Newspaper
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.
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.”
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."
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.
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.
Political newcomer to challenge Saland
Friday, May 26, 2006
A longtime Town of East Fishkill resident stepped up to the plate for local Democrats Thursday by announcing that he will run for the New York State District 41 Senate seat, and is seeking the Dutchess County Democratic Party nomination. He has already received the Columbia County Democratic Committee endorsement.
Brian Keeler, a 17-year resident of Dutchess, made his announcement to a small group at the Poughkeepsie city waterfront, telling them, “it is time for us to turn the state Senate blue,” referring to the need to bring more Democrats back to the New York State Senate.
Dutchess Democrat prepares to challenge Saland
By Patricia Doxsey, Freeman staff
POLITICAL activist and Internet journalist Brian Keeler plans to challenge incumbent Stephen Saland for the state Senate seat in New York's 41st District.
Keeler, 53, is to announce his candidacy at 12:30 p.m. today at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie.
The East Fishkill Democrat already has received the endorsement of the Columbia County Democratic Committee, and he expects the Dutchess County Democratic Committee to endorse him at its convention in June.
