or for the U.S. Senate or even for a House seat. Nope, Brian Keeler is running for a state senate seat in an obscure, upstate New York district. Why should anyone, outside of that district, care?

Glad you asked. People who have been reading Daily Kos and Firedoglake for awhile probably recognize the screen name NYBri as belonging to a well-spoken, forthright, engaging progressive, bursting with positive energy, enthusiasm, great spirit and abundant intelligence. That would be Brian Keeler, and Brian is challenging a severely reactionary, entrenched Republican in New York’s 41st senatorial district: basically all of Columbia County and most of Dutchess County. The last time Dutchess County elected a Democrat as state senator was 1910. That freshman state legislator, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, did well in Albany — and… well, helped save America and the rest of the world.

Interview With Brian Keeler on WAMC

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 22:22:02 -0400

On May 25, 2006, at the noon hour, Allison Dunn interviewed Brian Keeler for WAMC radio. He addressed his reasons for running as well as the property tax crisis, creeping sprawl crisis, and the well contamination crisis. Listen to the interview HERE!