News
Saland Challenger Rails Against Status Quo (publ 10/10/06)
By Patricia Doxsey, Freeman staff
ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON Brian Keeler, the Democratic candidate for state Senate declaring his opponent to be part of what is wrong with state government vowed to take on the "status quo" in Albany if elected to the 41st Senate District.
Keeler, an East Fishkill resident who is running against Sen. Steve Saland, criticized the 16-term incumbent during a 45-minute forum last week sponsored by Bard College.
He criticized Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, for not attending the forum and said Saland's absence from the forum reflects the attention Saland has given to issues in the district.
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
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.”
One of Our Own Declares Candidacy
by SusanG
Fri May 26, 2006 at 10:53:44 AM EDT
(Bumped -- kos)
Like a lot of progressives, I take politics personally. For me, and for the rest of the Daily Kos community, politics doesn't get much more personal than with Brian Keeler's announcement yesterday of his candidacy for the 41st State Senate seat in New York.
Brian - or NYBri as he's known around these orange parts - is one of the first examples of a candidate homegrown and nurtured by this very community. I'll let him tell his own story in his own way - and fill you in on his opponent and his district demographics here - but I know from my personal relationship with him that the fire, the commitment and the passionate desire to improve our country is a direct result of his involvement with this community. Like many of us, he cut his teeth here during Bush's first term, participating in comments, learning, writing diaries, howling at the direction in which our country's been taken ... and now he's taking OUR agenda out into hard, cruel political world.
I am pleased to announce that our campaign has received the endorsement from NY EdPAC. They recgognize that the true school property tax reform will not happen as long as Steve Saland is in office. The NY EdPAC endorsement is based on support of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, increased state education funding, reform of the state funding formula, and a system of accountability for schools with increased funding.
Watch for my debate with Saland on "Meet The Leaders” with Terence Michos on Time Warner Channel 6 or Cablevision Channels 18 or 6.
Borrow and Spend Republicans in the Senate and Governor's office have been at it again. This from the AP:
ALBANY, N.Y. -- This year state government's debt will reach a record $49.7 billion, or $3,515 for every adult New Yorker, according to an independent watchdog group.It's time for a NEW Team for a NEW New York!
--snip--
The Citizens Budget Commission said the state's debt has doubled since 1993, including an 8-percent increase of $4 billion in the last year. "New York state debt is out of control," said commission President Diana Fortuna. "Before legislators attend to their personal finances, they should attend to the people's business and fix New York's broken debt limit."
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.
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!
Why Brian Keeler is a netroots hero
by kos
Fri May 26, 2006 at 02:36:19 PM EDTWe are all part of a movement that has, over the past two years, begun flexing its political muscle. We are a people-powered movement, using technology to aggregate the masses to bypass the entrenched media and political establishments. It's been exciting times, especially for those of us who believe in the wisdom of the masses over the wisdom of entrenched and monied interests.
My ultimate vision is to get away from the current politics, in which politicians tout their endorsements from various issue and constituency groups, toward a world in which politicians tout the sheer number of people engaging their campaigns. That's why I get excited when people contribute to Ned Lamont. Not because Ned is desperate for money (I mean, he's worth between $90-300 million). But because it sends a clear message that people are backing him, and are doing so by giving their time and hard-earned money. That's how people-power manifests itself -- with volunteer hours and small dollar donations.
Blogger will seek Saland Senate seat
Hopewell Junction man decries pork
By Anthony Farmer Poughkeepsie Journal
A Democratic blogger from Hopewell Junction has launched a campaign to unseat longtime incumbent state Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, in the 41st District.
Brian Keeler, a founder of two interactive Web sites focusing on politics and journalism, announced his bid for state Legislature at a press conference at Waryas Park in the City of Poughkeepsie Thursday afternoon.
