BUFFALO—Voters in the competitive New York State Senate district in Amherst received robocalls from 201-257-4001 claiming that Joe Mesi has been endorsed by the “Gay City News” for his support for gay marriage and the promotion of the “lesbian, gay, and bisexual” agenda.
There was no message as to who paid for or authorized the robocall, but let’s put it delicately - it was not placed in support of Joe Mesi. It was placed to make conservatives and conservative-minded Democrats opposed to him. The number is based out of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.
Mesi was defeated by Amherst County Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer.
The New York City glbt newspaper endorsed Mesi based upon Mesi’s position that he would have supported civil unions if he had been elected to the New York State Senate.
The November 4th election did allow Democrats to unseat two long time Republican Senators and look to have secured a majority in the New York State Senate for the first time in over 40 years. Democrat Brian Foley defeated Republican Sen. Caesar Trunzo on Long Island.
Democrat Joseph Addabbo had a decisive win over Sen. Serphin Maltese in Queens.
Registered Democrats have long out numbered Registered Republican voters by almost three to one. Still the Senate Republicans choke hold on the Senate gave the Republicans a dispropotional representation in the Senate and was not representative of New York States demography.
That majority could be taken away if four conservative down state Democrats decide to abandon their fellow Democrats and organize with the Republicans in exchange for lucrative committee chairs and other perks.
Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith: stated “Today, change begins. There is much at stake for New York families and we are committed to delivering for the people of this great state without the excessive partisanship that has stalled progress in Albany. We will rebuild New York’s economy, protect middle income families, get New York working again, and make government more accountable.”
Should the Democrats manage to hold on to their majority it would allow them to control the Senate agenda. In the past Senate Republicans have refused to allow many gay and lesbian civil rights bills come to the floor of the Senate. Bills like the same-sex marriage bill may make to to a Senate vote for the very first time but would be hard pressed to pass without the votes of a significant number of Republican Senators to offset the conservative Democratic Senators that would be unlikely to vote for any same-sex marriage bills.
—Tim Moran
